If you want a good finish when house painting in the Bay Area, it should be done appropriately and safely from start to finish. Yes, that includes the cleanup part after the painting is done.
Cleaning up after painting part does not only involve sprucing up the space where work was done, but it also extends to cleaning the tools and proper disposal of wastes.
Good quality tools deserve only the best care and maintenance so that they can be used again. It is best to clean and wash them right after painting.
When you’re done applying new coats of paint, be sure to do the following:
1. Gently and slowly peel the painter’s tape off the surface while the paint is still drying.
2. Clean the tools as soon as you’ve finished painting. When the tools are still pretty much wet with paint, it makes them easier to wash and remove the paint from them.
For paintbrushes or rollers used with latex paint, simple water and soap (and a few rudimentary tools) can do the trick. For more thorough cleaning of the paintbrush, use a paint comb to remove the leftover paint from the bristles, or a scraper to graze the paint off the roller cover. Running tap water is more effective in removing the paint (as opposed to doing it in a bucket of water).
Cleaning the brushes and rollers used with oil-based paint products (alkyd) require some caution since these products can pose quite a risk when you handle them. Oil-based paints, primers, thinners, etc., are flammable and volatile substances can pose a health and environmental hazard. Remember to do the cleaning outdoors (or in a space that is roomy and with enough ventilation) and away from open flame or other sources of ignition. Also, do not smoke while cleaning up after using oil-based paints.
Wear a protective face mask (more preferably a respirator), goggles and a pair of rubber gloves when dealing with alkyd or oil-based paints as they can irritate the eyes, nose, and skin. Clean the tools with mineral spirits, and rinse them with running tap water.
Do not throw away or store sponges and rags used with oil-based paints right after using them. Instead, soak them in water overnight. Do not also throw away cans of unused leftover paint; take them to a hazardous wastes facility instead.
4. Remove the latex paint from the brushes with soap and water, (preferably under a running tap water) and rinse them. Next, hang them to dry. The brushes should be hanged upside-down to let the water drip down from their metal band.
5. Scrape the leftover latex paint off the roller cover. Remove the roller cover and rinse it under running tap water to further remove excess paint. Wash the cover in sudsy water, and work into a lather to make sure that the excess paint and dirt are removed. Dry the cover by standing on its end on top of a towel, old newspapers, etc.
Next, clean the roller cage in a sink or basin of soapy water. Rinse and let it dry. Keep the cleaned roller cover and the roller cage in storage until they are needed again.
6. When cleaning the rollers used with an oil-based paint, remember that this takes a lot more time, effort, as well as a tremendous amount of care.
Prepare three pans or trays and fill half of each of them with a thinner. Scrape off the excess paint from the roller.
Take away the roller cover from the cage and soak it into the first tray of thinner for about five minutes. Shake the roller occasionally to make sure that much of the paint has been removed. When the roller cover becomes a bit soaked with the thinner, drain it — preferably, a 5-in-1 is used in this procedure. Then pat the roller cover dry. Do the same step on the second tray of thinner. Rinse the roller in the third tray of thinner; by then the thinner should come out clear.
Let the roller cover dry by standing it on the end, on top of a paper towel (not a newspaper, as the diluted ink could result into a messy roller).
7. Clean the roller cage with an oil-based paint by first soaking it in the first tray of thinner. Leave it for about two minutes. Take the roller cage out of the tray and pat it dry with a paper towel. Do the same procedure again in the second and third trays. Repeat doing this from the first tray to the third tray, when necessary, until most of the paint has been removed from the cage.
8. As the paint on the surface has completely dried, take away the drop cloths and re-install the fixtures (such as doorknobs, switch plates, outlet covers, etc.) back into place. Clean up the mess and dispose of them properly.
9. Wipe off any excess paint that has been dripped on the rim of the paint can, as well as underneath the lid, to prevent the paint from drying out. Seal the paint can tightly and store it in a cool, dry place that is well away from the reach of children and pets.
Cleaning up after house painting in the Bay Area is not a fun thing to do, but someone has got to do it! In the end, you will enjoy looking at your house that is clean, free of clutter, and freshly painted — by the best painters Bay Area – and you’ll be happy that it’s all worth the hard work!