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Step 1
Use paint thinner or mineral spirits to clean brushes and rollers after painting with oil-based paint. These cleaners can be purchased at paint and hardware stores or home improvement stores. Soak your brushes and rollers in a bowl of the cleaner to loosen the oil in the paint. Then, rinse under running water. Follow up with washing in soapy water to get rid of the chemical odor. Rinse thoroughly to get all the soap out.
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Step 2
Clean up after painting with water-based paint by simply holding the brushes and rollers under running water. It helps to loosen the paint from the bristles with newspaper first. Press the paint brush bristles down on the newspaper several times to help work the paint out. For rollers, you can run water in a sink or bathtub and roll the paint rollers back and forth to loosen the paint. Wash them in hot, soapy water for best results. Rinse well and hang them up to dry.
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Step 3
Handle drop cloths carefully when you clean up after painting. Fold the drop cloth in on itself so that all paint splatters are inside when you pick up the cloth. That way, you don't risk dripping paint on floors or furniture.
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Step 4
Rub baby oil on your skin if you've gotten paint on yourself before you take a shower. Baby oil rubbed into each spot of painted skin helps to loosen the paint so that it washes off easier in the shower.
