How to Clean Power Paint Rollers

Power paint rollers have revolutionized painting, allowing for fast and easy application without the inconvenience of having to constantly re-dip a roller into a paint tray. However, cleaning your power paint roller requires special care. But when armed with a few simple tips, cleaning your rollers will be a breeze.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Gallon bucket
• Mineral spirits
• Petroleum jelly
• Neoprene/natural latex blend gloves
• Eye protection

Latex Paint Clean-up

1. Detach the fill tube from the lid of your power paint roller and place it into the fill valve housing. Submerge the fill tube in warm, soapy water and pull the plunger in and out at least five times.

2. Remove the fill tube and submerge the fill valve and the roller arm into the warm, soapy water. Again, pull the plunger in and out at least five times.

3. Submerge the connecting area and the fill valve into the warm, soapy water and repeat the plunging movement a minimum of five times.

4. Rinse the remaining parts under a faucet and drain the excess fluid from your power paint roller.

5. Wash the roller brushes in the warm, soapy water and rinse under the tap or with a hose. Use a wire brush to remove the dry paint build-up on handles or on the inner plastic core.

Oil-Based Paint Clean-up

6. Detach the fill tube from the lid of your power paint roller and place it into the fill valve housing. Submerge the fill tube into a gallon bucket of mineral spirits and pull the plunger in and out at least five times.

7. Remove the fill tube and submerge the roller arm into the same gallon bucket of mineral spirits. Make sure all of the holes in the roller arm are submerged. Again, pull the plunger in and out a minimum of five times.

8. Submerge the connecting area and the valve housing in the solvent and repeat the plunging motion at least five times. Drain all of the excess fluid from the power paint roller and clean the remaining parts by hand with mineral spirits.

9. Resist the urge to rinse parts or roller brushes under the tap after you have used oil-based paints, as it will only make clean-up more difficult.

10. Wash the roller brushes in the same gallon bucket of mineral spirits until clean. Mineral spirits can dry out your rollers, so store them in plastic bags or wrap them in plastic wrap. A very light layer of petroleum jelly can help prevent drying as well. When you are ready to use the brush again, just rinse lightly in mineral spirits to remove the petroleum.

Tips & Warnings

• It's best to clean your power paint roller and roller brushes as soon as you have finished using them. However, you can wrap the equipment and roller brushes in plastic bags, which will prevent the paint from drying for a short time. But, never leave your equipment or roller brushes in plastic for more than 12 hours.
• Always wear skin and eye protective gear when working with mineral spirits.
• Only use mineral spirits in a very well ventilated area.
• Keep all open flame and heat sources away from mineral spirits.