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Step 1
Cleaning paint brushes is a fairly straighforward process. Cleaning paint rollers is a far more difficult task and one that you'll all need to face up to at some point. Paint rollers can absorb an amazing amount of paint; just like a sponge can absorb a vast amount of water. It can take a lot of time to remove all that excesss paint once you're ready to start clearing up after your painting job. Of course you'll need to clean the roller tray too. Sigh!
The honest truth is that sometimes it's easier to just remove and replace the roller cover once you've finished painting. However, if you bought the more expensive covers and have some that are still in good shape, you probably want to save them for the next project. In that case follow these steps for cleaning up after a latex paint job: -
Step 2
* Roll out as much of the paint as you can before you begin cleaning the cover. Touch up spots on the wall that look a little light or just roll it onto a scrap of wood or the drop cloth you are planning to discard.
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Step 3
* Once the roller cover has very little paint left on it, it is time to finish cleaning it. If you have a septic system, do not clean the roller or any other painting tool in the sink. The chemicals that make up the paint are really not something you want in your drinking supply and they could leach from the septic tank and into the groundwater nearby.
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Step 4
* If your sink is connected to a public sewer system, simply run the roller under warm water, gently squeezing the cover to help get the paint out, until the water runs clear. You may need to use a bit of soap to help get it completely clean. If you use a septic system, you’ll need to swish it around in a bucket of warm water instead, being sure to dispose of the water in the bucket in a safe manner.
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Step 5
If you have to clean oil based paint from a roller then you're going to need to use a solvent; the most common type being paint thinner. Before you start working with paint thinners make sure you have protective clothing such as goggles and gloves and that there is plenty of fresh air in the room you're working in - thinners can be extremely potent! Pour just a few inches of the solvent into a spare metal pan (older paint trays are metal and work well for this.) and roll the cover around. You will need to gently squeeze the cover to help remove the paint and the extra solvent. Then, be sure to dispose of the solvent by placing it in an airtight metal container and following your local waste disposal regulations for toxic material.
As a final thought - if you are worried about cleaning a roller because you need to take a break, but the job is only part way done, simply wrap it in a plastic bag instead so that it doesn’t dry out. You can leave rollers wrapped up for a week or more and have no trouble with them drying out. Simply unwrap them and finish the job when you're ready. Easy huh?
