How to Clean and Store Painting Tools and Equipment

Many painting tools and equipment are disposable—use once and throw away because we don't want to bother cleaning them. However, quality brushes and rollers, paint trays and guides, portable sprayers, mixers and other useful equipment are meant to be cleaned, stored and used repeatedly. Because paint, whether water-based or oil-based, will quickly dry up and become impossible to wash off, prompt and proper cleanup and storage is needed. Here's what to do.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Two buckets
• Water for water-based paint
• Paint thinner or turpentine for oil-based paint
• Rags
• Newspaper
• Plastic wrap
• Dishwashing detergent

1. Remove as much leftover paint from the painting tools and equipment as you can. Squeeze the brushes and rollers, pour out the trays, scrape the pans and wipe off as much residue as possible using an old rag or pieces of newspaper.

2. Use the two-bucket system for cleaning off water-based paint. Half fill a 5-gallon bucket with warm water and a small capful of dishwashing detergent. Wash the painting tools and equipment thoroughly. Rinse them off in another bucket of clean water.

3. Use the two-bucket system for cleaning off oil-based paint. Pour about 3 inches of paint thinner or turpentine into two buckets. Wash the painting tools and equipment thoroughly in one bucket and rinse in the other bucket.

4. Wipe the tools and equipment to dry, or air dry before storing. Ensure that all the removable pieces of portable and pressure sprayers are clean and properly dried for storage.

5. Let the wash and rinse buckets stand overnight to allow the paint residue to settle. Cover to prevent contamination and accidents.

6. Pour out the water from the water buckets, leaving the paint residue in the buckets. Pour the turpentine from the wash and rinse buckets back into their original containers, leaving the paint residue in the buckets. Scrape off the residue from the bottoms of the buckets onto a piece of newspaper and dispose of in the trash.

7. Store all painting-related tools and equipment in the garage or tool shed for safety and accessibility.

Tips & Warnings

• Use an old comb to help clean paint brush bristles. Wire brushes and steel wool will help clean handles and metal implements. Soft-bristled brushes will help clean paint trays and pans. A roller spinner works well to clean paint rollers.
• If using brushes and rollers on consecutive days, simply wrap them tightly in a plastic wrap at the end of the day to prevent drying, and clean them out thoroughly after the whole painting job is completed.
• Always follow manufacturer's instructions on how to clean and store mechanized painting equipment like sprayers, mixers, applicators and compressors.
• Fresh paint should not be thrown out with the regular trash. Store half-filled paint cans for future projects. Let almost-empty paint cans dry up before throwing them away. Consider using a paint hardener for leftover paint and residues. It comes in fine powder form, and when mixed with fresh paint, transforms into large granules that are safe for regular trash disposal.

Resources

• Ask the Builder: Cleaning Paint Brushes
• DIYDoctor: Cleaning Paint Brushes