Messy, crusty, stuck on paint lids are the bane of a painty person's life.
But no fear, Shereena is here to share her top tips in keeping your paint pots, and other accessories in tip top condition!
TIP 1: Decant your paint! This stops paint becoming contaminated with all those annoying little bits that fall in when you try and paint directly from the can! I like to decant into paint trays that are lined with foil. That way you don't need to clean the tray and can cover or wrap up the paint in the foil to stop it drying out! Bonus!
TIP 2: Use painter's tape or masking tape to create a spout to pour out your paint. This neat trick stops the paint pouring down the side of the can. I shared a quick vid of this on the Shabby Nook Facebook page - you can view it by clicking here.
TIP 3: Cover open paint containers with a layer of cling film or a sandwich bag BEFORE putting the lid back on. This helps prevent the lid from sticking solidly to the rim! This is particularly helpful with paints like Fusion - as the resin really can fuse that lid on!
TIP 4: If it's too late and your lid is already stuck - don't panic! Run it under hot water. It will cause metal to expand and loosen the lid enough for you to open it. This works with plastic pots too - it will loosen the dry and crusty paint so you can open it again. Phew!
TIP 5: Don't wipe the excess paint off a brush on the rim of the can. Place an elastic band around it so that it crosses the top of the can and wipe the excess against the rubber band - keeping the edge of your paint can nice and clean. Also, see point 1 and decant your paint so that this isn't an issue!
Tip 6: Stop paint brushes and rollers from drying out by keeping them in an airtight bag. You can put the bag in the fridge to give them even more protection and help keep them wet - this is a life saver when it's hot weather and you need to leave your brushes overnight!
