Gloss painting - I hate cleaning the brushes!!

franr43

The professionals store their brushes ifor painting oil based paints in water, give the brush a very good shake out hen work it well into the paint when you next start painting.

Disposing of used white spirit you've used for cleaning brushes? - I put a lid on the container, save it and use it when I need to start a bonfire e.g burning brambles on the allotment ( I motly do paintwork in the summer months).

I save the plastic wrappers magazines get posted in that aren't recycable anyway, wrap brushes in them when I stop work for the day/task and then store in the fridge overnight. I also wrap my emulsion paint tray in carrier bags or wrappers and when the job is done, throw that in the bin. I know it goes to landfill but I think its better than polluting the water supply by washing it out.

Chippy_Minton_2

Yorkshire_Bred wrote: »

Brushmates are very good but are expensive and the fluid for them is around £6 per bottle. The best way to store them is in an old tub, bristles dipped in water, just shake the water off prior to using.

A small Brush Mate is £10 and doesn't use fluid. It uses pads which are about £3 and should last about two years if its not constantly opened. Sure this is a more cost effective way for the OP who doesnt want to clean brushes. Its what the pros use not water as others have stated. And remember this the pros dont use new brushes for the top coat always old worn in ones. New brushes are used for the undercoats so the OP should get a better paint finish too!;)

chickmug

Wow!!!

Lots of very god tips - thanks:j

clairehi

I havent used oil-based paints in years for decorating, because of the vapours and drying time as well as washing brushes. solvent-based paints are unpleasant to work with. if I was still working in a lab I would only use volatile liquids in a fume cupboard, why would I want to breathe them in my house?

major paint brands eg Dulux, Crown now offer water-based satinwood/eggshell paints. not sure about gloss as I never use it, personally I think it looks dated.

I prefer Dulux as the Crown water-based satinwood seems to have a "rougher" less satiny finish which I was not keen on.

I know there are various "trade" paint brands but none are available locally to me, and I am not making a 30 mile round trip for paint!

nickj_2

just to add to my first tip , when you have completed the job , this is the time to use white spitit and then rinse with w/up liquid .
also when emulsioning , rollers and brushes can be left wrapped up in a plastic bag for a few days without going hard , make sure it is tightly wrapped tho , as can roller trays and paint pots