Paint roller tips:

  • Rolling Close to Edges: To roll close to corners, ceilings, and door and window casings with a paint roller, simply slide the roller sleeve off the roller cage an inch or two until the sleeve extends beyond the protruding roller frame.
  • Removing Wet Paint Rollers: To remove wet paint roller sleeves from the roller frame without getting paint on your hands, slip a plastic bag over the roller sleeve, then grab the bag and slide the sleeve off the roller frame.
  • Wet Paint Roller Storage: To keep a wet paint roller sleeve from drying out between coats, wrap the sleeve in aluminum foil or a plastic bag, then store the wet paint roller sleeve in a refrigerator for up to four days.

Watch thie video above to find out more.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Danny Lipford: When painting walls with a roller, your first step is to use a brush to cut in around the perimeter of the room.

Joe Truini: That’s necessary because the end of the roller sleeve can’t paint right up against adjacent surfaces. As a result you can often see brush strokes around the perimeter of the room after the paint dries.

To solve that problem, simply slide the roller sleeve off the roller cage about an inch or so, so it extends past the protruding knob. That allows you to roll very close to corners and ceilings, and paint right over the cut in brush strokes.

Here’s another neat tip. Slip your hand inside a plastic bag before grasping the wet roller sleeve and pulling it off the roller cage.

Danny Lipford: Now when you’re painting, and you’re ready for a break, you really don’t have to wash out your roller sleeve. Go to the kitchen, get some aluminum foil, and wrap it around the roller sleeve. Crimp it on the ends to keep the air out.

Joe Truini: And if you’re not going to be able to get back to painting for up to 12 hours or so, simply slide the sleeve off the roller frame and pop it into the refrigerator. There it’ll stay fresh for up to four days.


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Editorial Contributors
avatar for Joe Truini

Joe Truini

Radio Show Co-Host

Joe Truini is a contractor, author, and the host of “Simple Solutions” on Today’s Homeowner TV and the weekly Today’s Homeowner radio show. He has worked on both large commercial projects and residential remodeling, and has written for national publications such as This Old House and Popular Mechanics. He has also written eight books, including three best-selling shed-building books. Joe lives in Connecticut with his family and enjoys hiking, traveling, and baseball in his spare time.

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