can be one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to update a home’s decor and value. With the right tools and tips, even firsttime painters can learn to paint like a pro. Prep the Area Remove furniture, wall hangings, and light switch and outlet covers. Protect floors from drips and spills with canvas sheeting. Apply painter’s tape along trim, molding and windows. Use a putty knife to ensure that tape is securely adhered around edges. Clean Slate For a truly professional look, start with a smooth, clean surface. Fill in nail holes and cracks with Spackle. Remove dust, dirt, grease, and glossy finishes with a nontoxic, trisodium phosphate (TSP) substitute such as Mtsenbcker’s Lift Off All Surface Paint Prep. This not only makes yourfinished project look better, it helps the paint last longer. The Right Tools Before you apply yourfirst coat, be sure you haveall the right tools for the job. A nylon-polyester brush will work with nearly any type of latex paint. Rollers can be used to paint large surfaces such as walls. Look for a cover with a %" to %" nap. Paint spills and drips are practically inevitable, but Mtsenbicker’s Lift Off Latex Based Paint Remover can be handy for easy cleanup. You don’t haveto let paint drips on the floor detract from the beauty of new paint on your walls. Brush Up on Good Techniques Paint one wall at a time starting at the top so drips fall on unpainted areas. Brush on paint around trim and in the corners of walls. Use a paint roller for larger surfaces. Roll paint into a three-by-three-foot W pattern. Continuerolling untilall sections are painted, adding fresh paint to the roller as it dries. Most paints will require two coats and some darker shades may require three. Clean Up Remove tape immediately after painting, before the wall dries, so fresh paint isn’t peeled off with it. Check for paint drips andspills on floors, hardware and furniture. Use a dry cloth to wipe wet paint from surfaces. Then apply a paint remover such as Mtsenbcker’s Lift Off to the surface. Gently agitate dried paint with a soft-bristle brush, then blot dry. Learn More For further tips on how to paint your home, you can visit www.facebook.com/LiftOffGreen.
