Clean Up and Store Supplies Properly
The difference between paint supplies that last for years and ones that are garbage after one use comes down to cleanup. Spend 30 minutes cleaning and storing properly now, and your brushes, rollers, and leftover paint will be ready for your next project. Skip this step and you'll be buying new supplies every time.
Quick Summary
Time needed
20-30 minutes
Cost
$5 for cleaner
Difficulty
Easy
Why Proper Cleanup Saves You Money
A quality paint brush costs $12-25. Clean it properly and it lasts for dozens of projects—maybe years. Rinse it half-heartedly and it's stiff and useless next time you need it. The same goes for roller covers, paint trays, and leftover paint. Proper storage means your supplies are ready when you need them.
Common Mistake: Thinking a quick rinse is enough. Paint hides in the base of brush bristles and deep in roller nap. If water doesn't run completely clear after 5-10 minutes of washing, there's still paint in there that will dry and ruin your tool.
Professional painters take tool maintenance seriously because their livelihood depends on it. You should too—quality tools make every future project easier and produce better results.
How to Clean Paint Brushes
Step 1: Remove Excess Paint
Before washing, scrape as much paint as possible from the brush back into the can. Use the edge of the paint can or a paint brush comb. The less paint you wash down the drain, the easier cleanup will be.
Pro Tip: Wipe the brush on newspaper or paper towels first to remove even more paint. This is better for your plumbing and the environment.
Step 2: Wash Thoroughly
For latex paint, use warm (not hot) water and a few drops of dish soap. Work the brush in your palm, squeezing and working bristles from the base (near the ferrule) down to the tips. Rinse and repeat until water runs completely clear.
Washing Technique:
- 1.Hold brush under warm running water
- 2.Add a few drops of dish soap to bristles
- 3.Work soap into bristles with your fingers
- 4.Squeeze and massage from base to tip
- 5.Rinse thoroughly and check water clarity
- 6.Repeat until water runs clear (5-10 minutes)
Step 3: Use a Brush Comb
This is the secret to making brushes last. While the brush is still wet, use a brush comb or wire brush to straighten the bristles and remove any trapped paint near the ferrule. Comb from base to tip in the direction bristles naturally lay.
Important: A brush comb costs $3-5 and is worth every penny. Without it, you can't fully clean the base of the bristles where paint hides and hardens.
Step 4: Shape and Dry
Shake out excess water, then reshape the bristles to their original form. Wrap in a paper towel to hold shape, or hang the brush bristle-down. Never store a brush bristle-down in water—this permanently bends the bristles.
Good Storage:
- • Hang bristle-down from handle hole
- • Lay flat wrapped in paper towel
- • Store in original packaging
- • Bristles in natural, straight position
Bad Storage:
- • Bristle-down in water (bends them)
- • Stored wet in closed container (mildew)
- • Tossed in toolbox (damages bristles)
- • Standing on bristles while drying
How to Clean Paint Rollers
Worth Cleaning or Disposable?
Cheap roller covers ($1-2) aren't worth the cleaning effort. Toss them. Quality roller covers ($5-15) should absolutely be cleaned and reused—they'll work better on the second and third use than cheap ones work brand new.
Roller Cleaning Process
Remove the roller cover from the frame. Use the curved edge of a 5-in-1 tool to squeegee excess paint from the roller back into the tray (save for touch-ups). Then wash under running water while working the roller with your hands.
Washing Steps:
- 1.Remove roller cover from frame
- 2.Squeegee out as much paint as possible
- 3.Rinse under running warm water
- 4.Work roller with hands, squeezing paint out
- 5.Keep washing until water runs clear (5-10 min)
- 6.Shake out excess water and stand upright to dry
Pro Tip: Use a 5-gallon bucket for washing rollers. Fill with warm soapy water, work the roller in the bucket, dump the paint water (not down the drain), and repeat with fresh water until clean. This is easier on your arms and plumbing.
How to Store Leftover Paint
Clean the Can Rim
Paint in the rim groove prevents a good seal. Wipe it clean with a damp rag or paper towel. The cleaner the rim, the better the seal, the longer your paint lasts.
Seal the Lid Properly
Place the lid back on the can, cover with a rag or paper towel to protect the lid, and tap around the edge with a hammer until the lid is seated firmly with no gaps. Don't hit the center—this dents the lid and breaks the seal.
Important: A poorly sealed can allows air in, which forms a skin on top of the paint and eventually dries it out. Take 30 seconds to seal it right.
Store Upside Down (Sometimes)
If your paint can is less than half full, store it upside down. This creates an airtight seal by forcing paint against the lid. Full cans are too heavy and can leak—store those right-side up.
Upside-Down Storage:
- ✓Clean rim thoroughly before sealing
- ✓Tap lid closed firmly (no gaps)
- ✓Wait 10 minutes for seal to set
- ✓Flip and store lid-side down
- ✓Label the side or bottom clearly
Label Everything
Write on the can lid or side with permanent marker: room name, color name/number, sheen, and date. In six months you won't remember which beige is which. Future you will thank present you for this.
Label Example:
Living Room - SW Accessible Beige
Eggshell - December 2024
Storage Location Matters
Store paint in a cool, dry place (50-80°F). Avoid garages that freeze in winter—frozen paint is ruined. Avoid hot attics—extreme heat causes separation. A basement or interior closet is ideal.
Good Storage Spots:
- • Basement utility room
- • Interior closet
- • Heated/cooled garage
- • Laundry room shelf
Bad Storage Spots:
- • Unheated garage (freezing)
- • Hot attic (extreme heat)
- • Direct sunlight
- • Damp basement floor
Don't Forget These Items
Paint Trays and Liners
If you used disposable liners, toss them. If you painted directly in the tray, scrape out excess paint and wash with soap and water. Dried paint in a tray makes it useless for future projects.
Extension Poles and Frames
Wipe down roller frames and extension poles with a damp rag. Check threads for dried paint—this makes them hard to screw/unscrew next time. A quick wipe now saves frustration later.
5-in-1 Tools and Scrapers
Scrape dried paint off with the edge of another scraper, then wipe clean. These tools last forever if you keep them clean. Let paint build up and they become useless.
Drop Cloths
Let canvas drop cloths dry completely, then fold and store in a dry place. Plastic drop cloths can usually be shaken off and reused a few times before disposal. Cloth with wet paint will mildew—make sure it's dry first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you clean paint brushes so they last for years?
The secret is thorough cleaning immediately after use. Remove excess paint by scraping on the can edge, then wash with warm water and dish soap, working the bristles from base to tip. Keep washing until water runs completely clear—this takes 5-10 minutes, not 30 seconds. Use a brush comb to straighten bristles and remove trapped paint. Shake out excess water, reshape bristles to original form, and hang to dry or lay flat wrapped in paper towel. Never store brushes bristle-down or with dried paint in them.
Should you store paint cans upside down?
Yes, if the can is less than half full. Storing upside down creates an airtight seal by forcing paint against the lid, preventing air from drying out the paint. First, clean the rim thoroughly, tap the lid closed firmly with a hammer (no gaps), then flip and store upside down. Don't store full cans upside down—they're too heavy and can leak. Label the side or bottom so you know what's inside without opening it.
How long does leftover paint last if stored properly?
Properly stored latex paint lasts 2-10 years, depending on storage conditions. Paint stored in a sealed can in a cool, dry place (50-80°F) away from freezing lasts longest. Paint that freezes is ruined. Paint exposed to extreme heat separates and degrades. Before using old paint, check for normal consistency, no separation that won't stir out, no foul smell, and no chunks or mold. When in doubt, buy fresh paint—old paint causes more problems than it solves.
Can you clean paint rollers and reuse them?
Yes, quality roller covers can be cleaned and reused 2-5 times if cleaned thoroughly. Cheap disposable rollers ($1-2) aren't worth the cleaning effort. For good rollers ($5-15), remove excess paint with the curved edge of a 5-in-1 tool, then wash under running water while working paint out from base to nap. Keep washing until water runs clear—this takes 5-10 minutes. Shake out water, reshape the nap, and store standing upright or hanging. Rollers that still feel stiff after washing have dried paint and won't work well for future projects.
Almost Done!
Tools are clean, paint is stored. Now reinstall all the covers and hardware you removed before painting.