Step One: Forget the traditional drop cloth. Every time I have attempted to protect the floor from paint using a drop cloth, I've been unsuccessful. Drop. Cloth. Fail.
Instead, this time I used a spare bit of plywood that we have hanging out in the garage that we use for spray painting our model rockets in the backyard. It isn't a full sheet, but it is large enough to set a bucket of paint and a (step)ladder on. I just pushed the edge right up to the wall and set up shop right on the board. As I painted, I moved the board around the edge of the room. Nice and easy. Nice and sturdy.
Step Two: Forget the painter's tape. Every time I have attempted to use painter's tape, I've been unsuccessful. This time I just used a really high quality two-inch angled brush and did all the edges freehand. Actually, this was way easier than I thought it would be. And I saved a ton of time and frustration and money on that stupid blue tape.
Step Three: Forget cleaning the paint rollers and trays. Did you know that Walmart sells a complete kit for $2.50? One roller, one roller cover and one paint tray for $2.50. I don't care if it is wasteful. I, for one, do not have time to clean paint out of roller after roller after roller tray. I had to take care of my wonderful angled brush - and that was enough. Plus, I don't paint *that* often. Also, this way, since I had one set for each color, and I could leave a room all set up after the first coat, go do another room, and then come back and easily touch up any spots that needed a second coat.
Step Four: Baby wipes. Yes, I said baby wipes. You need baby wipes when you paint. Because they are the perfect thing for wiping up any small drips on the baseboards, ladders, your hands, etc. And I even successfully managed to scrub a small dab of misplaced paint off the white ceiling using a baby wipe. Just wipe it and toss it. Which means that I also had a small trash can handy to toss the used wipes into.
Step Five: Buy
Notably, the first one Connor opened while Daddy was away reminded us very much of Daddy. Especially the beaver hat. (Did you know that Kevin had a beaver hat in college and everyone used to call him Beaver? True story.)
Step Six (and this might be the most important): Katy Perry's Teenage Dream. It's scientifically proven to make you paint faster and better. But you have to play it loud, and with all the windows open so that your neighbors can paint faster and better, too. They will thank you, I promise.
That is all. Keep calm and carry on.
2 comments:
Hmm, I never thought of the plywood thing...that's a great idea. I can't believe you did all that painting by yourself so fast, way to go! We put our rollers in gallon sized Ziploc bags between coats & that keeps them fresh & ready for the next coat without having to wash them each time.
That's a good tip! Thanks.
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