NOW that autumn is well underway, many homeowners are turning their attention away from their gardens and into sprucing up their interior.
But painting can feel like a huge chore when you’re thinking about giving your home a refresh by putting a fresh coat on your walls.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you don’t know where to start, what you need, or how to make sure you keep it mess-free.
Especially when you start to think of all the little awkward things you need to do to make sure the paint doesn’t run or smudge onto areas where you don’t want it.
And while hiring a painter might be the easiest option, sky-rocketing prices usually see us trying a hand at it ourselves.
Luckily, experts are on hand to help make the painting process as seamless and stress-free as possible.
Lucy Steele, Paint and Interiors Expert from Valspar Paint, has revealed a super-handy trick that stops paint from getting on unwanted areas.
Whether it’s avoiding smudges on your skirting board or window frames, Lucy says it works every time for a flawless finish – and even painting pros swear by it.
So simple and effective, and small pots can be purchased for £1.25, so it’s no surprise the pros swear by this trick
Lucy Steele
All you need is a little bit of vaseline to apply to the areas you want to keep paint-free.
Vaseline, which can be picked up from shops for just £1.25, works as a ‘paint blocker’ and stops it from getting on surfaces.
Lucy explains: “Vaseline has many benefits, including acting as a temporary barrier for paint.
“Before painting, apply vaseline to any areas you don’t want the paint to stick to, such as door handles or window frames.
“So simple and effective, and small pots can be purchased for £1.25, so it’s no surprise the pros swear by this trick.”
Lucy has also shared another tip to help DIY-ers keep a nice, clean finish on their walls.
She insists that maintaining a wet edge while painting can give you the smoothest possible finish on your walls.
She said: “Most beginners will often paint a wall and then paint the edges separately.
“In some cases, this might be on another day.
“However, this can cause your paint to dry unevenly, creating lines and streaks.
“Instead, you should ensure that the edge is always wet when painting, as this will help you to achieve a smoother finish.”
Lucy also urged homeowners not to underestimate the benefits of applying a ‘most coat’.
The interior pro reveals: “A mist coat is made of watered-down emulsion paint and acts as a primer that should be applied onto freshly plastered walls.
“The extra moisture allows for better paint adhesion and prevents the topcoat from flaking or peeling.
“The mist coat is very runny, so whenever you spot drips or streaks, paint over them quickly to prevent them from drying and ruining your perfect finish.
“It’s important to wait 24 hours for your mist coat to dry before you apply the topcoat”.
£2 household item leaves paint brushes brand new
Cleaning up after you finish painting can feel like a chore all on it’s own just when you think you’ve done everything.
But Lucy says that one £2 household item can seamlessly clean up your paint brushes and leave them looking brand new.
Just add some fabric softener to your brushes and soak them in water and you’re good to go.
She said: “Fabric softener is the key ingredient to cleaning your brushes in no time at all, particularly when using water-based paints.
“Simply mix the fabric softener with water and soak the brushes in the solution for around 10 to 15 minutes.
“Once soaked, rinse the brush and dry. This technique is also great for reviving old brushes too, as it helps to loosen the paint in the middle of the brush and soften any dried paint.
“Fabric softener is often used by professionals and can be purchased for as little as £2!”
