5. CLEAN YOUR EQUIPMENT


If you usedlatex-based paint, cleaning up is easy: use soap and water, rinse throroughly, and pat yourself on the back.

If you used oil-based paint, don't breathe too deeply or you'll kill some brain cells with turpentine fumes. Instead, follow these instructions for cleaning up safely:

  1. In a bucket, soak the brushes in turpentine solvent and rub bristles together to release paint. You might want to wear gloves for this experience.

  2. Continue to rinse in new solvent until clean.

  3. Wash with soap and water and rinse thoroughly.

  4. Then just let the equipment dry.

  5. Do not pour the solvent down the drain. Rather, keep the used solvent in a sealed container and call your town or garbage pick-up service to see what your options are. Most communities have a designated day for hazardous household waste disposal.

As far as leftover paint is concerned, do not pour it down the sink or in the toilet. Besides terrifying the guests when they flush, paint is hazardous to the environment and must be disposed of properly. If you don't want to keep your spare paint on hand for touch ups, think about donating it to a charity or Habitat for Humanity. If no one wants it, call your town or garbage pick-up service to see what your options are. In some areas, latex paint can be dried out and tossed in household garbage. Oil-based paint and solvents are flammable and probably will be taken care of during hazardous household waste disposal day. If you community does not have one, call your state environmental agency or an area hardware store for guidance.

And now you can show off to all of your friends how you were able to paint your own beautiful room. And if any of your friends point out the inevitable error or two you made, then just tell them: "It's not an error, it's a happy accident." That'll shut 'em up.