At Pro Roller, we offer exceptional quality floor applicator products that deliver outstanding results on various types of services. Here is how to efficiently clean paint rollers and trays after a painting job:
Reclaim Excess Paint
The first step is to recapture excess paint. You can do so by using a putty knife or curved edge with a 5-in-1 tool, scraping the excess paint back into the can from the roller.
Roll Off More Coating
Work the roller some more on a newspaper or a thin spot on the wall until no more paint releases.
Wash the Roller Frame
Wearing rubber gloves, remove the cover from the roller. Immediately clean the roller frame. It is important to clean the frame when the paint is wet to ensure easy cleanup.
If you are using latex paint, wash the frame in a bucket of warm water containing a few drops of dish soap. Scrub away stubborn patches of paint using a firm bristled brush. Dump the tainted water in a drain that leads to water treatment. Do not dispose in a storm sewer.
If you are using oil paint, use some paint thinner or something equal to scrub the pain off with a rag.
Always wear eye protection when using solvent to clean.
Clean the Roller Cover
If you are using latex paint, place the roller cover in a bucket of warm water that contains a few drops of detergent. Using the nap of your hand, work the paint off. Wash the cover using a stream of clean water or in a fresh bucket of water. Shake the extra water out of the cover and place the cover on hand to dry.
If you are using oil paint, submerge the roller cover in a container with a sufficient amount of paint thinner or equivalent.
Work the cover with your hand in the solvent to free the paint. After a few minutes of agitating the paint and resting the cover in the solvent, take the cover out and work out the remaining paint back into the container.
Pour out the used solvent into a disposable bottle. Use a paper towel rag to wipe out the container. Then, use clean solvent in the container to rinse the cover. Remove the cover and allow the remaining solvent to flow back into the container. Allow the container to dry out in a well-ventilated area for a few minutes. Add the remaining used solvent to the disposable bottle. Using warm water and a few drops of dish detergent, wash the cover and then let it stand on end to dry.
Clean the Paint Tray
Drain the extra paint back into the paint can.
If you are using latex paint, allow the paint to dry completely. Then, simply peel it out of the tray. You can use a 5-in-1 tool to remove any paint that is clinging to the tray. Alternatively, if you are going to reuse the tray immediately, wash it in warm, soapy water.
If you are using oil paint, use paper towels or rag to wipe out the tray. After adding some solvent to the basin, use a brush around the tray to loosen the paint as you work the solvent. Take a putty knife and scrape with the edge as needed to remove paint. Pour out the solvent into a scrap bottle and re-wipe the tray. Placing some solvent on a paper towel rag, remove the remaining remnants of the pigment, then wash the tray with warm, soapy water and allow it to dry. Lastly, use a brush comb to clean the brush with warm, soapy water.
