The Best Place To Store Your Paintbrush In The Middle Of A Paint Job

When it's time to give your home a new look or refresh the existing wall colors, then you'll want to do what you can to make sure you end up with results that will make your rooms look their best. In order to do that, you need to choose the ideal shade of paint, figure out the right finish to use, and possibly consider various paint-related trends.

On top of that, you need to have a decent paintbrush to use. In fact, a quality paintbrush is a key factor when it comes to a good paint job, according to PG Paint & Design. Although a proper paintbrush might cost you a little more money than other options, it'll certainly be worth it. It's also worth your time to find the right kind of paintbrush for the type of surface you're working on and what sort of effect you might want to achieve.

The same applies to any possible projects you might be taking on that involve painting furniture, cupboards, a deck, or pretty much anything else around your home. That's also why you want to take care of your paintbrush, which includes properly storing it in the middle of a paint job.

Painting can be fun, but it can also be a lengthy and tiring job at times. Because of that, you might not be able to get everything you need to finish it all at once and might need to take a break — or a few breaks — during the process. If that's the case, then it's important to store your paintbrush properly until you're ready to get back to work. If you don't, then you can end up with a brush that has bristles that are coated with hard, dried paint. 

Of course, you might not be thrilled about having to fully wash your brush every time you stop for a few minutes. In that case, you can take advantage of a handy painting hack. Whether you're stepping away from your painting project in order to grab a quick coffee or plan to pause overnight and pick things up again in the morning, you can feel free to leave your paintbrush fully saturated with paint, according to The Creek Line House.

Although that might be a bit of a surprise, it turns out that you simply need to fully cover the brush with plastic cling wrap. Once you have done that, you can pop it into your cold fridge. This will prevent your paintbrush from getting too dry. When you want to start painting again, then all you need to do is grab the brush out of the fridge, unwrap it, and get back to work.

If you only intend to step away from painting for a minute, then you might not need to put your paintbrush away at all. In this case, all you need to do is place your brush back in the paint and keep it there while you're away, per Five Star Painting. Just under half of the bristles in the paint should keep it nice and wet for a short time. You'll also want to avoid simply setting the brush down on a piece of paper or tarp where it can get dry rather quickly.

When you've finished painting whatever you're working on or know that you'll be away for more than just a day or two, then it might be time to give your paintbrushes a proper wash and store them safely away. According to The Home Depot, your first step will be to remove as much wet paint from the brush as possible by gently scraping it away; you can do this by brushing it against a newly painted surface, the edge of your paint can, or on a piece of paper you're intending to throw away.

You will then want to make sure to give your paintbrush a good wash either using soap and water or paint cleaner depending on the type of paint you've used. You'll also want to use soap and water after using a paint cleaner to make sure the solvent isn't left on the bristles. Finally, get rid of any excess water, ensure the bristles are lined up, and hang the paintbrush up (by the handle) for safekeeping.