26 faster and neater painting tricks

When you apply masking tape to trim, run a putty knife or a 5-in-1 tool over it to set the tape.

This bonds the tape to the surface and helps prevent paint from seeping under it and onto the trim.

Large drop sheets are great if you’re painting a ceiling, but they’re overkill for walls and trim.

Drop sheet runners are usually about a metre wide and are much easier and safer to work with because you don’t have to fold them several times.

Folded drop sheets are easy to trip on, and nothing good results from tripping with an open paint can in your hand.

Choose heavy-duty cotton canvas drop sheets for painting, as they can absorb drips and you won’t slip on them if you do have a spill.

And when they get dirty, you can wash them at a laundromat that has oversize washers and dryers.

When painting skirting, cover 5mm of the base edge with tape, pushing down hard on the carpet so it stays down while you paint.

Add a strip of wider tape to create a shield over the carpet then spread a drop sheet over the top.

When you remove the tape, the carpet will spring up to cover the unpainted edge.

Even though you diligently clean your brushes, they will eventually wear out over time.

Instead of throwing them out, save a couple of different sizes to repurpose as cleaning brushes.

An old paintbrush is an excellent tool for dusting off window trim or whatever else needs a light touch.

Applying masking tape to protect the trim won’t necessarily protect windows or doors so it’s important to cover them, especially if you’re painting the ceiling.

The easiest way to do this is by hanging plastic using a hand-masker tool.

If you don’t have one, first tape off the top of the trim and attach a folded section of plastic sheeting.

When the sheeting is secure, unfold the plastic so it drops down to cover the door or window then attach it to the trim with tape.

It’s hard to create a straight line when you’re painting the wall adjacent to a textured ceiling.

As you move the paintbrush along, the bristles get hung up on the texture, which creates noticeable paint globs.

Use a 5-in-1 tool or screwdriver to remove a few millimetres of texture, creating a clear path for the brush.

When you remove masking tape that has been left on for too long, the tape can pull chunks of paint off with it.

Ideally, you should remove it while the paint is relatively wet and never leave it on overnight.

But when it has stayed on too long, it’s best to gently cut the tape along the line where it meets the trim.

This prevents the paint from sticking to the tape and coming off the wall.

Masking tape is a precaution, not a guarantee.

No matter how careful you are, there may still be a void or two left between the tape and the trim.

If you expose the tape to an excessive amount of paint, some is bound to get through.

The trick is to pretend the tape isn’t there.

Don’t force a lot of paint into the corner at an angle.

Instead, lightly load the paintbrush and run it down parallel to the trim.

Never underestimate how much rubbish a painting job can create.

Running around the house armed with big wads of plastic and tape covered in wet paint will not make you popular, so be prepared.

Get out the garbage bags before you start, either hanging one out of the way on a doorknob or setting one up in a rubbish bin or portable garbage bag holder.

Before the first tin of paint is opened, attach a cloth to your belt.

That way, your trousers are protected when you wipe your hand on them absentmindedly.

Use a large cloth and unfold it a little, so that the messy side always stays facing out.