QUICK MONEY-SAVING TRICKS

First, I use some simple tools and gadgets that will give pro results, even if you’re not a pro. For painting, I use blue tape called “long mask” instead of white masking tape. It costs about $2.50 per roll, but unlike white masking tape, you can leave it on a surface for up to two weeks and it will still strip clean. I also use a 3M hand masker when taping off doorframes, windows and such. It costs about $20 at Home Depot in the paint dept. It has a 12-inch cutting blade and can be fitted with 12 inch masking paper (about $2.99) and the blue tape. This handy tool helps you mask off things to protect from paint over spray and can help to produce straight lines when used between wall and trim colors that are different shades.

A problem that I’ve frequently noticed is that people tend to get paint drips on the brass hinges of doors and on doorknobs. To prevent messing up your hinges from the start, I use something called rubber cement. Do not confuse this with contact cement. Rubber cement comes in a can and it has a paintbrush type applicator. Brush the rubber cement on to the brass hinges and let it dry before painting. This will form a skin that protects the hinges from paint. Once the paint has dried, peel off the rubber cement and the brass underneath will be clean. Paint splatters on metal can be removed with a cloth and “xylene,” a solvent that can be found next to the quarts of mineral spirits in hardware stores. It removes dried latex paint. There is also a product called “goof off” and xylene is its active ingredient.

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