Can You Reuse Paint Rollers? (Find Out Now!)
It is a wonderful clean feeling when you roll a fresh coat of paint onto your interior walls. It also looks fresh and new. Once you begin to clean up your home improvement project you may wonder if you can save the project materials, including the paint roller you just used.
To begin preserving your paint roller, roll off any extra paint until no more comes off. Wash the roller in warm soapy water. Massage out all paint while it is in soapy water. For oil-based paint, soak the paint roller in paint thinner before washing it. Rinse the roller in clean water. Allow the paint roller to dry completely then place it in a resealable plastic bag.
Thoroughly cleaning and properly storing your paint rollers are both crucial in properly preserving a roller for future use. The technique you use to wash your roller will vary based on the type of roller and the type of paint you chose.
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Types of Paint Roller
There are several types of paint rollers that are designed for all sorts of surfaces and paint jobs. The most commonly seen paint rollers include nap rollers and foam rollers.
Nap Rollers
Nap rollers have bushy thick fibers rather than one material surface. There are a variety of nap brush styles and sizes. Thick nap rollers have wide and almost-pillowy surfaces. They are often used on rougher surfaces. Thinner naps have tighter threads and are used on smoother surfaces.
When you clean a nap roller it is important to remember the fibers can hold onto paint very well. When washing out paint be sure to thoroughly massage the roller to ensure all the paint is released from the thousands of fibers.
Foam Rollers
Foam Rollers use a complete foam cylinder to paint rather than fibers as a surface. These rollers work well on smooth surfaces. Many foam rollers are inexpensive and can be easier to clean as they do not have lots of fibers for paint to cling to.
Foam rollers have a tendency to hold onto moisture like a sponge. It is critical to completely dry your foam roller before storing it. Use plenty of paper towels and allow extra drying time for a foam roller to ensure a completely dry paint roller.
Roll Off Extra Paint
The first step to cleaning and preserving a paint roller is to get as much paint off as possible. Once you finish rolling paint off on the walls, try rolling off even more paint onto newspaper or cardboard in order to remove as much paint as the roller allows.
Note: Use a scraper to scrape off any dried paint along the edges, especially If you are cleaning a nap roller.
Wash the paint roller
When washing a paint roller the type of paint matters. You will need to follow different methods depending on if you used latex-based paint or oil-based paint.
Washing Out Latex Paint
- Prepare your sink for washing by filling it part-way with warm water and soap. Alternatively, you can set up a cleaning station with two buckets of warm water. Add soap to one water bucket and mix it. Do not overfill water beyond three-quarters full to avoid any mess.
Note: Ensure the sink or buckets are large enough to comfortably submerge your paint roller and both your hands.
- Fully submerge the roller in the warm soapy water. Lightly squeeze and rub the paint roller to ensure the soapy water is cleaning the entire roller brush.
- Remove the roller once you have scrubbed off all paint that will come off.
- Refill the sink with clean warm water, or move it to your other warm water bucket. Submerge the paint roller in the clean warm water for at least 15 seconds. Lightly scrub the brush to remove all soap and confirm there is no more paint on the roller brush. Once all soap and paint residue is removed, take the roller brush out of the water and set it aside for the drying process.
Washing Out Oil-Based Paint
Oil-based paint is more stubborn than latex paint. It does not easily remove itself from nap and foam rollers, but it still only takes a few steps to clean your rollers after using oil paints. Although it is possible to remove oil paint without using paint thinner, paint thinner is the most efficient method when removing oil-based paints from paint rollers.
- Add 3” of paint thinner to a roller paint pan.
Note: Be sure to use gloves and protective eyewear when you use paint thinner. Paint thinner can easily burn your skin if it splashes on you.
- Roll the brush back and forth in the paint thinner as you would when you add paint to the roller.
- Once the entire roller is saturated with paint thinner, set the roller aside on a protected surface for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Run the roller under hot water or submerge in a bucket of hot water.
- Wash the roller with warm soapy water, massaging it to help remove all the paint throughout the roller.
- Repeat the washing and scrubbing process until there is no more soap on the roller.
- Set the roller aside for the drying process.
Hang Roller To Dry
Once the roller is washed clean it is important you completely dry the roller before storing it. Press and squeeze out as much water as possible without damaging or changing the shape of the roller. Once no more water drips out it is best to use paper towels to absorb additional moisture from the roller.
Use a wall nail or something similar to hang the paint roller to dry. Allow several hours to a full 24 hours for the roller to dry completely.
Preserve Your Paint Roller
It is safe to store the paint roller once it is completely dry. Use a large plastic bag with a strong seal in order to keep moisture and dirt particles away from the roller when it is in storage. Place the roller in the resealable plastic bag and seal it completely.
It is wise to wrap the roller in a dry paper towel before placing it in the resealable bag. This helps prevent the roller from collecting any moisture or mold during its storage.
Note: It is particularly important to wrap foam rollers with dry paper towels as foam rollers tend to hold on to moisture for a long time.
Reusing a roller After A Long Time
If you have an old paint roller that is completely dried with paint, you can still try to salvage it.
- Try using Paint Thinner. You can follow the same steps as you would when removing oil paint. Be sure to soak the roller in paint thinner for at least 10 minutes. Always properly dispose of paint thinner once you finish cleaning the roller brush.
- Try a High-Pressure Hose. If you have access to a high-pressure hose, try applying high water pressure to the dried paint roller. It will help to soak the paint roller in warm soapy water for at least 10 minutes first in order to loosen up the paint on the roller.
Related Questions
Is it safe to reuse Paint Trays?
You can definitely reuse paint trays after a job. It is best to clean the trays after each use with soap and water. You can always use paint thinner to remove stubborn paint and have the tray looking brand new.
You can also line the tray with taped plastic wrap or other non-penetrable material to easily keep your paint tray clean for many uses and easy cleanup.
What Paint Rollers Last The Longest?
Each paint job calls for a different specific style of roller for the ideal results. With that taken into consideration, microfiber rollers have the potential to last a very long time. They are often made from durable material that can withstand many washes. If you take the time to clean and properly preserve a microfiber roller they can outlast many other styles of paint rollers you use.
How Do I Keep My Paint Roller Fresh During a Paint Job?
There are ways to keep your paint roller fresh when you know you have a long paint job. When you take any break from painting be sure to cover your roller in plastic wrap to keep it preserved and unexposed. If you take a break overnight you can leave your roller well wrapped and bagged in the refrigerator to ensure maximum freshness. Be sure the roller is wrapped well so no paint dries in your refrigerator.
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Final Thoughts
Reusing a paint roller is very easy as long as you take the proper steps to clean it first. The best practice is to clean your paint roller as soon as you finish a painting project. You can get many uses out of a roller if you quickly and thoroughly remove paint from it.
Make sure you safely use paint thinner when dealing with oil paint or a roller brush that has lots of dried paint on it. Always ensure your roller brush is completely dry before it goes in a sealed bag and into storage. This way you can be certain it will be fresh and ready next time you need it.
Tom Gaffey is an expert writer who currently resides in Washington D.C. Tom has a passion for real estate and home improvement writing, as well as travel and lifestyle writing. He lived the last twelve years in Hawaii where he worked closely with luxury resorts and event planners, mastering his knowledge of aesthetics and luxury products. This is where he found his passion for home improvement and a keen interest in DIY projects. Currently, Tom resides in Washington D.C, and also working on his debut fiction novel.
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