Over the years, I’ve shared more than 500 Simple Solutions — many of them have to do with painting specifically painting neatly.
And over time, many Today’s Homeowner fans have shared their own solutions on how to make painting easier.
This tip from John of Clancy, Montana, will help you paint neatly from a can using a paintbrush.
The challenge when dipping a paintbrush in a can is how to keep the paint from dripping around the rim.
Not only do you waste paint, but you also make a mess on the outside of the paint can and the surface underneath it.
To prevent any paint from dripping down the side of the can, create a built-in paint scraper in the center of the can. Here’s how to do it:
- Cut the lid in half using a pair of snips.
- Tap the half lid onto the paint can to secure it.
When you dip your paintbrush in there, you can take that excess paint and just strike it off against the edge of the half lid.
Now, you can very neatly apply the paint without any drips, runs or errors.
If you don’t use the whole can, you can preserve the leftover with a separate paint bucket and save the half lid for future painting projects.
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