How to Dispose of Paint Water
- 1). Use a rag to wipe off your brush. Squeeze the bristle between layers of the fabric. Continue wiping until you no longer see any paint coming from the brush.
- 2). Dispose of your roller sleeve to save time and keep contaminated water from going down the drain. If you plan to reuse your roller, roll off excess paint on a clean surface, such as the wall you just painted. Scrape the remaining paint off the roller sleeve with the curved side of a 5-in-1 tool. Wipe the tool off on a rag. Continue scraping until you remove most of the paint from the roller sleeve. Rollers with a longer nap hold more paint and take longer to clean.
- 3). Put some water in a 1-gallon bucket. Swish your brush in the water. Wipe the brush off on a clean rag. Soak your roller sleeve in the paint water.
- 4). Fill a second 1-gallon bucket with clean water. Give your brush a second rinse to remove almost all traces of paint. Wipe the brush off again on a clean rag.
- 5). Squeeze the water out of your roller sleeve with your 5-in-1 tool. Transfer your sleeve to the bucket of cleaner water. Soak the sleeve for a few minutes. Scrape the nap to release excess water.
- 6). Wash your brush and roller sleeve under running water. If the water is still coming out dirty, you can soak your brush or sleeve for a third time.
- 7). Set the bucket of cleaner water aside to use again. The paint will settle as it sits.
- 8). Pour the dirtier bucket of water into a 5-gallon bucket. Leave the bucket in a warm, dry place. Allow the water to evaporate.
- 9). Peel out the dried paint residue at the bottom of the bucket. Dispose of this hardened paint in a trash bag with your other trash.
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