How to Paint Your Apartment
Sandpaper
Primer
Cleaning rags
Roller with extension pole
Roller tray
Disposable rubber gloves
Prepare
Remove all the furniture from the room or push it to the center and cover it with a tarp. Cover floors with tarp or newspaper.
Remove everything from the walls and take down the light fixtures. Also remove outlet and light switch covers.
If the walls had wallpaper, remove it with a scraper or steam cleaner.
If the walls were painted, scrub them with a household cleaner and rinse them well.
Patch holes, dents and cracks by pressing spackle into them with a putty knife. Sand rough spots down once the spackle dries.
Apply a primer to seal the wall and to create a nonporous surface for the topcoat to adhere to.
Paint
Ceilings should always be painted first, then move down the walls.
Use painters or masking tape to cover the edge of the ceiling and to prevent splattering for protecting the trim.
Paint a two-inch strip along the edges using the small brush and then immediately go over it with the roller brush. Paint in square sections in an up-and-down movement and then across to ensure that there are no lines.
Apply a second coat and topcoat in the same way.
Clean Up
Latex paint can be cleaned up with soap and water.
Oil-based paint can be cleaned off equipment with a turpentine solution. Rub the bristles together to release the paint. Finish by washing it with soap and water and letting everything dry. Wear gloves when handling turpentine and make sure the area that you are using it in is well ventilated.
NEVER flush the turpentine solution down the drain. Keep it in a sealed container and call your town garbage service to see if they have a pick-up service or where you could drop it off.
Enjoy your hard work! Painting is well-worth the effort for the considerable change in environment and mood that it will lend to your apartment.
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