In a burst of decorative fervor, you’ve decided that it’s time for a splash of new color on the walls. You examine your choice of paint options, making sure the one you pick matches the furniture and woodwork in the room, but it’s not time to start painting yet. First you must protect your carpet from any ill-timed paint spills.
It is vital to protect your carpet when painting to avoid unsightly stains or expensive replacements. Even the most careful paint job sometimes drips and accidents happen, so it is always best to be prepared before you begin painting. With that in mind, we have listed a few suggestions to help you protect your carpet during your latest paint job.
Cover the Carpet
This step is fairly obvious. If you want to protect your carpet from paint, you must first cover what cannot be moved out of the room while painting. This includes not only the carpet but also cumbersome or built-in furniture. Anything less permanent—transportable furniture, rugs, etc.—should be pulled from the room or at least away from the walls being painted.
All the paint and brushes you use should be kept in a designated place on a cover of their own (a piece of cardboard or doubled-up plastic tarping). Keep paint cans closed between uses as a safety measure and to keep the paint from thickening.
To effectively cover your carpet, drape polythene dust sheets over the regions near wet paint. If you are really in a pinch, you might use old sheets or old thick curtains instead, but sheets of polythene will ensure that paint does not soak through and contact the carpet underneath. Securely tack down the corners and the walls with painter’s or masking tape. If you are not planning to paint the ceiling, only a wide margin of carpet around the walls needs to be covered, leaving the center of the room as a good place to temporarily store bulky furniture.
Cover the Trim
Unless you plan to paint it, you should also plan to cover your trim. This can be done in a similar way—just tape the polythene sheets a little higher, protecting the trim as well as the carpet. Smooth and well-secured lines of painter’s tape where the trim meets the rest of the wall will keep paint off of the trim even while edging.
Be Patient
We know that waiting for paint to dry is as boring as, well, watching paint dry, but patience is certainly a virtue when you want to protect your carpet. For best results, allow paint to dry completely before you uncover the carpet or put any of the furniture back. Limit access to recently painted rooms and make sure they are well-ventilated to ensure an undisturbed and timely drying process.
What If I Accidentally Spill?
If you properly protect your carpet and furniture and make sure your painting supplies are kept on a surface of their own, you should not have to worry about paint spilling on surfaces you care about. If paint does spill onto your carpet, the first step is not to panic. The second is to act quickly. Spilled paint is much easier to manage before it has the chance to set in and dry.
The proper course of action for cleaning paint out of carpet depends heavily on the kind of paint in question. Be familiar with the kind of paint you are using before you begin your project so you do not have to waste precious time figuring it out after an accident.
Regardless of the kind of paint, act quickly to soak up the dye as much as possible without rubbing it. Too much rubbing will cause the paint to soak deeper into the carpet. Once you’ve done that, try the appropriate cleaning method for your type of paint, testing an inconspicuous spot first to make sure it does not damage your carpet.
Latex
The vast majority of household wall paints are latex-based. If such spills on your carpet, gently work away at the spill with a mixture of 1 tsp. detergent and a glass of warm water.
Water-Based
Water-based paints spread quickly, so speed in cleaning them is vital. Combine water and household vinegar in small doses. Be sure to rinse the area with fresh water when you’re finished.
Acrylic 
Most craft paints are acrylic. If some spills, applying glycerin to the stain is the ticket. Let it dry, then remove the glycerin as much as possible using water and detergent. Rinse when you are done.
Oils
Oil paint stains are pretty unyielding and can usually only be dented with the application of alcohol or turpentine. These strong chemicals should be rinsed away when you are finished.
The best way to protect your carpet during the painting process is to reach out to our professional painters at Brush Brothers. We are very experienced with securing protective tape and tarps, and our painting hands have the steadiness that comes with years of practice. If you are looking for a beautiful paint job that extends only to your walls and not your carpet, reach out to us at Brush Brothers today.
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