13 Simple Paint Hacks That Make Painting Your Home So Much Easier

Stop Wiping Your Brush On The Paint Can

If you've painted a room before, you've probably done this without even thinking about it. You dip your brush into the paint, lift it out, and then scrape the excess against the rim of the can before putting it back on the wall. It seems harmless, but after doing it dozens of times, the rim can become covered in thick layers of drying paint.

Eventually, that paint gets into the groove where the lid is supposed to seal. Then, when you finish the project and try to close the can, the lid won't sit properly—or becomes almost impossible to remove later. There's a surprisingly simple way around it.

Take a large rubber band and stretch it across the opening of the paint can, securing it around opposite sides of the can. Now, instead of wiping your brush against the rim, wipe it against the rubber band. The excess paint falls straight back into the can, while the messy part stays away from the lid and sealing groove. It's one tiny change, but it can leave your paint can looking dramatically cleaner when you're finished.