How to Maintain Your Painting Tools for Years

April 11, 2025

Keep Your Brushes Beautiful and Rollers Rolling: Smart Tips for Long-Lasting Painting Gear

You know the feeling. You step back from a freshly painted room—roller in one hand, brush in the other—and think, “Yep, nailed it.” The colour’s flawless, the finish is smooth, and even your partner can’t believe it’s a DIY job. But then comes the clean-up. And let’s be honest, that trusty angled brush or high-quality roller often gets the short end of the stick, quite literally. Many painting tools get wrecked not from overuse, but from poor care afterwards.

If you’re someone who’s spent good money on quality tools—like a Uni-Pro Roller Kit or a smooth gliding Uni-Pro Lime Wash Brush—then you’ll want them hanging around for more than just one project. Whether you're tackling your kitchen cabinets this weekend or planning an exterior refresh next summer, here’s how to keep your painting gear primed and ready, year after year.

1. It Starts Before the First Stroke

This may sound backwards, but protecting your painting tools begins before you ever dip them in paint. A seasoned DIY-er trick is to condition your brushes by swirling them in water (or turps if you’re using oil-based paint) before they meet the real stuff. It acts like a barrier to prevent paint from absorbing too deep into the bristles, making cleanup that much easier.

For rollers, a quick pre-wash in water helps fluff them up and takes away any leftover fibres. A sturdy choice like the UNi-PRO 230mm Unifiber Heavy Duty Roller Kit is designed to deliver a premium finish and, when properly cared for, will go the full mile with you.

2. Cut the Rush Job – Clean Like You Mean It

A good rule of thumb? Clean your tools right after your paint session, even when your arms are sore and you “just want a cuppa.” Leaving brushes or rollers caked in paint, even for a couple of hours, can change everything. Latex and acrylic paints dry fast—which is great on your walls, not so great on your bristles.

Water-based paints: Wash with warm soapy water until it rinses clear. Use your hands (or a brush comb, if you’ve got one) to clear the base of the brush—it’s often missed but always crucial.
Oil-based paints: Use turpentine, then follow with warm soapy water to remove the residues. Again, don’t forget the ferrule (that metal bit holding the bristles together).

The same care applies to rollers. Rinse them under running water and roll the paint out until you no longer see any colour squeezing out.

3. Storing Them: Think Like a Pro Painter

Once they’re clean, give your brushes a gentle shake and reshape their bristles with your fingers. Hang them bristle-side down if you can, or lay them flat. Never store brushes standing upright in water—you’ll have warped wood and bent bristles faster than you can say “primer.”

Rollers should not be squashed or left to dry upright either. Sling them over a coat hanger or slide them back into the manufacturer’s plastic case (those little sleeves aren’t just for shipping—they're actually brilliant for long-term storage).

4. Got a Break in the Project? Wrap It Up (Literally)

If the phone rings or your toddler calls for snacks midway through your room refresh, don’t even think about rinsing those tools yet. Just cover your brush in plastic wrap or aluminium foil tight enough to hold moisture. Do the same for your roller, then toss everything in a sealed plastic bag or wrap them in a damp towel.

Cold garage? Pop it all in the fridge until tomorrow. No joke—it works. Just bring it back to room temp before painting again. This trick buys you 24 hours of break without ruining your tools or momentum.

5. Invest Once, Care Forever

Look, great tools aren't just about paint application, they’re quiet partners in crime for your home projects. A good angled sash brush like the UNi-PRO Smooth Coat Brush holds heaps of paint and gives you that gliding precision we all dream of when cutting in around the ceiling cornices. But without proper care, even the best brush turns to a soggy mess.

Look after your kit the way you look after your car or garden tools. Clean properly, store smartly, and you'll be using those same reliable tools for job after job.

Bonus Tip: Add a Label So You Remember Its Use

If you’re like me, and your painting projects come in bursts across the year—label your tools. One brush might be best for trims, another for chalk paint, and that wide 75mm brush is for outdoor weatherboard magic. Wrapping masking tape with labels like "Bathroom Walls – Water-Resist Paint" or “Living Room Neutrals” keeps future mishaps at bay.

Final Word from My Paint-Stained Apron

Painting isn’t all about colour wheels, accent walls, or trendy finishes. Sometimes, it's about rolling up your sleeves and knowing you’ve got tools that meet you halfway. You don’t need dozens of brushes and rollers—you need good ones you can trust across seasons and surfaces.

Take care of them like the quiet little heroes they are. They’ll repay you with smooth walls, even coats, and fewer trips back to replace your kit.

Happy painting and here's to brushes that last longer than last season’s trends 🖌️.

With paint on my elbows (again!),

Cheers

Candeece