DRJ PAINTING

If you’ve invested in good quality painting tools, the last thing you want to do is ruin them after a single use. A high-quality paintbrush can last for years if cared for correctly, while a poorly cleaned roller cover will be useless for your next project. Cleaning up is the least glamorous part of any painting job, but taking 15 minutes to do it properly will save you a significant amount of money in the long run and ensure your tools are in perfect condition for your next project. This guide focuses on cleaning up after using modern water-based (acrylic) paints, which are used in over 90% of home projects in Australia....

Life happens, and walls bear the brunt of it. From grubby fingerprints around light switches to scuff marks in the hallway and mystery splatters in the kitchen, our painted walls are constantly under attack. The instinct might be to grab the nearest spray-and-wipe and a scourer, but this is often the fastest way to ruin your paint job, leaving behind shiny, burnished patches or even removing the paint altogether. The secret to cleaning painted walls effectively is to start with the gentlest method first and only escalate as needed, all while using the right tools for the job....

You’ve finished your painting project, the house looks fantastic, but you’re left with a collection of half-empty paint cans, dirty turps, and other chemical leftovers. It’s tempting to just chuck them in your council wheelie bin or pour them down the drain, but this is both illegal and incredibly harmful to the environment. Paint and solvents are classified as household hazardous waste. Tipping them down the sink can damage plumbing and pollute our waterways, while putting them in landfill can lead to soil and groundwater contamination. Thankfully, Australia has a fantastic, free national scheme that makes responsible disposal easy.

We’re all familiar with that overpowering "new paint smell." For years, it was just an accepted part of redecorating. But that strong chemical odour is actually caused by Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), and there’s a growing awareness of their potential impact on our health and the environment. Thankfully, paint technology has come a long way. Today, Australian homeowners have access to a fantastic range of high-quality, low-VOC and zero-VOC paints that perform brilliantly without the nasty fumes. This guide will explain what VOCs are and why choosing a low-VOC option is a smarter choice for your home and family....