Storing a Paint Roller Overnight

Effectively storing a paint roller overnight in the middle of a project saves time and water for cleaning up. It is also more environmentally friendly, producing less waste and prolonging the life of the tool. Not to mention the fact that you'll save some money.

Store It Like a Chip

Store the roller in an empty potato chip (like Pringles) tube box. After removing all excess paint, put the roller in the tube box. Put the plastic lid on the container to seal out the air and keep the paint roller from drying up. It is a good idea to seal the lid with some masking tape. Leave the tube box in the refrigerator until your next paint.

Store It Like a Sandwich

Pack the paint roller in a zip-lock sandwich bags. Squeeze out all the air and seal them tight. Place the bag in the freezer. The cool temperature and high humidity keeps the paint from drying up. It takes almost 20 minutes for the paint roller to thaw and use. Once thawed, the roller will be as moist as when you left it. Paint rollers can be stored for almost a year before they begin to dry out, so it’s a good idea to store a paint roller in the freezer for occasional touch-ups.

Store It Like a Broomstick

Allow the paint roller to air dry after it is cleaned properly. Cover it thoroughly with saran wrap, wax paper, or plastic wrap to secure it. Keep in mind not to distort or misshape the bristles when wrapping. Doing so results in misshaped and hard bristles. Let it stand vertically on its side.

TIP: Doityourself’s painting consultant Pam Estabrooke, of ProTect Painters, suggests, “a 5 in 1 painters tool is a must have in any DIY toolbox. The curved side of the tool is designed for cleaning a paint roller. As water runs over the roller, work the tool down the roller away from you to help force paint from deep within the nap out.”

It may seem more convenient to buy a new paint roller, rather than cleaning and re-using the old one. However, new paint rollers tend to have surplus fuzz. To remove the excessive fuzz, wrap the roller with masking tape and pull it free. When you do discard the paint roller, do it in an environmentally friendly manner. Place it in an airtight bag and then dump it in the garbage.

Pam Estabrooke, district manager of ProTect Painters, contributed to this article.