In praise of microfibre and other wonderful decorating aids

[malumbu]

Just been applying floor sealant with a microfibre cloth. Wow.

Recent used cutting in brushes for the first time. Wow.

An older wow was glossing with a roller for the first time.

Do share your finds, or indulge me. Getting a bit argumentative elsewhere on the forum!

[diable rouge]

To bring up a smear-free finish to stainless steel finishes e.g. cooker hood, hob, oven etc, after cleaning with a general sponge and detergent, apply a smidge of baby oil on kitchen paper (a macrofibre cloth can also be used if to hand) and gently wipe over the whole surface, should bring it up as good as new again..,

[TheWitchOfDullness]

Just bear in mind that, if washed, microfibre cloths release microplastics which cannot be filtered out by water treatment plants, end up in the water supply and take many more years to biodegrade than alternatives.

[malumbu]

More importantly what are your tips.

(synthetic materials are a signficant source of microplastics but as microfibres constitute only a tiny fraction, and I don't wash them in any case, not particularly relevant to my Viz tips thread)

[TheWitchOfDullness]

It is relevant because you wrote a thread praising something which has a hidden cost to all of us. IMHO these tips are less important.

What is floor sealant?

My tip is: whilst in the middle of a job keep your paint brushes / rollers in the fridge wrapped up for up to a few days. It will stop the paint from curing and save cleaning brushes in the middle of the job.

[malumbu]

So would you ban everything that damages the environment? Please get a sense of perspective. This is minuscule say compared to the rain forest being felled for cattle ranching, growing soy to feed Western herds, gold mining etc. I don't eat meat and doubt if I've ever bought gold. I can sleep soundly.

This was supposed to be a light hearted thread.

Start a new one by all means and very happy to debate with you on protecting the environment.

[diable rouge]

On a similar theme, if you're using a mini-roller and/or smallish brush over several days, leave them inside the re-covered paint pot rather then cleaning them each day.

Sorry it's another miniscule effect on the environment but every little helps and all that...

[TheWitchOfDullness]

All I did was point out that, imho, microfibre is not wonderful and then defend my point when told it was irrelevant and not important.

[malumbu]

Moving on, I like the tips on paint brushes.

I invested in a roller holder/cover thing from Whites, great of you are spending a few days emulsioning.

[diable rouge]

Create your own cutting-in brush by cutting the bristles on an old worn-bristle brush to the desired angle, good enough for general emulsion work. For more intricate work such as windows it's worth paying the extra for a good quality new one.

I've never tried this but someone once told me that if you're fed-up with bits of old dried paint falling into your emulsion when you reopen a tin of paint, simply place a loose piece of polythene/cling film under the lid and carefully push down and reseal the pot, making sure the film overlaps the rim...