How to Keep Paint and the Brushes Ready for the Next Day

Empty any unused paint remaining in the pans back into their original paint can. Use one of your brushes to help direct the paint back into the can. Do not allow any paint to spill on the lip of the can as it will make it hard to seal the top back on.

Seal the paint cans securely. Use a hammer to tap the lid into place until fully closed. Once the lid is secure, turn the can over for a few seconds and back upright again. The paint inside will form a thin layer around the top of the can, sealing it.

Clean paint left on the paintbrushes, paint rollers and roller pans thoroughly, as you normally would. While there may be a small amount of paint left in the pans, the amount is not worth saving and can easily dry out. Paint that drys in a pan can later flake off onto a brush or roller.

Place brushes into sealable plastic bags, such as sandwich bags or freezer bags. Remove as much air as possible from the bag before sealing it. Paint rollers can be placed in larger plastic bags, such as plastic shopping bags, with the end of the bags twisted in order to seal them. The bag used to store a paintbrush or roller must be as airtight as possible.

Store the sealed bags in the refrigerator or freezer until ready to use again. As long as the bags remain sealed and intact, the brushes will remain ready to use for days or even weeks. When resuming the project, just take the brushes out of the bags and use like normal.