To clean paint rollers using white spirit, the process involves saturating the roller cover with the spirit and working the paint out.
Cleaning a paint roller after using oil-based paint is crucial for maintaining your tools. White spirit is a common solvent used for this purpose. The method focuses on using the white spirit to dissolve and release the paint from the roller fibres.
Steps for Cleaning with White Spirit
Based on the recommended approach, here's how to clean your paint roller:
- Prepare the Container: Find a container that is large enough to fit your paint roller cover when laid flat.
- Add White Spirit: Add a shallow amount of white spirit into the container. You don't need to fill it; just enough for the roller cover to soak.
- Saturate the Roller: Roll the cover in the white spirit to saturate it completely. Ensure the spirit reaches deep into the nap.
- Allow to Soak: Leave the roller cover to soak for 5 minutes. This allows the white spirit time to work on dissolving the paint.
- Extract the Paint: While the roller is still in the container, gently squeeze and massage the paint out of the cover. Work the spirit through the fibres to release the paint.
- Remove and Drip: Carefully remove the roller cover from the container, being sure to catch any drips as you lift it out.
After these steps, the bulk of the oil-based paint should be removed. You may need to repeat the process with fresh white spirit or follow up with washing in soapy water to remove residual spirit and loosened paint, although the provided reference focuses specifically on the white spirit application.
