For any resourceful DIY enthusiast, maximizing the utility of every material is key. Common items can be transformed into home decor or repurposed for new uses once their original purpose is fulfilled. Alternatively, discovering new applications for these items can save time, money, and effort, ensuring we derive the utmost value from our tools. Take, for instance, a simple paint stir stick—it can do more than just blend colors. Stir stick manufacturers have cleverly incorporated an additional feature: a paint roller cleaner!
Have you ever noticed the peculiar rounded notch at the end of a stir stick? What might seem like an awkward handle is, in fact, a convenient scraper designed to fit your paint roller cover for easy cleaning. By holding the roller vertically over an open can, you can run this notch firmly down the cover to release excess paint. Depending on the cover material and nap size, you can recover a significant amount of paint. Repeat this process several times around the roller to remove as much paint as possible. This eliminates the need to search for your 5-in-1 tool or, worse, scrape the roller awkwardly on the can rim. The stir stick is both handy and efficient, and paint removal is just one of the many ways this simple tool can enhance your painting project.
How to Use Your Stir Stick to Assist with Your Paint Project
@therurallegend
Did you know?! #homehacks
♬ original sound – Lindsey
Stir sticks are essential for mixing paint at the project’s start and for scraping the roller at its conclusion. In between, they can be surprisingly versatile, helping speed up tasks and resolve common painting challenges. Beyond removing paint from roller covers, you can place a stir stick over the can and secure it with bands to the handle hooks, providing a spot to wipe off excess paint from your brush. This prevents paint from accumulating in the can rim, which can complicate lid closures.
Sometimes, stir sticks can even be used during the painting process itself. They can serve as an extension arm to reach tight spots, or help define clean edges without the need for taping. By laying a stir stick flat on the floor while painting baseboards, you can keep paint confined to the trim and not on the hardwood. Once the painting is complete, the stick can also assist in organizing leftover paint cans. While you can clean and reuse stir sticks, they can also be repurposed as labels for an organizational hack that helps track your paint. From the start of your project to its conclusion, your stir stick proves invaluable and is worth keeping for assistance throughout your painting endeavors.
