Home Home Improvement Painting 8 Secrets Only Professional Painters Know Steal these genius tips from the experts to give your next painting project a flawless result. By Tamara Kraus Tamara Kraus Tamara Kraus is the Associate Home Editor at Real Simple. When she's not scrolling through Pinterest for design inspo, you can find her at the newest Instagram-famous spot in the city. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @tamararkraus for all of her colorful adventures. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on August 12, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Are you doing some interior painting but don't know how to reach tall ceilings? Or maybe you're wondering how long to leave painter's tape on? No doubt pro painters would rather you just leave the job to them. But we managed to pry some secrets out of our favorite paint experts. They told us how they handle both of these issues. Then they spilled even more tricks of the trade, so you can achieve a flawless paint job—all on your own. 5 Quick Painting Tips Everyone Should Know 01 of 08 Use an Extension Pole Clare Paint "Most people think they're only for reaching high places, but if you have a lot of wall surface to paint, an extension pole is a must. It will give you greater leverage so you don't have to keep bending down to load your roller, which reduces strain on your arms and back. With better leverage and less physical stress, you'll be able to paint faster and more efficiently." — Nicole Gibbons, founder of Clare Paint 02 of 08 Protect Doorknobs "Slip a small plastic bag over your doorknobs, and tape the edge to avoid getting paint in places it isn't supposed to go." —Mike Mundwiller, Field Integration Manager at Benjamin Moore. John Bessler "Slip a small plastic bag over your doorknobs, and tape the edge to avoid getting paint in places it isn't supposed to go."—Mike Mundwiller, Field Integration Manager at Benjamin Moore 03 of 08 Choose the Right Brush Brian Bedenbaugh "Investing in a good paintbrush is the first step towards a professional-looking finish. Plan to invest $20-$25 on your brush. As a homeowner, stick with synthetic or polyester brushes for exterior work and soft nylon for interior work. The smaller the brush, the more control, but selecting a brush that's too small would make a project take longer." — Thumbtack painter Brian Bedenbaugh 04 of 08 Don't Forget to Caulk Sherwin Williams "Don't forget to caulk around the trim work, crown molding, windows, and door frames. This makes your trim and wall finishes stand out and look like a professional took their time in providing quality work. Plus, caulking could add the benefit of keeping unwanted cold air/draft from sneaking into the room."—Rick Watson, director of product information at Sherwin-Williams 05 of 08 Use a Box Cutter to Remove Painter's Tape Pexels "Latex paint can have an almost elastic-like "stretch" before it fully cures, so when you remove the painter's tape that was protecting your floor or door trim, be careful not to pull the paint off with the tape and ruin your perfect finish. Simply use a retractable utility blade or box cutter to score the place where the tape meets the wall so you get a clean edge when you pull off the tape."—Anne Treutel, Sr. Product Manager at Valspar 06 of 08 Put Your Roller in the Fridge Ace Hardware "If you're taking a break from painting for the night but plan to add another coat in the morning, prevent your brush and roller from drying out by wrapping them tightly with a plastic shopping bag, using a rubber band to secure them, and placing them in the fridge (not the freezer). In the morning, take it out of the fridge and get to painting!"—Lou Manfredini, Home Expert at Ace Hardware 07 of 08 Use the "W" Method Behr "Many pros swear by the 'W method.' When painting a room, roll your paint onto the wall in a W shape, then fill in around and inside the W to create a square and repeat until the wall is covered. Each "W" should be about an arm's length, with 12-inch strokes or longer, to evenly distribute the paint for a beautiful, professional-quality finish. Don't forget to reload your roller before starting the next W section."— Jessica Barr, Behr National Sales & Development Trainer 08 of 08 Keep a Wet Rag in Your Back Pocket Pexels "When paint hits your trim, grab your closest wet rag. Wiping the unwanted paint with a wet rag will help remove paint better than a dry cloth or paper towel. (Extra pro tip: Use a razor blade to remove unwanted paint from windows)." —Jenny Burroughs, PPG senior product marketing manager RELATED: How to Clean Paint Brushes and Rollers, the Easy Way Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit