How to Clean Paint Rollers

How to Clean Latex- or Water-Based Paint Off a Paint Roller

1. Remove Excess Paint

   Paint rollers hold an amazing amount of paint in their absorbent fibers. Use a putty knife to gently scrape excess paint back into the paint can. Hold the roller perpendicular over the can opening and slowly and gently work around the surface of the roller in a downward motion.

   Finish by using the remaining paint on the roller to touch up bare spots on your wall or roll the excess paint on newspapers until the roller stops releasing paint.

2. Remove the Roller to Clean the Frame

   Wearing rubber gloves to protect your hands, pull the roller from the frame. It is much easier to clean the frame while the paint on it is wet. Place some warm water and a few drops of dishwashing liquid in a bucket. Use an old rag or a stiff-bristled brush to remove the paint from the roller frame and handle. Set it aside to air-dry.

3. Wash the Roller

   Submerge the roller in the bucket of warm water with a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Use your hands to massage the paint out of the roller fibers, making sure you clean every surface.

4. Rinse the Roller

   Use a stream of fresh water or a fresh bucket of water to rinse the roller. This may take several minutes. Shake off the excess water.

5. Dry the Roller

   Never place the roller on its side to dry—this will flatten the fibers. Place it upright on its end or slip it over a pants hanger to dry.

6. Clean the Paint Tray

   Rinse the paint tray out in a bucket of soapy water. Use a stiff-bristled brush to remove any dried paint along the edges.

   If you aren't in a hurry and are using a plastic tray or plastic tray liner, allow the paint to dry and then simply peel it away. This method can have varying results.

7. Dispose of the Cleaning Water

   Since the cleaning water contains bits of paint, never dispose of it down a stormwater drain. Dispose of the water down a sewer drain connected to a water-treatment facility.

How to Clean Oil-Based Paint Off a Paint Roller

As with latex paint, always remove as much excess paint from the roller as possible. The biggest difference in cleaning paint rollers after using oil-based paint is that a solvent like mineral spirits must be used to remove oil-based paint.

1. Clean the Roller Frame and Paint Tray

   Dampen an old rag with mineral spirits and scrub away any paint that is clinging to the roller frame and paint tray. You may need to use a stiff-bristled brush or pour a small amount of mineral spirits into the paint tray to remove dried paint.

2. Use Solvent to Clean the Roller

   Place enough mineral spirits in a bucket to completely cover the paint roller. Use a container as small as possible to reduce the amount of solvent needed. Wearing rubber gloves, use your hands to work the solvent through the fibers of the paint roller. This will take five to 10 minutes. Remove the roller from the solvent and use your gloved hands to squeeze out as much of the excess mineral spirits as possible.

   Pour the soiled mineral spirits into a disposable container. Wipe out the bucket with an old rag. Refill the bucket with enough fresh mineral spirits to rinse the roller. Once the roller is rinsed, gently squeeze to remove excess solvent.

   Fill a bucket with warm water and a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Give the paint roller a final cleaning in the soapy water. Rinse well in fresh water and gently squeeze out the excess moisture. Set the roller on its end or hang to air dry.

   Pour the last batch of mineral spirits into the disposable container. Always follow the guidelines of your municipality for disposing of the container.