We all dream of spending our days upcycling furniture while our healthy tasty muffins rise in the oven. In real life, it can all get very messy and for many first timers, it can be disastrous (but hey, at least you’ll get a laugh out of it). Here upcycled furniture expert Joanne Condon (of Kyle Lane in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary) shares her top tips for getting your hands dirty. These ones are definitely worth keeping and sharing, and yes, some of them are pretty out there (but super effective) and they’ll save you a huge headache on your next furniture painting session.
1. Fabric Softener
If you leave your brushes with paint on them overnight, just pop them into a container of Fabric Softener for 24 hours, rinse well with water and your brush will be like new, and also smell fabulous.
2. A4 Plastic Sleeve
Wrapping your brush tightly in an A4 plastic sleeve will prevent your brush from drying out and saves you washing your brush in between coats.
3. Cocoa Brown Tough Stuff
Tough Stuff is the best product to remove (water-based) paint from your hands in the gentlest way.
4. Cat Litter
The best way to get rid of a musty smell in a piece of old furniture is to fill the drawers with cat litter and close it for a week (make sure you don’t open it for the 7 days) hoover out and the musty smell will have vanished.
5. Tin Foil
Tin foil is a great way to block off any metal when painting furniture, like hardware, hinges, and fittings, It is also handy for moving furniture around on a carpet, just fold the tinfoil dull side out and place under the furniture legs and it will glide along the carpet.
Joanne is currently crowdfunding on Fund It to release her book, Furniture Crush, in which she chronicles absolutely everything you need to know about painting and upcycling furniture. Check it out here.
Caroline Foran