Clean baseboards before you paint them.
Baseboard trim normally needs painting when the walls do. Since the baseboard runs along the floor, the carpet, tile or wood flooring requires protection from the paint. Dropcloths can scrunch up, dinging wet paint and causing a multitude of headaches as you try to repair the damage. Protect the flooring and paint the baseboard by using the right equipment.
Instructions
1. Wipe the baseboard with a clean cloth, removing all dust and dirt.
2. Sweep the carpet next to the baseboards. Use a sweeper attachment to dig between the baseboard and the carpet to remove hidden dirt.
3. Apply painter's tape along the wall at the top of the baseboard. Lay dropcloths or old sheets on the carpet or floor 2 to 3 inches from the baseboard.
4. Slide a thin sheet of poster or cardboard between the carpet or floor and the baseboard. The poster or cardboard keeps the paint from touching the flooring.
5. Paint the baseboard with a 3-inch paintbrush. Use back-and-forth gliding motions to apply the paint. Allow the paint to dry for two to three hours.
6. Peel the painter's tape from the wall above the baseboard. Press the poster or cardboard down gently on the carpet and pull it from the baseboard. On flat flooring, gently wiggle the cardboard so it can loosen without removing paint from the baseboard. Remove and discard the cardboard into a trash can.
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