·        Kitchen Cloths

 

Great for wiping down and general cleaning. Better if you can get an industrial version – stronger and more resistant to tears.

 

 

·        Drop Cloths / Dustsheets

 

An absolute must! If you are painting a special room in particular such as your lounge or dining room a heavy-duty, non-bleed drop-cloth is a must. Usually measuring 12’ by 12’ they are great for large rooms but a little unwieldy for smaller areas.  Cut up a 12’ one into more manageable sizes or buy, for instance, a 24’ x 3’ 6" one especially for stairs. Smaller, lighter drop-cloths are available and you should decide on the most appropriate one for the work you’re going to undertake.

 

Bathrooms and en-suites in particular pose a special problem in that the toilet bowl, shower area and wash basin are of irregular shape.  Old, thick towels are really useful in getting in and around these objects and will keep paint splashes from getting on the floor surface. 

 

 

 

Buy a 24 x 3'6" Dropcloth especially for stairs.

Well worth it!

 

 

·        Plastic Drop-sheets

 

Plastic drop-sheets are excellent for covering all sorts of objects as they are available in different sizes. They are ideal for covering fireplaces, baths, furniture, kitchen-cupboards and appliances. Because they are made of plastic they are impervious to paint and so no problems with drips! Generally these are available through specialist paint centres although some DIY stores may carry them.

 

Some manufacturers make pre-taped drop-sheets of different lengths which are excellent for all sorts of tasks.