First time painting woes -- help!
 

Hi, I just started painting for the first time a new place that I got and seems I already made a few mistakes. I did some more research now and am realizing I made some pretty bad mistakes. Hopefully there is a way to fix it. I basically have three problems:

First, I I bought latex paints and tried to clean them with paint thinner. This latex paint/paint thinner combo when down the sink. Everywhere I look I see that it was a big mistake. Is there anything that I can do to fix it?

In the future, from what I've read in books and online, I just need soap and water to clean the brushes/paint pans. I'm still not sure if I can pour this down the sink though?

Now that I have paint thinner (and mineral water -- I bought that too) is there anything that I do need it for? It sounds like I really only needed it for oil-based paints. The guy who sold me the mineral water said I could use it to clean the walls. Is this safe to use on latex paint walls? I don't want to strip the walls, just something to clean it. From what I've read, this can simply be done with some kind of detergent.

I really appreciate any help that you can give! Thanks!

Sam

What exactly do you need to fix? The brushes? Are they now gunked up?
Or are you worried about stopping up your drain?
Or enviromental issues?
Believe it or not disposal of thinner in the waste water is actually the recommended method of disposal in many circumstances
You might not be one of those, but what's done is done, and I don't think you could've messed anything up too bad with a small amount of thinner if you are not

Correct and yes
I actually just use water, no soap
I also tend to line the paint trays/buckets rather than clean them, but I am pretty cheap and have been known to clean the liners...lol
Mostly, yes
Mineral water, mineral oil, or mineral spirits?
Yes, I'd recommend TSP for most applications

It’s called a liner fetish. I do it too. Not cleaning them would be criminal. They have a purpose and a life. God bless all the paint pail liners wherever they may be.

Tossing liners
 

I guess that I am the worst then...I have been known to toss not only the liners, but the pails, the brushes (red paint), the rollers (pretty much all the time), and the dropcloth. I am wasteful, I know, lazy as well. I just hate cleaning the stuff. But that should make the liner tossers feel better ;)

slickshift, thanks for all of your help! I feel better knowing that it can be done. I think my sink may be draining a little slow because of the paint, but as long as it won't cause any other problems I'm breathing easier.

I think you're right, it wasn't mineral water, it was mineral spirits. Is that similar to TSP for cleaning walls?

No
It's a different animal
I would stick to the TSP or Dirtex or similar
Unless the paint instructions state to use the MS specifically for clean-up or wall prep, and that would mean it's not latex paint (that would be unusual)

The latex should not block up the sink, it's made to be washed down the drain
Some more hot water should clear it up

I'd also consider using a different paint shop
No offense to them whatsoever, but as helpful constructive criticism, they should have set you up a little better

Please don't hesitate to ask here if you have any more questions

PS hold on to the spirits, some day you may use a glue or sealer or special paint and spill some, and it'll say under "clean-up" on the label....mineral spirits
We never read that "clean-up" part until it's too late ;)

slickshift, thanks again! Just spent the weekend painting and though we're not finished, it's been good steady progress. I'll keep the mineral spirits and paint thinner in the closet for one of those days. Thanks again! This has been really helpful.

My guess is you're not buying the $20 brushes? :)

I thought I was the only one who cleaned liners!

Paintnewbie:
Good steady progress sounds good!

Well, it's the end of the day, I'm outside behind the outbuildings, I've got my little clean-up area, I've already done the brushes, sleeves, anything else... it'll only take a minute....yeah yeah OK OK and I'm cheap :D
-No Wait- I'm environmentally conscious
Reduce Reuse Recycle

What is the best way to clean roller sleeves? I've been trying to squeeze them out under hot water, and even after doing this for 10 minutes, I feel like there's a lot of paint left in there...

Waste not, want not.

Squeezing under hot water desnt help much m8.bcs U know they aint soluble and the viscosity of the pain is sure to add to ur worries