Tips and Hints

To test a painted surface, Brian Santos says to soak a cotton ball in ammonia and stick it to the surface with a Band-Aid. Take the Band-Aid off after about an hour; if the paint has wrinkles, it's water-base. If it doesn't, it's oil-base.

To clean your brushes, swish them in a mixture of water and fabric softener. Santos uses 1/2 cup fabric softener per gallon of water.

For latex paint, a latex- or oil-base sealer is fine. For oil-base paint, you must use an oil-base sealer.

For latex paint, use a brush with synthetic bristles; for oil-base paint, choose a brush with natural bristles.

Instead of applying painter's tape to windows, Santos rubs lip balm around the inside of each pane, After the paint dries, the wax and paint residue scrape off with a knife. If any wax is left on the glass, heat the area with a hair dryer and wipe clean.

Don't waste your valuable time on these painting projects, our experts say:

• Bathtubs and sinks. Some of the required chemicals for these labor-intensive jobs are toxic. Leave these to the professionals.
• Kitchen countertops. Don't paint laminate countertops in your kitchen. Standard paint isn't a food-safe finish, and the paint won't hold up to heat, abrasions, or moisture.
• Ceramic tile in wet areas. Water will break down the paint. Even if you use a sealer, the grout and mortar will wick moisture and ruin your paint job.

Use plastic wrap to cover doorknobs and light fixtures to protect them from paint splatter, Santos suggests.