Hints from Heloise

Dear Readers: Before you begin painting a room, do the following:

“Empty the room. Remove everything you can, then cover everything else with dropcloths.

“Clean the walls with a mild cleaner to help the paint go on smoother.

“Cover stains with a good primer so they don’t show through the new coats of paint.

“Clean off or cover mildew with a commercial product found at home-improvement and paint stores.

“Repair nail holes in the drywall. Sand and respackle areas that need it.

“Vacuum the room first to get rid of as much dust as possible – don’t forget windowsills and baseboards.

“Mask off trim or other areas you need to paint around.

Preparation work takes time, but the end result will be a paint job you’ll be proud of. – Heloise