If you don’t have a drop cloth, any non-porous material will work. Trash bags can work in a pinch! If you’re working in a larger room, move your drop cloth around the room as you paint.
Painter’s tape isn’t always perfect and paint can bleed through it on occasion. Use it as a guide, not a perfect safety measure, and try to avoid hitting it with your brush when you paint. Repeat this process until every wall in your room is taped off.
If your baseboards are brand new or haven’t been painted multiple times in the past, you don’t need to sand them down. Be careful when sanding the upper and lower sections of your baseboard near the wall and carpet. You don’t want to scuff the walls while you work. Let your baseboards air dry for at least an hour before you paint them. You don’t want to capture any moisture in the wood. Wear a dust mask when sanding your baseboards to prevent the inhalation of wood dust.
You can use packing or masking tape instead of painter’s tape if you’d like. Duct tape will rip up your carpet, so avoid that stuff. Alternatively, you can try gently tugging on the carpet to see if it comes up. If it does come up, you can roll the edge of the carpet under itself to create a gap for your paint brush. [5] X Research source
The 1⁄2 inch (1. 3 cm) of tape that was sitting on the bottom of your baseboard should now be tucked underneath your baseboard. This will prevent drips from sneaking under the tape and damaging your carpet.
You can use a metal sheet or any firm straight edge instead of a paint guard if you’d like. One alternative is to use a slat from a window blind with the round side facing up. If you use a paint guard, clean it with a rag after painting each section.
Most people use semi-gloss paint for baseboards and trim. You can use oil-based or latex paint depending on the sheen that want. Oil-based paint will last for a longer period of time, but it will reflect light more brightly. Open the windows in the room that you’re painting to prevent the paint fumes from overwhelming you.
You can use a flat brush if you prefer, but an angle brush will make it easier to reach the very bottom of your baseboard, since you can get a flat cut by holding it at 45 degrees. Feel free use a nylon or natural brush—both will work well for baseboards.
Work slowly when painting along the edge, and work in 1 foot (30 cm) increments.
If you’re using a paint guard, hold it in place with your nondominant hand. Only brush along the section where you’re holding the paint guard. To remove and reset a paint guard, press it down into the carpet and slowly slide it out. Wipe it clean, move it to a different section of your baseboard, and slide it between the baseboard and carpet.
Avoid drips by covering each section in the middle of your baseboards 2-3 times before moving on.
