Here’s what you shouldn’t use: the same masking tape that you use for mailing packages.
General-purpose masking tape is made with a very sticky adhesive that will leave a messy residue on your wall when you remove it.
Instead, choose a painter’s tape specifically designed for use on drywall. The most popular brands are blue, but you can find orange and green tape that are better suited for lacquers and stains. If you’re painting an area that gets direct sunlight, choose a tape that is sunlight-resistant.
Apply blue painter’s tape along the top of the wall when you’re painting the ceiling a different color, or along the edge of the ceiling when you’re painting the wall. You can, and should, also use the tape to protect chair rails, wainscoting or paneling and window panes.
Some really experienced, professional painters skip the tape. The rest of us really need to use it.
Before applying the tape, clean and dry the surface so the tape will stick. Pull the tape flat over the surface and smooth it down with a putty knife, but don’t stretch the tape.
Remove the tape when you’re finished painting. If you wait until the paint dries, you could wind up pulling dry paint off of the wall. Pull the tape back on itself at a 45 degree angle, and not too fast.
Avoid applying painter’s tape on a freshly painted wall. Let it dry for 24 hours first.
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