Cleaning plastic palettes

[billyturnip]

Surely I'm not the first person to think of cleaning acrylic paint from a plastic pallette by soaking it in Dettol or is there a good reason not to?

Usually following a life changing lightbulb moment,

a. There's a good reason why it's not such a good idea.
b. Everyone else has been doing for years.

 

[Alex]

Well, I just use my finger nail to remove the paint from my plastic palette. It is the one with small concave cups. I do that under running water before starting a painting session. Please note that I wait that the paint is dry before doing that. It is less messy this way.

 

[billyturnip]

Well, I just use my finger nail to remove the paint from my plastic palette. It is the one with small concave cups. I do that under running water before starting a painting session. Please note that I wait that the paint is dry before doing that. It is less messy this way.

That's a method I've also used but as I only use a small amount of acrylic paint as a basecoat on flats I probably don't clean my palette very often and it has time to properly harden.
However that said if there's a possibility acrylic paint is going to degrade as posted elsewhere on the forum I could just let nature take it's course.

 

[DaddyO]

Sounds like a good idea 'Billy'

Up till now I've used the fingernail method same as Alex followed with a clean nylon scouring pad to remove the last few stubborn bits. I'd have reservations about any residual bits of Dettol getting in the paint though so I'll let you try it out first

Cheers
Paul

 

[mick3272]

I wash mine in warm soapy water at the end of each session or when I have used the last little well.
Proper job.
Mick

 

[billyturnip]

I'd have reservations about any residual bits of Dettol getting in the paint though so I'll let you try it out first

Cheers
Paul

Lol yes that's what I was thinking too.

 

[billyturnip]

I wash mine in warm soapy water at the end of each session or when I have used the last little well.
Proper job.
Mick

I've been using mine for almost four weeks now and just moved onto the last little well of six so it's time it was given a clean out. Hence trying to think of an easy way to do it with the least effort.

 

[Jim]

I put a piece of aluminum foil over them, pressing it down into the cups and wrapping it over the edges. Besides putting paint in the cups, for minute amounts of needed paint, there's enough folds, wrinkles and areas in the foil to mix tiny amounts of paint instead of using the entire cup. When I'm done with that session, take the foil off and toss it into the recycle bin.
No cleaning as long as the foil isn't ripped.

 

[Nap]

I stick mine in the dishwasher when SWMBO isn't looking

Comes out really sparking!

Nap

 

[billyturnip]

I stick mine in the dishwasher when SWMBO isn't looking

Comes out really sparking!

Nap

Best suggestion so far, clean palette plus the satisfaction of doing something I'd get in trouble for if caught.

 

[DEL]

Always keen to help ........... please film

 

[Joe55]

Use Windex Roger.

Joe

 

[billyturnip]

Use Windex Roger.

Joe

No way! I might find myself cleaning windows.

 

[Joe55]

No way! I might find myself cleaning windows.

Hide the paper towels first!

 

[billyturnip]

Hide the paper towels first!

I think I'd rather take my chances with Nap's suggestion of the dishwasher Joe.

 

[Joe55]

I think I'd rather take my chances with Nap's suggestion of the dishwasher Joe.

I can almost hear your little woman now,....."Roger!....what is all this multi-colored muck all over the inside of my dishwasher?!!!!!......and why...pray tell...is your paint pallet in here?!!!!"

Oh man, its gonna get ugly

Joe

 

[billyturnip]

I can almost hear your little woman now,....

So can I but she's out all day tomorrow I'll try it then.... with nothing else in the dishwasher.

 

[Huw63]

I wipe my plastic palette after using it and then wash it. Sometimes I let the paint harden so I can use mig paint stripper and enjoy the fumes...

Cheers

Huw

 

[Range Rat]

I bin mine rather than clean oils off them or wait to the acrylics build up to much and become to heavy to move about

 

[Huw63]

I bin mine rather than clean oils off them or wait to the acrylics build up to much and become to heavy to move about

I said MiG paint stripper - I meant AK Interactive paint stripper - you sir sound like a man who should try it. It works well to remove paint and to make one feel good....

Cheers

Huw