

Make sure to store them in a dry place and to repeat this process with any tools that need it in a timely manner after every project. BingoĪnd just like that, your tools are now clean and ready for whatever’s next. Finish by wiping off the excess spray from your tools with a clean rag. Do this in a well-ventilated area, as this spray can give off some strong fumes. Wetness causes rust, so we now want to spray rust inhibitor or WD-40 on all metal fasteners on your tools. Wash off any joint compound from your hands and dump the water again in a safe place. Make sure you dry everywhere on the tools, including the hard-to-reach spots. Rinse your tools in the clean water and then dry them with a clean rag, towel, or old t-shirt as soon as possible. A scrub brush will also work for this step (if you have one and don’t have a scouring pad). Use the dish scouring pad to completely scrub all remaining joint compound from your tools. Once you’ve dumped the water in a safe place, refill the bucket with clean, warm water. Some areas have special ordinances regarding where you can and can’t dump drywall residue, so you should check your local codes before you complete this step. Don’t dump the water into your kitchen sink – use a laundry room sink if you have one. Remove the tools from the bucket and dump out the dirty water. Once most of the mud is scraped off, submerge the tools in the water for 10-20 minutes or until the joint compound has almost entirely soaked off. Between scrapes, soak the tool in the bucket for a few minutes at a time to soften and dissolve the mud for easier removal. Start by scraping off the mud with your putty knife (or your taping knife).

Cleaning all your tools together also saves time and ensures they’re ready to go leading up to your next project. As time passes, mud can harden on tools and make it very difficult to remove. It’s a good idea to clean all the tools that need it in a timely fashion at the end of every project. Here are some tips for effectively cleaning and preserving all of the drywall tools in your arsenal.
#Best drywall putty how to#
Knowing how to effectively clean your tools will also keep you from having to spend money replacing them quite as often.

Not only is this unsightly, but it also affects the performance and durability of your tools if you let mud build up and fail to provide proper maintenance on a regular basis. Hanging and finishing drywall is messy work, and it’s easy for your tools to become pretty nasty in a hurry throughout the course of a project as joint compound (mud) sticks to them and gets caked on.
