With all the posts about painting walls and furniture lately, we wanted to post again about the Rubbermaid Paint Buddy. Those of you who have been reading Apartment Therapy for a few years know about these indispensable touch-up helpers. We have them and couldn't paint without 'em...
We used to store old cans of paint for years in the basement just to touch-up after failed picture-hanging projects. But even then we'd procrastinate prying the cans open because it meant stirring old separated paint, and making a big mess just for a little job. Paint Buddy changed our life. Its a touch-up paint roller that keeps paint fresh and is ready in a few shakes and a squeeze.
They're clear so you can see what color paint is inside -- and you can even label the cap with what you painted (bedroom wall, DR chairs, etc.). When you need a minor touch-up, you just remove the cap, open the valve and paint with the built-in roller. Afterward, just close the valve to seal the bottle and clean the roller. They're small enough to store anywhere, even under the sink!
Available at most hardware stores and on sale this week at Sears.
Veronica & Keith's Handmade Chic 
Before & After: A Bathroom Goes From Pinky Peach to Sleek and Chic
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Hunslet Dinner Plate
A Beginner's Guide to Superb Stir-Fry: Quick, Healthy Meals from a Wok
Easy Pitcher Cocktail Recipe: Strawberry Basil Margaritas
Comments (21)
Genius! I MUST have one (or ten)!
question: do you have to wash out the roller after you do a touch up?
Whatever happened to just keeping the can sealed with a dab of the color on the outside, shaking the can well when you need to use it and using an old clean paintbrush?
Oh wait - Rubbermaid can't sell that for $8.99 each...
bepsf: these are for people like me and my 513 sf NYC apartment.
I only have one closet for keeping EVERYTHING I need stored in, and it's not even a big closet. Actually, it's minuscule. the same width and depth as it's door.
I need my one tiny closet to store (at different times) off-season clothing for 2 people, 2 air conditioning units, 2 dehumidifiers, 4 fans, all of my linens, 2 small suitcases, a box of christmas decorations, the (collapsable) cat carrier, and one or two power tools.
I am NOT exaggerating.
Having six different 1/4 full gallon cans of paint just hanging around has been a major space eater.
Now that I know about these, I can consolidate and keep my leftover paint under the sink or in some other small space.
thanks for posting this, I'm buying some tomorrow!
wow! This will save me so much room....thank you at, thank you!
whatever! junk!
bepsf-- I'm thinking that neatness is a factor too. You'd be less likely to spill or drip with this handy little device.
Bepst, this is extremely handy for folks like me who are ham-fisted and make messes easily. It also makes storage much easier. Spending the $8.99 saved my sanity, and that makes it a worthwhile expenditure.
I just stored my left over paint in jars I picked up from the thrift store because of space issue. I just put them into a shoe box. I had to do a little touch up the other day and I just dipped a sponge in the paint and the job was done.
I am not buying anymore plastic I don't car how cute it is.
This is totally for people like me living in small spaces. For some reason, the paint doesn't separate as much in these as it does when poured in little jars. The rollers do snap off so that you can wash them and then snap back on the bottle.
Yeah... it's very handy and cute and tempting... but I'm thinking my empty pickle relish jars work just as well - I need a use for them, I can see through them.. and if I have wash out the sponge anyway... well, mine are free.
but it is a smart idea. Which I'd thought of it, developed it and marketed it.
Anyone want to buy my pickle relish jars?
They seem like they'll be especially useful for lazy people (me!). I've kept the cans with the dab of paint on the lid and couldn't be bothered to drag them out for touch ups. They get "found" just about the time I decide to repaint the room a completely different color.
I think it's a great idea.
Give me a good old brush and a little recycled jar any day.
I bought one a couple of years ago and it's a great little device. I pull it out at least twice a year to touch up scuff marks on the walls and it is much less hassle than pulling out a paint can and brush. Plus it takes up very little space. The foam roller rinses out easily for clean up.
Even for people with a whole house to fill, these are great. Instead of having to store the paint in the garage or basement you can toss these in a closet in a bucket. Perfect.
before i read the description, just from looking at the picture, i thought these might be perfect for painting around windows and door frames without having to use masking tape. any thoughts if that might work?
There are foam pads that work very well with latex paint, and work well around windows and door frames. I think they would be better than this product, because they can get closer to the molding.
I can see another benefit.... especially for anyone like me who is only really clumsy when a BIG mess could be made. That would be the plastic factor. Sometimes glass just isn't the best storage container, like when nobody expects there to be breakable items on that shelf in the dark utility closet, or when you've got wet hands from washing up the paint brushes.... Plastic bounces. Glass, not so much.
Interesting find. I like the idea of these but $9 seems a bit steep for convenience and there is something problematic about just adding more plastic products to the world.
I store left over paint in old 20 oz. plastic drink bottles (those with wide mouths are better) and use a long narrow paint brush. It does the trick. Also tiny and plastic but free.
This is perfect for me for several reasons, the biggest being convenience. Not only would this allow me to find the paint quickly, I could keep small amounts handy. Also, its a simple matter of using the built in roller, rather than having to lug out the can, stir it, grab a brush, paint, clean the brush and put away some big can.
If I had a house then I would probably stick with the can & brush method. But I don't.
In any case, its moot for me since I never painted my apt when I moved in. BUT if I did I would definitely pick one of these up.