Painting Your Ceiling? This Genius Trick Prevents Drips and Splatter

If you've ever done a DIY paint job, you know it's hard work—and it can get a little messy. When painting ceilings, drips are the biggest problem because, unlike when you're painting a wall, the paint can drip onto your face, clothes, and flooring. However, there's a simple at-home solution that can help prevent them—and its probably already in your kitchen.

The Paper Plate Trick

When giving your ceiling a fresh coat of paint, this simple trick can make all the difference. To keep paint from dripping onto you, use a paper plate as a makeshift guard. Just poke the roller handle through the center of a standard paper plate and slide it up underneath the roller head.

The plate works as a barrier, catching drips before they fall. "The physics behind it is straightforward,” says Brooks. “Paint naturally drips downward due to gravity, so placing a catch surface directly below the roller intercepts those drips before they become a problem.”

Prevents More Than Drips

Preventing drips is the main goal, but the benefits go beyond just that. This simple plate shield protects you and your clothes from unwanted splatters, reduces the need for floor coverings, and cuts down on cleanup once you've finished the project.

Without the worry of paint drops, you can focus more on your painting technique and the task at hand. “I've seen people spend more time laying down protective sheeting and cleaning up afterwards than actually painting,” says Brooks. “This simple addition to your toolkit eliminates most of that hassle.”

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Stay Stocked

Professional paint guards can be quite expensive, and when you're already buying everything else for the job, the costs add up quickly. Keeping a pack of paper plates on hand will save you money and give you plenty of protection for future painting projects to come.