A paint tray liner will make cleanup easier. After you are done painting just pour any leftover paint into the paint can and place the tray liner in the trash. When I repainted my home, top to bottom, I used an oil based primer and latex on all walls. Before I started on this huge project the entire home was wallpapered. The oil based primer (Kilz) sealed any wallpaper glue residue I missed when cleaning the walls.
I used a metal paint tray for the primer and a tray liner for the latex paint. I cleaned the tray liner regularly and it lasted for months.
- Paint tray liners, store bought.
- Paint tray liners, DIY aluminum foil.
- Paint tray liners, DIY plastic shopping bags.
- Do you really need a paint tray liner?
- Use food trays for small jobs.
- Links to other helpful articles.

STORE BOUGHT TRAY LINERS
Those flimsy paint tray liners are inexpensive. They are ideal for one time use. When finished pour any leftover paint back into the can and dispose the tray in the trash. You can use the paint tray liner over and over again, like I did, as long as you clean it thoroughly after each use. Never re-use a tray liner if the paint on it has dried because when the liner is bent the old hardened paint will chip off and make a mesh of your next paint job.
Read on if you want to make your own paint tray liner with materials you already have in the house.

MAKE YOUR OWN TRAY LINER WITH ALUMINUM FOIL
Cut the aluminum foil about six inches larger than your paint tray. Place it in the tray, tuck it tight into the corners and fold it over the edge of the paint tray. I used this method once for a small job but found this method not too satisfactory. First of all the foil had a tendency to stick to the loaded roller sleeve and secondly the foil rips easy. If you are not careful enough you end up picking bits of foil from the wall.
When finished painting pour leftover paint into the can, fold the foil together and dispose in the trash. See also text below picture on the left.

MAKE YOUR OWN LINER WITH PLASTIC BAGS
Place the paint tray in a kitchen garbage bag or plastic shopping bag. Turn over the tray and tape up the loose ends of the bag with masking or painter's tape. When finished painting return any leftover paint to the paint can.
Clean up is a breeze. Simply remove the bag from the tray by pulling it inside out. Place the roller inside the bag and use the bag to pull the roller sleeve of the cage without getting paint all over your hands. Tie the bag and throw it in the garbage. Done. No messy clean up.

DO YOU REALLY NEED A PAINT TRAY LINER?
Not really. Just put the paint in the tray and after you are finished painting pour the leftovers back into the can and let the paint dry. I have an old paint tray that is getting pretty heavy because by now it must have at least five or more layers of hardened paint. My daughter keeps telling me that the new paint will dissolve the old dried layers and that bits of old paint could get stuck to the roller but I never had that happening to me. Using a disposable paint tray liner could prevent this from happening.
I know, liners are cheap and if you are using an oil based you can toss the tray after the painting is done, no messy cleaning. However, if you are using latex forget about the liner. You will be washing the brushes and roller anyway, so cleaning the tray as well is not that much extra work.

USE FOOD TRAYS A SMALL ROLLER FOR SMALL JOBS
Food trays or dollar store trays are ideal for small jobs. Use a mini roller and after you are finished throw everything out. Zero clean up!