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Do You Touch Up?

During our recent shelf rehab, not only did we find ourselves knee deep in Ikea shopping bags and spackle, but we were also whipping out paint cans and touching up the ol’ anchor remnants with a mini roller and foam brushes. And while we were at it, we rolled every last bit of our minty walls that could use the attention.

But we didn’t stop there. We also dug deep into our paint can archives and dabbed some fresh paint on our hallways, in the office, and neglected spots in the bedroom. While we were wrapping up and hammering the lids back on each can, I asked Scott if he thought other folks gave their walls a little extra attention from time to time. Between wheeling our bicycles through the house and our many furry kids, we’re touchin’ up anything the Magic Eraser can’t handle about four times a year. And I may be estimating on the low side. Hmm.

So, what gives? Do you touch up, too? Once a month, twice a year, or maybe not at all? We’re a curious team here, and we’d love to know we’re not alone. Or are we?

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  • Danielle3.5.10 - 9:17 AM

    I touch up when needed. If I run out of paint, I usually don’t touch up. I think I take that as I get to paint a new color. hehe.ReplyCancel

    • Kim3.5.10 - 9:53 AM

      Danielle, I always love a new color and try to find excuses to do so. Unfortunately, your technique won’t work for me, since we always have back up paint!ReplyCancel

  • Julialifeisart3.5.10 - 11:42 AM

    Good question! I have recently been wondering the same thing because we’ve been in our house for almost three years and the walls need some serious touching up! I think the longest I had ever lived anywhere previously was a year, so I had never noticed before. Maybe I’ll get out my brushes and paint this weekend…ReplyCancel

  • Michelle3.5.10 - 12:32 PM

    We touch up too! Maybe three or four times a year, not big touch ups but like you said “anything the magic eraser can’t take care off”. I LOVE to keep the little sample sized cans of paint that you can get at the home improvement stores now. When they came out I went and got one for each of the colors we have in the house and they are so easy to store and even easier to shake around and mix up again if they have been sitting in the closet for too long. I think the sample size cans are genius and love how it feels when all those little nicks and dings are taken care of!ReplyCancel

  • Amie & Abbey Road3.5.10 - 1:28 PM

    Although I continually remind myself, ‘I need to touch up that wall!’ and then promptly walk away. I haven’t touched them up for 2 years…maybe I will someday!ReplyCancel

  • Kim3.5.10 - 1:34 PM

    Michelle, your sample sized cans is a great tip! We’ve never needed to get them since we tend to over buy our original colors, and we’ll usually have half a gallon left. I’ll keep your idea in mind when we eventually run out.ReplyCancel

  • ann3.6.10 - 7:31 AM

    Have you ever tried the Q-tip method? It’s great for tiny spots.ReplyCancel

  • Scott3.6.10 - 10:33 AM

    The Q-tip method is great! Sometimes for medium sized smudges, we’ll even use a small piece of paper towel. It works great! You can usually get enough paint from the underside of the lid if you shake the can well enough before you open it.ReplyCancel

  • Vickie2.20.21 - 7:44 PM

    Here is a blast from the past. Comments on a very old post. 
    I am the one that read your archives recently. I remembered this post. 
    We built 20 years ago, I still had the paint strips with all the ID numbers and photos of the actual paint cans. (All the cans are long gone.) 
    No, we have never repainted in all these years. Also no touch ups. And truly, it was not as bad as you might be picturing. There were high traffic places (the pantry!) that needed quite a bit. But most walls were still really good. 
    I was able to order paint over the phone, and do curbside pick up. I got spackle too. 
    My daughter (27)  spackled, sanded and touched up the two paint colors that are most rooms in our house this weekend. She did a very good job. The paint was a very good match also, even though the products themselves have changed in the last 20 years. 
    As I said, it actually was not as bad as you might have thought, but looks so much better now, touched up.
    This was a very good post! It stuck with me, we took action. ReplyCancel

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