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Step 1. Clean the surface: 

Before you even begin applying the tape, make sure the moldings and anywhere you plan to apply tape are clean. Dust and dirt can prevent the tape from sticking. If the area is greasy and requires a more thorough cleaning, wait until the surface is completely dry before applying painter’s tape.

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Step 2. Apply tape: 

Once you have a dry, clean surface, you can start to apply your painter's tape. If you're painting interior walls, you can either start by taping off the ceiling line or the baseboard. Either way, start at a corner of the room and tear or cut off pieces of tape no longer than your arm. For corners, tear the tape at an angle to fit.

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Step 3: Smooth tape: 

As you apply the pieces of tape to your borders, smooth it down with your hands to ensure it adheres well and that there are no wrinkles or air bubbles that could get in the way of achieving a clean, straight line. It helps to press the tape down and smooth it out as you go rather than applying a whole run of tape and then smoothing it.

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Step 4. Paint: 

Once your borders are all protected by painter's tape, you can start painting. You may find it easiest to start by cutting in, which means painting around the border and then filling in the rest of the wall. The tape is there to keep you from getting paint on the ceiling and floorboard, so it's fine to get some paint on the tape, but try to avoid getting too much paint on it.

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Step 5. Remove tape: 

Once the paint is dry to the touch, which typically takes about an hour, you can remove the painter's tape. Pull the tape gently at a 45-degree angle. Once you've pulled a foot of tape off, grab the tape again at the base. Continue to pull all the tape off the ceilings, baseboards and anywhere else you've applied it, revealing your finished project.