Long ago i posted about using vaseline (petroleum jelly) as a way to get a chippy paint finish. It just makes it so the paint doesnt stick to whatever you are painting and then when the paint is dry, you wipe away the vaseline. Easy enough.
Vaseline can also be used to cover up things that you dont want to get painted. Such as hardware that you dont want to take off or cant get off! Hinges, key hole locks, glass, etc.
Lets take this dresser i just finished up for example. The old key hole locks werent easily removable, too much old gunk and paint made them way too difficult to remove. My client had already painted them black when he brought me the dresser to paint.
Because i wasnt able to remove the locks and didnt want to get paint all over them, i used vaseline to cover the locks and keep the new paint from sticking.
All i did was use a small paint brush to paint vaseline over the lock, just make sure and lay it on pretty thick and cover the entire surface.
Then, just paint as normal. I sprayed my paint on so i of course just went right over it. You can still do this if you are using a brush, just go over it very lightly being careful not to spread the vaseline around too much.
After your paint is dry, take a paper towel and wipe over the area that you put the vaseline on. All the paint will just wipe right off.
To get into the little details of this lock, i just took one of my paint gun brushes and scrubbed it a little.
Thats it, super easy!! And much easier than messing with hardware and getting mad that you cant (or dont want to) take off!
(I didnt use the vaseline for all the hardware on this dresser, but i could have!)
I'm just a semi- regular girl that cant get enough of decorating and then re-decorating! Painting my house and then re-painting my house! Not to mention all the DIY projects, my furniture refinishing business and my family that supports me along the way. 
Great reminder for using Vaseline! I once tried this on a bed that had porcelain knobs on the posts. At first I tried taping them but that was too tedious. The Vaseline trick worked great!
Great tip! I have a buffet I plan on painting that has a very ornate keyhole that would be a pain to try to tape off so I think your tip will come in handy!
Thanks for sharing this tip. I will be trying this out. Your dresser turned out beautiful too, by the way. Love the distressed vintage look to it.
Have a Nice Day,
Suzanne
You’re BRILLIANT! Thanks for the tip!
I love these 2 vaseline tricks. (and all the other info you share.) I am featuring this at somedaycrafts.blogspot.com
What a great idea…I love the white dresser. Totally loving your blog…Have a great day,
glenda
thank you!
Thank you for all the detail and fun instruction on how you do what you do! I’m not sure how you do this with kiddos at home, but keep it up! I really enjoy and appreciate your posts, style and detail. :0)
thanks!! My kids are in school all day and thats when i work :)
awesome tips!!! that’s really good to know.
Great idea! Have to try this next time.
Vanessa