Plastic has brought revolutionary and lasting changes to our lifestyle. It is a very versatile material that can be molded into any desired shape. It has abundant utility according to its hardness, thickness, and type. Plastic objects are often painted with attractive colors to increase their visual appeal. Though painting plastic is difficult, it can be done using proper techniques. Plastic items almost always have a very smooth finish and a glossy surface. This makes it very difficult for the paint to adhere to its surface. Besides, paint from the plastic surface tends to peel off very quickly. Incorrect painting techniques may also result in cracking of the paint. All this makes painting plastic a really tough job. One must use the correct technique according to the plastic object they are painting and the type of finish expected. Small plastic items are best hand painted with a paint brush while large plastic boxes or furniture can look elegant with spray painting. You may also consider decorating the items with hand painted designs. An acrylic craft paint can be used for this purpose. Painting Plastic Furniture Before spray painting furniture, especially old plastic furniture, use an ammonia solution to clean the furniture. Add half a cup of ammonia to one gallon of water. Wipe the furniture with a wash cloth soaked in this solution. Use another wash cloth and soak it in water. Wipe the furniture with it to remove the traces of ammonia. Use a plastic paint primer to help the paint adhere better to the surface. Paint the furniture only after the primer has dried completely. Buy the right spray paint from any home improvement store. As far as possible, choose a dry and hot day for carrying out your painting assignment. Pour the paint in the spray can and start working uniformly on the plastic surface. Spray a thin coat of paint and allow it to dry. Repeat four such thin coats. Turn the furniture upside down to paint the other side. Painting Small Plastic Items Small, random plastic objects cannot be spray painted with a paint sprayer, gun, or a can. Such items need to be hand painted with a paint brush. While painting plastic auto parts, remove them from their assembly, wash them thoroughly with a detergent or a dish soap, and wipe them clean with a lint-free towel. Sand the parts gently with a 400 grit sandpaper. Be careful not to scratch the surface too much. Apply an adhesion promoter before applying two coats of plastic primer on them. Apply a coat of plastic paint only after the coat of primer has completely dried. You can spray paint plastic surfaces that are too large to be painted with hand. However, do not forget to sand them with a sandpaper. Flexible plastic surfaces must be painted only after adding plastic flex agent to the paint. You can choose a plastic finish of your choice by applying various techniques. In order to give a metal-look to the plastic, use HVLP spray guns. Paint rollers can also be used for a smooth and even finish.