Getting ready for the big Thanksgiving holiday? Sprucing up and doing some quick painting? Today in painting prep school part I, you'll learn it pays to take it off. Painting is indeed all about preparation. While there are shortcuts that will save you time and effort, taking shortcuts in preparation often just makes the job harder and gives you less-than-desirable results. One of the best ways to start your prep work is to remove all switch plates, wall plugs and hardware such as hinges, latches and doorknobs. Also remove shelves, racks and anything else that you can avoid having to paint around. Painting around things takes far more time than you will spend removing them. Want to save time, both in painting and cleanups? Before you reach for that roller or brush, remember to take it off, take it all off. Tomorrow in part II, we'll prep surfaces for painting. And that's the On The House tip for today.