Whenever you buy paint for a painting project, you will almost always have some left over. In order to be able to use your paint again, it is important to store the can properly. Otherwise a couple years from now, when you need the paint to do a few touch-ups, you will find that the paint has gone bad. This is not fun, especially if you can’t get that same paint color again. You may wind up having to paint the whole room all over. These tips should help you save that leftover paint so you can use it again, without any problems.
1. How to open a paint can
People don’t realize, but this can be extremely important for when you put it away to store it. Be sure to open the can using an actual paint can opener as opposed to a screw driver or any other flat object. Go around the can a few inches at a time lifting up with the tool, until the top loosens. You don’t want to bend the lid, because this can let small amounts of air into the can and will cause the paint to dry up quickly.
2. Caring for the can while you paint
Don’t use the actual paint can to dip your brush in while painting. It is always better to dump it out into a container like a small bucket. If you paint directly from the can, especially when using latex paint, it will dry and be hard to remove. This will cause the top to not close properly and will allow air to get into the paint. When you do dump any paint out of the can, be sure to wipe the paint off the rim with a rag.
3. Closing the paint can
Put a block of wood over the can’s lid and tap on it with a hammer all the way around the can. If you use a hard hammer directly on the lid of the can, this can cause the lid to get distorted and prevent the lid from sealing properly on the can. A trick to keep a paint can airtight, is to drape a piece of plastic wrap inside the paint can and then put the lid on. Be sure to label the can that you did this, because you might open the can years later and stir the plastic into the paint. It would be a mess trying to get it out. You can also store the can upside down, but you will need to be sure that the can is definitely sealed.
4. Label the paint
The best way to label the paint is to use a permanent marker and write the necessary information directly on the can. The information should include the paint color name & number as well as the date the paint was used and what room the paint was used in. I also like to dab a little bit of paint on the can so I can see the actual color without having to open the can. If you plan on storing the paint cans one on top of the other, you may want to label the side of the can so you can see it.
5. Store the paint
Store in a cool place with proper ventilation. Do not store in a garage where the temperature gets below freezing in the winter. Paint should not be stored in a place lower than 50 degrees. The best place to store paint is in a heated basement or even a laundry room.
How to Paint Just About Anything (Better Homes & Gardens)
