Dealing with leftover paint can feel like a real nuisance (are leftovers of anything ever exciting?). Picture this: at the end of your day of interior or exterior painting you look down inside your can and see just too little for another complete project, but too much to simply waste.
What do you do?
The truth of the matter is, your leftover paint will eventually be useful! Little dings and gouges inevitably come along, and having an exact match on standby is a lifesaver. The trick is to store it in a way that will keep your paint fresh and ready for the next time that duty calls.
Keeping Your Older Paint Fresh
In a nutshell, the key to fresh leftover paint is being able to establish a good seal before it’s stored. That’s the central theme that the majority of the tips below revolve around. Give them a try!
- Open with care - When you open a new can, resist the urge to pry off the lid with a screwdriver. The pry-technique certainly works, but it also mangles the connection point that was carefully designed to create a good seal. Instead, invest in a tool from your local paint supply store that is intended for the purpose.
- Avoid excess paint in the rim - Consistently remove the dribbles of paint that will accumulate around the circumference of the can during your project. If you let the extra pool and dry inside the lip where the lid will sit, it destroys the chance of creating that invaluable seal.
- Use plastic wrap - Before you put your lid back on, stretch some plastic wrap over your paint can. I guess you could say it seals in the flavor!
- Shut the lid gently - This is the sibling of our first point. Don’t pound the top of the can back into place with a hammer, but instead use a rubber mallet and gently tap it back home.
- Control the climate - Your paint may not be priceless artwork, but making sure that it doesn't need to endure temperature extremes is important. A cool, dry home is best.
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