After you’ve finished your painting project, it’s important to properly store any leftover paint. This process isn’t as simple as hammering the lid back on the can and setting it on your basement floor. You need to take the proper steps to ensure the paint is safely stored. It is also important to store the paint properly for cosmetic reasons—if a wall needs a touch-up, it’s more cost-effective to reuse paint than buy a new can.
Tips For Storing Paint
- Avoid extreme temperatures: Paint is meant to be stored at room temperature—about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. When paint is stored in very hot or very cold conditions, the paint can change and become unusable. The storage temperature is also a safety consideration; oil-based paints could catch on fire in excessive heat.
- Low-moisture location: Too much moisture in a storage location can chemically alter the paint, making it unusable. These first two tips are designed to keep the paint as similar as possible to when it was first mixed.
- Store on a shelf: In particular, you want to avoid storing paint on a concrete floor. Moisture from the concrete will rise and rust the can; this rust can get into the paint and ruin the batch. Basement floors are probably the most-popular place to store paint cans, but they are not effective solutions.
- Put the can upside down: Keeping air out of the can is the name of the game. When you store paint cans upside down, the paint helps create an airtight seal against the lid. It is important to keep air out of the can to keep the consistency of the paint the same.
- Consider using smaller, canning jars: In an effort to keep as much air away from the paint, you can transfer paint into canning jars that have just enough room for the paint. Make sure to ask for extra labels when you buy the paint so you can label these jars appropriately.
- Clean paint residue from can: If you clean your brush on the rim of the can while painting, you’ll want to clean this up before putting the lid back on the can. Paint residue means you’ll have a less-secure closure; more air could get in the can. Having a clean lid also allows for easier reopening of the can.
- Don’t use a hammer: When you put the lid back on the paint can, don’t use a hammer! A hammer will damage the lid and make the paint more susceptible to damage. If you have a rubber mallet, use it instead to close the can. If you don’t have a rubber mallet, you can get away with using a hammer—but only if you put a block of wood on the lid and hammer the wood.
By following these steps, you’ll get the most out of your paint and stay safe from any disasters. Prim Painting is a local painting company serving the Columbus, Ohio area. Please contact us for a free quote.