Have you ever wondered and tried asking yourself if why storing leftover paints are essential? Keeping them is vital for various reasons Leftover paints are a convenient option for reusing to other interior painting and exterior painting projects soon. You can use the leftover paints in touching up your recent projects.
And lastly, for the obvious reasons, once the canned brand new paints are opened, you can never seal them back again, which makes the paint prone to air exposure if you didn’t cover the original container adequately. Also, if it left unsealed for an extended period, metal rims would start to rust that can ruin the paint quality.
Paint storage containers
You can choose either plastic or glass containers depending on the availability of needed storage in repackaging leftover paints. We stated the different types of containers below to give you some idea.
Storing paints in plastic containers
- Plastic tupperwares
- Water bottles
- Yogurt containers
Storing paints in glass containers
- Decorative or plain mason jars
- Wide-mouthed wine bottles
- Wire bail ball jars
Materials needed in repackaging your excess paints:
- Excessive paint leftovers
- Plastic or glass containers
- Funnels (soda bottles for alternatives)
- Rubber mallet
- Clean cloths
- Labeling supplies
Read also: Basic Preparations For DIY Interior Painting Project
Storing Leftover Paints: Step-by-step
- Clean the plastic or glass containers first. If the storage containers are full of dust, dirt, and other debris, we advise you to wash them thoroughly to remove these wastes. For drying the containers up, use clean clothes to wipe the wet areas.
- Transferring your excess paints from canned paint to containers. Use funnels to avoid potential spillages. If there are no available funnels, you can use soda bottles instead. Cut the top head using scissors or craft knives.
- Position the funnel or your DIYs into the plastic or glass containers. Pour the paint leftovers slowly and gently to prevent a big mess.
- Before you close the container, clean the paint residues around the mouth to make it easier to open. Apply cut out plastic wrap more considerable than the opening of the storage containers.
- Afterward, seal them tightly to the point which the air cannot enter. You can use a rubber mallet to hammer containers. Don’t hit the lid directly to prevent the distortions that play havoc with air exposures. Instead, put the block wood on the top of the cover and hammer it smoothly.
- If you want to maintain the storage well-organized, label the storage containers with sticker papers, stick-on sticky notes, or permanent markers. You can also use paper and apply masking tapes efficiently. Ensure necessary details such as colors, brand name, and parts of the house paints are used.
Considerations in Storing leftover paints
- Choosing containers – Paint quality goes bad when contaminated with air. It’s better to choose airtight plastic or glass containers to prevent exposure.
- Temperature – Keep in mind that some paints are flammable and can burn your house down. Plus, aside from air that can ruin the quality, extreme temperatures will dry the paint until it becomes solid, making them unusable.
- Storing locations – Store the paint containers in a dry and cool area. The basement is the best place to store your paints. If you don’t have a basement, put it in a cupboard.
