If you’ve ever painted your home or just done minor touch-ups, you probably ended up with leftover paint at some point. But if you plan to reuse it later, it’s important to understand that paint hardens or goes bad when exposed to air, extreme temperatures, or humidity, among other things.
The key to storing paint so it lasts is to keep it in an airtight container, in a dark, cool, dry place, and to keep track of its shelf life with proper labeling.
“I’ve had latex paint last many years when stored properly,” said my colleague, Tom, who held a couple of painting gigs in high school and college. “I’ve also seen improperly stored paint turn bad in months.”
What Causes Paint to Go Bad?
Paint is affected by some of the same external factors as food, just not as quickly. It will harden or separate when exposed to air, light, extreme temperatures, and age.
Naturally, then, you’ll want to store paint in a tightly sealed, opaque container, in a location where temperatures get neither very hot nor very cold. And, even under the best conditions, don’t expect latex paint to remain usable after 3 to 5 years, and oil-based paint won’t be usable after 10-12 years.
“A couple of years ago, I went to grab a sealed bucket of paint from the garage to do some touchups in the house,” Tom told me recently. “It had been left there by the contractor when the home was built two years earlier. I opened it to find a thick skin on top and a soupy layer underneath because the bucket hadn’t been resealed properly.”
Strategies for Storing Paint
Don’t Open Until You’re Ready to Use It
When you open paint, you expose it to air and humidity. Paint purchased from a store is sealed in air-tight containers, and when you break that seal, you may not be able to reseal it as well as before. So the best way to protect it is to open the paint container only when you’re ready to use it and seal the lid tightly afterwards.
Avoid opening your paint too soon by calculating how much you need.
Don’t Damage the Lid When Opening
If you do need to open the paint, you have to do it carefully. It’s easy to bend, dent, or crease the lid or rim, which will cause problems. Once damaged, the can won’t seal as well as it should and air will get in. If that happens, transfer the leftover paint to a new airtight container.
In Tom’s case, what caused the paint to spoil was, indeed, a damaged lid that allowed air in.
“The lid was cracked, probably because the painter pulled it open in a hurry,” he said.
Choose a Good Container
A good container is key for storing paint.
Original containers are usually best when there’s a substantial amount left. Clean the rim thoroughly before resealing to ensure an airtight fit. As we mentioned above, if the rim is damaged or dented, the seal won’t be effective.
Glass jars work excellently for smaller amounts. I’ve used Mason jars with tight-fitting lids that create excellent seals and allow you to see the paint condition without opening. They’re also easy to clean and reuse.
Paint storage cans specifically designed for this purpose are available at hardware stores. These often have better sealing mechanisms than original paint cans.
Whatever container you use, make sure it has these qualities:
- An airtight seal
- The appropriate size that minimizes air space above the paint
- It’s clean and dry before use
- It’s chemically compatible with the paint type
- It’s easy to label clearly
Re-Seal Open Paint Properly
You must reseal opened paint properly to prevent air from compromising it. Here are a few steps to take to properly reseal your container:
Keep it clean: This is one of my main issues; I’m a messy painter. Excess paint on the lip of the lid or the rim of the can will eventually harden. Be sure that the rim of the container and lid are completely clean before you reseal it.
Secure the lid: You can put plastic wrap over the opening of the paint before you shut it. Or, use a rubber band to secure the lid tightly. You can also use a rubber mallet or hammer to tap down the lid and ensure a tight seal. I never did this because my lids were generally always tight enough to just shut them again. But if the container lids became loose or damaged, this is something I’d consider.
Store paint upside down: Storing your paint upside down can create an extra barrier and prevent air from entering.
Label It
Labeling paint as a reminder when you bought it helps determine whether it’s past its shelf life when you return to it later. If you do, you may want to label the type of paint you’re using and when you opened it.
Labeling also helps you chart the precise paint color and where you bought it in case you want more of that color.
Store in a Cool, Dry Place
Where to store leftover paint? As mentioned above, you should keep in mind that high temperatures and low humidity may dry your paint. Low temperatures may change your paint’s consistency or even freeze it. High humidity may cause problems like mold and mildew. To prevent all these issues, store it in a dry place out of direct sunlight at between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit with 40 to 60% humidity.
You’ve read above that you can store paint in tupperware, but other than that, it should stay out of your kitchen—more specifically, your fridge. The only paint you should store in your fridge (and use ASAP) is milk paint.
Less Hassle, More Dazzle
Knowing about the right paint storage can be the difference between preserving the paint’s quality and having to buy new paint sooner than expected. It saves you money and time and creates less waste.
But if you’re planning a major renovation project, there’s a way to transform your space without giving you a list of things to worry about. Contact a Home Gnome painting pro in your area.
Home Gnome delivers the best home service experience at the click of a button. Book reliable, skilled services in seconds and leave the rest to us.
Main Photo Credit: CLShebley / Adobe Stock
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