When stored properly, house paint can last anywhere from 3 to 5 years. But how do you tell what is proper storage? Most people store leftover paint in a garage and don’t think anything more of it. But a non-temperature-controlled garage may have more consequences to your paint’s life span than you know. We have got you covered with some tips on how to best store your paint for the long haul!
According to an article in Better Homes and Gardens, the ideal storage temperature for house paint is 60 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything above or below is considered too hot or too cold, and paint can freeze. If this happens, the paint can be ruined. To tell, allow it to slowly warm to room temperature, stir it well, and check to see if the color is right. If so, it should be okay to use. When paint gets too hot, the chemicals in it, as well as the water, can evaporate (as the lid does not provide perfect protection), leading to the paint drying out and hardening. It is best to store paint in a basement or garage that does not get too hot or cold, and on a shelf. Storing paint cans on concrete floors like that of garages can lead to faster rusting of the paint can.
Tip: Write on a piece of masking tape the color of the paint, the date of purchase and how much remains in the can. This way, when you are looking through multiple paint cans for a specific color, you won’t have to open the cans and break the seal just for a quick peek at what color it is.
When you are ready to get rid of paint, then it must be dried out before going in the garbage. If you don’t have the time to wait or just want the paint gone, you can also take it to your local hardware/paint store and pay a small fee for them to dispose of it for you. Remember, paint can harm the environment, so proper storage and disposal are very important.
Here at Westminster Paint Pals we practice proper storage and disposal of paint, after we paint your house we will leave somewhere between a quart and a gallon of extra paint for each color on your house. Also if we paint your house and you have old paint you wish to dispose of don’t hesitate to ask on of our Westminster Paint Pals reps to dispose your old paint free of charge.
