How to Store Leftover Paint Properly

Do you have leftover paint that you would like to store, but no clue how to do so rightly? If so, then you’re in the right place as here is the complete guide to help you store leftover paint properly.

There’s no doubt that painting is one of the most common home improvement activities that most people in Singapore have done at least once. While it’s quite easy to do with the help of a Singapore painting contractor, storing the leftover paint subsequently can become a bit of fine art.

When it comes to storing leftover paint, there are mistakes as well as best practices you can make, from temperature conditions to container choice to even the can placement.

If you would like to keep the leftover paint for a future home improvement project, you must store it properly to prevent it from drying out or curdling. Not to mention, storing unused paint under the right conditions, it would be as great as new when you need it for your next job.

So, let’s start…

Which Container to Pick?

In order to prolong the life of leftover paint, you must pick the airtight container for its storage. Screw-top bottles and jars, and it could be either glass or plastic, are ideal to keep paint fresh. You should avoid containers that come with metal lids as these are vulnerable to rust, which can impact the paint consistency.

Moreover, in order to avoid as much air contamination as you can during storage, use a bottle or jar that you can easily fill up to the brim. Keep in mind, the bigger the gap between the paint and lid in the container, the more likely your paint is going to dry out.

Those who don’t have another container are recommended placing a layer of tin foil (or plastic wrap) over the top of the leftover paint in the can, so it touches the paint, to avoid air contamination. Gently and properly close the lid.

Steps to Store Paint

Prepare the selected container for the paint by washing as well as drying it thoroughly. Afterward, fill the container with leftover paint and clean the rim as well as inside of the lid, where the container seals, to make sure that no residue hinders it from sealing securely and tightly.

So, seal the container quite tightly and mark it with the paint color, brand name and sheen, and the name of the surface or room that was painted with it. These are some smart things to do that even experts offering a painting service recommend.

Ideal Temperature to Store Paint

Here comes the most imperative step!! When storing paint after or before a job, it is imperative to consider the temperature at which the paint is stored. When temperatures are too cold or too hot, the shelf life of the paint could be shortened.

Considering Singapore’s tropical weather condition – high humidity, strong sunshine, hot weather, and heavy rain, you must be very careful about at temperature you should store the paint. 

Ideally, you should store leftover paint at a temperature – 15.5 to 26.5 degrees Celsius.

As mentioned before, storing paint in an atmosphere that’s either too cold or too hot can affect the consistency of the paint. Extreme heat dries paint out quite fast, which gives it a rubbery texture as well as a thick skin on top.

On the other side, extreme cold can result in a freezing of water-based paints. And freezing can damage the emulsion in the paint permanently, which causes it to become lumpy or stringy when it thaws. Keep in mind, oil-based paint freezes at a quite lower temperature as compared to water-based paint.

If you have ever worked with a Singapore painting contractor before, then your contraction must have given you an idea of how temperature affects the product!!

Where to Store Paint?

Commonly, people store leftover paint in sheds or garages. And this is the biggest mistake to make!! The reason behind this is that environments like these generally are not insulated, with the consequence that the paint is exposed to quite extreme temperatures (and considerable temperature fluctuations of Singapore).

So, what’s the best place to store the leftover paint? Then, it is in a cool basement, a cupboard, or an underground cellar in your house or a storage unit. Moreover, make sure to store your leftover paint far from any kind of heat source, for instance, radiators, heaters, water boilers, or direct sunlight, in order to preserve the paint for the long-term.

Also, ensure to keep the paint containers out of falling dirt and dust, as the moment you try to open the lid, that dirt and dust can easily fall into your paint, which could ruin it.

How to Determine if the Leftover Paint Has Ruin?

If you failed to follow the best practices, then you might be wondering as to whether the paint has ruined. Isn’t, it right? Well, if it smells odd (like anything other than what paint smell is), it’s probably bad!! Nevertheless, you can try to mix it with a stir stick and check if the paint blends together smoothly. Afterward, brush a bit of the paint on a test surface and check how well it spreads. And if it’s bumpy and rough, then it’s time to dispose of it.

The Final Verdict

With paint quite expensive, it’s understandable why all try to get the most out of their leftover paint. Hopefully, the practices mentioned here have helped you do the job properly and rightly. If you ever find yourself in need of a professional painting service in Singapore, then feel free to contact us. We are known as the trusted Singapore painting contractor who strives to do the quality painting job at the most affordable rate.