No one, absolutely no one, considers decluttering their old cans of paint is anything near fun. Most people put it off until they have sold their home and need to get that paint out! I highly suggest that this task is put on your To Do List. Set a date and dream up a great reward for yourself when it’s done. Your future self will thank you and, best of all, it’s not difficult! (Click on Read More to continue)
*Note 1: Paint does get old. It spreads and performs poorly compared to fresh paint. Paint can last up to ten years if properly stored and the container is nearly full or better yet never opened.
*Note 2: Metal cans usually rust before the paint gets old especially if they are stored in a basement where conditions are damp. The rust around the rim drops into the paint when it’s reopened, which discolors the product making it useless for touchups.
*Note 3: In most communities latex paint can be disposed in the trash provided it is treated such that the cans are lidless and the paint is not pourable. Generally, oil base paint is collected as hazardous waste.
Things you will need: old cans of latex paint, paint can opener or screwdriver, pliers for stuck lids, maybe a hammer claw or other sturdy puncturing tool to break into old stuck cans, plastic to protect floor or workbench, trash bags, kitty litter or paint hardener from hardware store, sturdy trash bags or contractor bags. Sometimes helpful: courage and a friend.
The process is quite easy, really. Set aside oil base paints for proper disposal as hazardous waste collection (check with your community). The way to know whether you have oil base paint is in the clean up instructions. If it can be cleaned up with soap and water it is not oil base. Let’s continue. Open each can of latex paint to determine whether it has solidified already. If so, the solid paint may be thrown away in the trash including the can but not the lid. Cans with liquid paint will need to be dried by one of three methods.
First, the can may be left open until it dries naturally (if you are in no rush).
Second, if the can is only about half full, inexpensive kitty litter may be added until the paint is no longer pourable. It may still be wet or moist but not pourable.
Third, a special paint hardener (available at hardware stores) may be added and stirred into nearly full cans of paint. Paint hardener takes up very little space and effectively treats a larger volume than kitty litter. It is extremely good at clumping paint together and continues to harden over time. Paint hardener may seem a little pricey for something that you’re just throwing away, but the end result justifies the cost.
*Note 2: Metal cans usually rust before the paint gets old especially if they are stored in a basement where conditions are damp. The rust around the rim drops into the paint when it’s reopened, which discolors the product making it useless for touchups.
*Note 3: In most communities latex paint can be disposed in the trash provided it is treated such that the cans are lidless and the paint is not pourable. Generally, oil base paint is collected as hazardous waste.
Things you will need: old cans of latex paint, paint can opener or screwdriver, pliers for stuck lids, maybe a hammer claw or other sturdy puncturing tool to break into old stuck cans, plastic to protect floor or workbench, trash bags, kitty litter or paint hardener from hardware store, sturdy trash bags or contractor bags. Sometimes helpful: courage and a friend.
The process is quite easy, really. Set aside oil base paints for proper disposal as hazardous waste collection (check with your community). The way to know whether you have oil base paint is in the clean up instructions. If it can be cleaned up with soap and water it is not oil base. Let’s continue. Open each can of latex paint to determine whether it has solidified already. If so, the solid paint may be thrown away in the trash including the can but not the lid. Cans with liquid paint will need to be dried by one of three methods.
First, the can may be left open until it dries naturally (if you are in no rush).
Second, if the can is only about half full, inexpensive kitty litter may be added until the paint is no longer pourable. It may still be wet or moist but not pourable.
Third, a special paint hardener (available at hardware stores) may be added and stirred into nearly full cans of paint. Paint hardener takes up very little space and effectively treats a larger volume than kitty litter. It is extremely good at clumping paint together and continues to harden over time. Paint hardener may seem a little pricey for something that you’re just throwing away, but the end result justifies the cost.
Paint treated with paint hardener.
Tip: if you have trouble removing the lid from the can, try to pry it up as much as possible using the screwdriver. Then use a pair of pliers to peel the lid back onto itself enough so that a screwdriver or pry tool can finish the task. If the lid is having none of that, try using the claw of a hammer or a pry bar to puncture a hole in the lid so that the hardener can be dumped in. Opening cans one by one is a tedious process especially if there are dozens of cans but it is well worth the effort to know that you are prepared for a future move or downsizing.
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