The color that adorns my living room walls is light yellow and known as “lemon ice cream”. It goes perfectly with my decor and is a big step further than the marigold color I had when I moved in. In the years since I was painting, I’ve kept the leftover paint in my closet to make tiny scuffs and touch-ups that is scratching and keeping my walls fresh. But how long can I count on a permanent backup supply?
It seems like a can of paint should last forever. Like that can of beans your parents have been hoarding since 2000, it is stored in an airtight can with the lid closed. And it’s just a bunch of chemicals; how could it ever get bad? According to experts, paint is durable – but when I open my annual paint and stir it up, it looks brand new to me. So how do you know when it’s time to throw away the old paint and pick up a new can? Here are some signs to tell you when your color is past its prime.
By the numbers
If, like me, you can’t tell if the color is good from just looking at it, then when a certain amount of time has passed, assume that the expiration date has passed. Lucas London, CEO and Co-Founder of the Design Site Lick, told Real houses The paint should ideally be used up within six months of opening. If you stay longer, the paint may lose its sheen and your touch-ups won’t blend in with the wall and you may need to repaint a larger area.
Usually the label on a paint can lists the date it was mixed along with the formula the paint was made with. If more than six months have passed and you’d rather buy a new can than risk repainting multiple times, discard the paint but save the label (or take a picture of it) so you can have another Can of the same brand can be mixed in the same way.
This six month lifespan is also not a guarantee. as Consumer Reports states “Leftover latex paint can last years, even a decade, or go bad in just a few months.” To find out if it’s good or not, you have to open it up and take a look – or sniff it.
Observe the consistency and smell
When you open your old can, pay attention to the smell of the paint (no, I’m not telling you to snort paint). If the paint gives off that familiar chemical smell of … paint, you should be fine. However, according to the Home Guide Site SFGate If you smell a pungent, rancid odor, the paint has gone bad and must be thrown away.
Consistency is also important: you may notice that a thick, rubbery, or oily layer has risen to the top. Mix the liquid thoroughly with a paint stirrer. If it comes back together smoothly and stays that way after 10 to 15 minutes, it’s probably still good. notes consumer reports. If the oil and paint separate again or do not mix at all, but look more like lumpy sour milk, this cannot be saved.
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Unopened paint cans also have different shelf lives
What if you bought a can but never mixed it? Home improvement side HomeStars notes that unopened acrylic and water-based acrylic paints can last up to ten years, while oil paints can last up to fifteen years. “Unopened paint maintains its liquid and semi-solid ratio, so it’s okay to use it after a long time. As soon as the can is opened and exposed to air, this ratio begins to change, ”they explain.
Where you keep the paint can affect its longevity
The paint should be stored in a cool, dry place and sealed appropriately by tapping the metal cap back with a rubber mallet (you don’t want to use a regular hammer as it can dent the lid and reopen the can. A. Pain). To keep the color fresh, do-it-yourselfer dealers True value It is recommended that you put plastic wrap over the opening of the can before putting the lid back on. Then store the can upside down to prevent air from entering. (You probably really want to be sure that you have securely closed the can before attempting this.)
TrueValue also points out the importance of protecting the paint from extreme cold or heat. If you left it on the back porch, in a shed, in an unheated garage, or any other location exposed to the elements, the chemical makeup of the paint may have changed, rendering it unusable.
If you find that your paint is beyond salvage, then this is definitely the place to be Dispose of it properly. Cell phone man Bob Vila recommends adding sawdust to the can to dry out any leftover paint and contacting your local waste disposal service for an environmentally friendly way to dispose of the can.
