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How to Organize Your Paint

I love to paint. This statement is not far off from admitting a love to pull weeds or clean toilets, but it is true. I love painting! There’s nothing better than a clean, stiff, two inch Purdy slant brush and a blank sheet of drywall calling my name. What’s the downside to repainting my living room six times since we moved in? There’s a whole lot of paint cans being stored in my garage.

Whether you own a home or are renting, chances are you have had the desire at least once to throw some paint on the walls. Here’s a few tips on organizing and storing household paint to keep it fresh and easy to find.

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The first thing I do when I bring a can of paint home is write two things on the top. First, I label which room the paint belongs to. Second, I label the date I last painted the room or wall.

The next thing I do is attach a paint swatch to the lid of the can.

You probably already know that the paint store puts a dab of paint on the lid. Unfortunately, when you are trying to match a paint can lid to your wall to make sure it’s the right paint, it’s difficult to tell if you get a match. By attaching a swatch with tape, you can easily pull it off and hold the paint color directly on the wall to see if you have the correct match.

I also attach a second swatch to the front of my can. This way I can see the color and location when the cans are stacked on a shelf in the garage.

I also have a lot of paint quarts in my storage. Most are for furniture, not walls. I label these cans the same way, except for instead of labeling the room, I label the piece of furniture that I painted.

If I ever end up selling the furniture, I can send the paint can with whoever buys it. People love having a little touch up paint when they purchase a used desk or chair for their home.

There is one problem I often encounter when storing paint. After using part of a can, the lid won’t hammer shut all the way due to paint crud stuck in the grooves of the can. This will often lead to dried out paint, rust, or even mildew in your paint cans.

There’s an easy solution! Home Improvement stores sell a plastic pour spout that will fit snugly right on your can. These are a must when buying paint, and they only cost around $1.00.

If you already have rusted lids that won’t shut, you’re not out of luck. Most paint store sell empty cans and new lids that you can use to salvage your good paint. Just don’t forget to label them well.

Another great way to prolong your paint and brushes…

Use a paint can opener instead of a flat-head screwdriver. It opens the can without bending the shape of the lid, thus prolonging the life of your can.

Use a wire metal brush to scrape out any dried paint that may have dripped in the can groove. This is also a great tool to use when cleaning paint brushes.

A few more quick tips when it comes to painting your home:

If you’re not in a rush to paint a room, keep your eyes on the mistint shelf. Most people don’t know that you can have more color added to already mixed paint. If a color is too light, ask the paint specialist what colors can be added to get the paint right where you want it.

Did you know you can mix your own paint colors? When painting above the wainscoting in my mudroom, I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on paint for such a small area. I mixed an off-white with a dark gray that I already had to achieve a color I loved.

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If you have extra light hued paint, try adding another color to get a soft hue that coordinates with colors already in your home. Just be sure to use similar paint sheen, and don’t ever mix a latex and oil based paint together.

Another great place to buy inexpensive paint is through the Habitat for Humanity. They have shopping stores called ReStore located all over the United States. You can find many recycled building and painting materials at these stores. I purchase all of my brushes and painters tape at these stores.

Keep samples of paint in your home bound together for quick reference. I have all the paint colors from my home put together in a small ziplock bag. Anytime I furniture shop, or if I am picking up new paint for a room, I use my swatches as a reference when choosing colors.

Another tip: Keep a small tupperware of paint handy for touch-ups. Every spring I need to touch up peeling paint on my front patio chairs. It’s much easier to pop open a container, then to remix an entire can for just a few spots.

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That’s it! Before I go, remember to always dispose of old paint properly. Never throw it in the trash! If you can’t find a way to use it, find a friend who can. You can also donate old or unused paint to your local ReStore. To find a location accepting donations near you click here.

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Mandy

Friday 4th of November 2011

Great idea, one of my main problems with left over paint!