Most painting projects take a while to complete. Even if it’s a relatively small job, like touching up a fence or a small item of IKEA furniture, ensuring you do it properly adds a few extra hours to the process.
And that’s before you factor in drying times. Oil-based paints take a long time to dry, so you need to account for this, especially when painting exterior surfaces.
This all means that you’ll need to store your paint. Usually overnight or while you focus on other things, but sometimes for much longer. To stop paint drying out before you can use it again, be sure to follow this guide.
The Importance of Storing Paint Properly
If you’re a professional painter, you want to make the most of every drop of paint. But if your project is delayed or taking longer than it should, storing that paint improperly could make it dry out. These leaves you out of pocket, and causes more delays as you source fresh tins/barrels in the correct colour and sheen level.
This is true for domestic painters too. If you calculated the exact amount you needed, but had to shove it into a cupboard for a few days, you might be very disappointed when it’s time to get back to work.
It’s not just us that’s affected by this either. Millions of litres of paint go to waste in the UK each year, and often it’s because it wasn’t stored properly. This is paint that has started to dry out, or is excess from a job. The latter we’ll talk about in a short while, but for now let us help you to store paint correctly.
How to Store Leftover Paint
One of the challenges of storing paint is that most paint tins are hard to reseal once opened. If you have a small amount of paint left, it’s worth pouring it into a sealable jar or other container, so it will keep for longer.
But thankfully there are ways of using the original tin if there is quite a bit left. First you need to remove any dry or flaking paint without letting it fall into the fresh stuff. Wet paint can be wiped away with a damp cloth, whilst you may need a knife or scraper for dry paint.
This is always essential, as it will affect how well the tin is sealed. Replace the lid and seal it with tape or clingfilm to prevent air from getting it. We also recommend turning the tin upside down to give it an even tighter seal, just be sure the lid is on properly!
Where to Store Leftover Paint
Once your tins have been resealed, you’ll want to store them in a cool, dry place. Indoors is best, but a shed or garage works fine too. If you choose the latter, put them on a shelf instead of the floor, so they’re less likely to rust or be affected by damp.
Cover the tins with a dust sheet or blanket if the shed or garage gets particularly cold, as frost will damage the tin.
By doing this, your paint will be ready to go whenever you need it next, and you won’t have to splash out on fresh paint every time.
Although our paints are some of the most durable available, painted surfaces still get scratched, scuffed, and stained; cleaning them helps but doesn’t always do enough. If you keep some excess paint in storage, you can use it for touch ups and corrections at any time.
If you have a lot of painting jobs ahead of you, because you’re a professional painter or are renovating, you also want to get your paint in excess. Better to have too much instead of too little, and by storing it you can use your extra paint in the future.
How to Store Paintbrushes
Of course, it isn’t just the paint itself that can be put in storage. If you’re halfway through a painting project, you’ll need to put your brushes, rollers, and drip trays somewhere safe too.
You can store paintbrushes alongside your paint, or in a drawer or cupboard where you can access them easily. Wrapping them in clingfilm or a plastic bag helps protect them from damp, a good idea if they’re being kept in the shed.
But before you put them away, it’s vital that you clean your paintbrushes thoroughly. If the bristles of your brush get stuck together, using it will lead to a streaky finish and a lot of frustration.
The best method for cleaning paintbrushes depends on what paint you’re using. For cleaning emulsion paint, soap and water is usually plenty. More durable paints like latex paint and oil-based paint have resistant compounds that need something stronger, like paint stripper or white spirit, to keep them clean. Naturally, if you clean your brushes before the paint dries, you’ll have a much easier time, so don’t store them until they’re spotless.
For a more in-depth guide on cleaning paintbrushes, check out our cleaning painting accessories blog.
The UK’s Most Trusted Paint Provider
Whatever reason you have for storing your paint and brushes, either a delay or just keeping some excess for the future, it’s important to do it properly.
We’re one of the UK’s best paint suppliers, trusted by tradespeople and domestic painters across the world. It isn’t just paint either, we have paint brushes, rollers, primers, and everything else you need for your next project.
We hope this blog has been helpful, and will lead to less waste and more paint for you to use for your interior and exterior painting.
If you have any questions about us, our products, or for more painting advice, please consult our blog or get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you!