How to store paint for free using food containers.
Welcome and thanks so much for stopping in today! I’ve been in a purging, cleaning and organizing mood lately and hitting every room in the house.
This past weekend was the basement’s turn so I descended into the depths of the dungeon and spent time cleaning up and organizing the leftover paint from our kitchen remodel.
Usually, when I buy paint I’ll leave it in the can. I always use a spout, which helps keep the can clean for a while.
Inevitably though it gets messy with dried paint around the rim causing both the can and lid to rust. Not good when you have half a gallon of good paint left.
So, to keep paint longer I started using glass and plastic food containers bound for the recycle bin. My container of choice lately has been the clear bottles our orange juice comes in.
They are perfect because they are tall and slim, so you can store more in a small space. They are also see-through so you can see what you have and how much is left.
The orange juice containers I used have a small opening so we used a water bottle with an even smaller opening as a funnel. We just cut off the bottom and turned it upside down in the OJ bottle.
So easy and completely free since you’re using something that would be tossed out anyway.
I also filled up a small creamer container that will be stored under my kitchen sink, for quick touch ups.
I know that keeping paint in recycled bottles or jars may not be a new and clever idea, but I do have 1 tiny, little tip to share. Place a small piece of plastic wrap over the opening before you put the lid on. It helps keep air out and it also keeps the lid clean and dry so you won’t have a crusty, dried mess that prevents you from closing it tight.
The only thing missing was a label.
I just use painter’s tape and, along with the brand, color, formula (in case you need more of that color) and finish and the month and year it was stored.
I know, I know…so easy.
But…if you spend $20 or $30 on a can a paint, you want it to last as long as possible, right? Now you can go and pull all of those plastic bottles and glass jars out of your recycle bin and use them to store leftover paint.
Any tips you care to share for storing leftover paint?
Looking for more organizational and storage ideas? Check out how our Organization projects.
