Storage
One of the most important factors with paint storage (not unlike food storage) is preventing air from coming in contact with the paint. Latex paints in particular are subject to spoiling (just like milk), the solvents in oil and shellac tend to act like a preservative and thus they do better in terms of spoiling than latex.. A good seal on the paint can lid is important. I use special plastic discs which can be inserted directly into the paint can and rest directly on top of the paint to prevent air contact from the paint. The storage discs I use are made by D.A.L.E. S Corporation and are called “Storeit“ . They are clean-able and re-useable. They will prevent paint from skinning over and greatly help to prevent spoiling. I HIGHLY recommend them for storage of both oil and latex paint.
Store paint in the original can whenever possible. The original can will usually have the product label with the type of paint, the color formula and name and probably the date of mixing on it. Don’t transfer paint to glass jars for storage. Glass jars will break if dropped and you will have a mess to clean up on your hands.
Latex
Do not allow to latex paint to freeze. Normally, freezing (and thawing) will ruin a latex paint. There is kind of an un-written rule that latex paint will survive three freeze thaw cycles.
Non water-based paints
Oil based paint and shellac are not subject to freezing and don’t have the same cautions that a latex paint has with freeze thaw cycles. Solvent paints are combustible and should not be stored in an area where there is open flame (store away from furnaces, water heaters etc..) In terms of air quality, storing solvent paints outside (in a garage) of the living quarters may be best.
Shelf Life
What is the basic shelf life of paint?
Shellac (and shellac primer)
Shellac has a very short shelf life. Once the lac flakes are mixed with alcohol the time table starts. Zinsser shellac has a shelf life of three years, after three years they recommend that a brushed out test sample be made to see if it dries properly (within two hours it should be tack free).
Latex
Generally, more can go wrong with a latex paint in storage than with oil. Latex paints are far more complicated than oil. Providing you store the latex paint at room temperatures and keep them from freezing, and keep air from them (use the Storeit discs) - they will last a long time. How long? Some report that latex paint will last 10 years in storage, I think that 7 years or so is about right if optimally stored.
Oil
Oil based paint has the best shelf life of the three major types of house paint in my experience. There are some reports that state an oil paint will last up to 10 -15 years. I think 7 - 10 years is certainly possible with good storage (see Storeit discs) practices. I have had an experience with an older oil based paint that would not dry. For this reason, it is prudent to brush out a test piece on some scrape wood and see how it applies and if it dries properly.
Re-Using Old Paint
Thinning
Normally small amounts of solvent will escape from a paint that has been used. It will escape during the process of painting itself, and a small amounts can escape from poorly sealed paint cans. Before re-using, test the consistency and add a small amount of the paint’s solvent (water for latex, and mineral spirits for oil paints) if needed.
Straining
Old oil paint (that was stored without a Storeit disc) will sometimes form a skin over the top. Removing this skin to get to the liquid paint below will probably result in bit of skin getting mixed into the paint itself. Before using old stored paint it is customary for professional painters to strain the paint to filter out any bits of paint skin or other particles.
Disposal
Latex
Paint disposal is governed by local and regional laws and regulations. Check with your local and regional authorities for the final word on your own area.
Latex paint cannot be disposed on in it’s liquid state. In most areas, latex paint is not considered a “hazardous” waste and can be disposed of in local landfills once it is solidified. To solidify latex paint , you will need to open the lid, and add a sufficient amount of absorbent material to allow it to dry through and through. You can add kitty litter material, or cement , or sawdust and similar materials to dry out latex paint. There are commercial paint drying materials that work extremely well. They will do a better and faster job of hardening paint.
Solidify paint in a well - ventilated area that is inaccessible to children and pets. For air quality reasons, do not solidify paint in a basement or inside the house. There should be no sources of spark or flame as there are small amounts of VOC’s in even latex paint, which could accumulate in an inadequately ventilated room.
Leave the lids off and give the pant time to dry out. This may take a few days or a few weeks or more depending on the amount of paint and the amount and type of absorbent material used. Test the paint, and once it is indeed dry all the way through, you may in most locals, dispose of it with the rest of the household garbage (check with your local authorities for your area). Leave the lid off so that the trash collectors can see there is no liquid paint in the can and that it is indeed solidified.
Solvent paint
(Homeowners are not subject to Resource Conservation and Recovery Act rules concerning household waste, Painting contractors must comply with federal RCRA rules as conditionally exempt small quantity generators or as hazardous waste generators)
Most cities have one or two hazardous waste collection days a year, where homeowners can drop off their old oil paints and other hazardous wastes.
Store the paint until the scheduled day in the original containers, with the lids tightly secured in an outside building (in a garage) and out of reach of pets or children. Contact your local city or country government office to find out the program and dates of your own local collection program.
Storing, Using and Disposing of Leftover Paint
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