What to do with leftover paint?
The best thing to do with the leftover paint from your painting project is to take advantage of it immediately elsewhere. If you are not going to use it yourself, see if any friend would find a good use for it or see if you could donate it to a social organization.
Read also: How to choose the right paint? – in this article. And, How to calculate needed paint? – in this article.
If you prefer to save leftovers
If the paint is water-based (acrylic or latex), thoroughly wipe the back of the lid and edges of the can with a damp cloth or damp paper towel. Cover the can with a plastic film and put the lid on. Make sure the can is tightly closed, otherwise the paint will lose its consistency and adhesive power.
If the remaining paint is oil-based (enamel), in addition to cleaning the edges of the can well, pass the wax paper over the surface of the paint before closing the can. This is important because oil paints create a film on the surface and the waxed paper absorbs that film. Use remaining paint within the expiration date.
If leftovers are to be discarded
If the remaining paint was not used immediately, if you missed the expiration date or if you did not save it correctly and now you want to through it away, here is what you need to do know. Paint can be thrown neither in the trash nor in the sewage, let alone in a river, etc. Paint is chemical and it will contaminate soil, water, and oceans. You do not want to be responsible for that, right?
Check with your city office for which garbage collection companies are authorized to do this type of collection. Contact those companies and check with them where you can deposit your remaining paint. There are usually specific regulations, professional companies and collection points in most cities.
What to do with cans?
Empty paint cans should be sent to a recycling facility, such as a cooperative of recyclable waste pickers or scrap companies. Cans are made of steel and are completely recyclable. It is also recommended to make a hole in each can to avoid reuse and contamination. This also helps the rest of the paint to dry in the can. Wait for this remaining paint to dry before sending it for recycling.
And how to clean tools after painting?
Remove excess paint with paper or newspaper and wash the tools (brushes, spatula, etc.) with water or solvent (it has to be the same you used for the paint). It is best to also dispose of this waste via a specialized company. If this is not possible, you can dispose of this waste in a sink, so that it goes to the sewage system, avoiding a direct impact on the rivers and nature.
If you were using a solvent, pour water that you used for washing into a container with a little bit of sand. After drying discard that sand in the common waste.
Splashes of paint all over the house
Most common cause:
The painter must not have protected the floor with cardboard and someone stepped on it and spread paint throughout the house. The painter must not have protected the furniture, the door handles, the windows … There were stains around the house and the painter did not remove or clean them after finishing the work.
It can also be:
that the painter had diluted the paint too much, and when passing the roll, small paint drops flew all over the house.
How you could have avoided:
Control the painter that he well protected the floor, furniture, hinges, outlets, switches and everything else that needs to be protected. Visit the site to check that all of the above was done before the painting work goes on. Direct the painter not to dilute paint more than necessary, and do this before work is started.
Stains on the new paint
Most common cause:
Stains on the paint are usually caused by moisture in the wall. This could appear from seepage or leakage. And paint does not cover moisture and does not solve this issue.
It can also be:
If the wall had just been constructed, the plaster had to be dried for 28 days before preparing the wall and painting.
How you could have avoided:
You could have looked at the problem that was bringing moisture. You could have asked the plumber to check if there was any leak or if water was seeping in from somewhere. Probably there was an area that required waterproofing before painting.
And if there was a leak in the wall, it should have been repaired before painting.
Read also: How to understand whether cracks and leaks on the wall are dangerous? – in this article. And, How to avoid wasting time on a renovation project? – in this article.
If this is a new wall, I should have checked if the wall needed a few extra days to dry before painting. No need to hurry for the work to be done in the right way.
You painted and did not like the color
Most common cause:
You bought the entire volume of paint and let the painter do the job without first testing. You did not check if the color would look right on the wall under the different intensity of light and without straight light on the newly painted surface. It could be that the color is either too dark, or it is a very strong color for a large area. And it gave the impression of “I painted and I did not like the color”.
It can also be:
You have used old and overdue paint. When it was applied it appeared to be a very different tone than it was meant to be. The only way is to do this painting job all over again.
How you could have avoided:
Before you bought all the paint, you could have bought a small, try-and-test can. You could have painted a square meter on the wall where you were going to paint. And could have tried to see the result in different light and shades. And, of course, you should have looked at the validity of the paint on the can.
Peeling paint: all painting is ruined
Most common cause:
The wall must have been badly prepared. The painter must have applied the paint on the dirty, dusty wall and did not bother to clean, sand, and repair holes, leaks, and cracks. If wall preparation is not done, paint starts to peel.
It can also be:
If you have peeling paint, you may be using the wrong type of paint for that type of surface or environment (for example, latex paint in a wet environment such as a bathroom).
How you could have avoided:
Paying attention to the preparation of the wall. Controlling the painter that everything is done that needs to be done: removing dust, sanding, wiping with a damp cloth and letting the wall dry.
You should have also checked if the wall needed any repair prior to painting. And you could have checked if the paint the painter asked for and you bought, was the right type of paint for the environment you were going to paint.
