Many of us have a lot of extra paint and oil sitting around from various projects and want to save it for other home improvement projects that may come up or to touch up damaged paint on walls or furniture in the future. If you currently have the paint stored in your basement, but it is unorganized and some of the paint and oil is freezing, you should know that there is a proper way to store your painting supplies. You do not need anything special---just some shelving and a rubber mallet.
Preparing the Paint and Oil
To start, throw away any paint and oil that is frozen and is no longer good enough to apply. If there is only a small amount of paint or oil in a bucket and it has been kept closed, pour the paint or oil into a plastic container that has a lid. Place a piece of plastic wrap over the plastic container and then place the lid securely on to of the container. The plastic wrap will help to keep air out of your paint and oil.
Open each container of paint and place a piece of plastic wrap over the top of opening. Make sure the plastic wrap is covering the container's opening completely. Then place the lid back on to container. Use a mallet to hammer the lid on to the container tightly. You can also use a regular hammer, but place a piece of plywood or 2 inch by 6 inch on top of the container before hammering the lid close.
Storing the Paint and Oil
To store your paint and oil properly, turn the container upside down and place it high on a shelf in your basement. Do not place cans or gallons on the floor. Use a shelving unit, a old table or other surface that is at least six inches from your basement's floor. The paint or oil should be kept at a temperature above freezing, 32 degrees Fahrenheit and not over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, you do not want to place the shelving unit, table or desk in an area with direct sunlight or too much artificial light. The direct lighting will ruin the paint and will also cause the temperature to change too much in your paint or oil.
Tips
You may want to take a small amount of the paint or oil and paint it on the outside of the container so you know what color is in the container. You can also store left over paint or oil in a baby food jar, mason jar or other container. Make sure you cover the container with a piece of plastic wrap and secure the lid on tightly. To use the stored paint and oil, shake the container vigorously to mix the paint or oil before opening.
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