After working on a painting project, you're likely to have some leftover paint--and that's a good thing--because if you can store that leftover paint you'll have an exact color match for any touchups a few years down the road. However, when storing paint, the trick is to ensure it's useable after a few years and not a lumpy mess in the bottom of the can. Here's a simple solution to storing leftover paint that will keep it useable for years--and as an added bonus, save you some storage space as well.
Instructions
1. Understand that the main reason paint goes lumpy and hard when stored in a can is because of air in the can. If you can eliminate the air, your paint will remain useable for years.
2. Start by thoroughly stirring the leftover paint you want to keep. After stirring, place the funnel into the mouth of a clean leftover plastic water or juice bottle and slowly pour the paint into the bottle, filling it up to the neck.
3. Eliminate any air in the bottle by dropping some glass marbles into the bottle, raising the paint level up to the top.
4. Tighten on the screw cap and use a felt tip marking pen to identify the paint, e.g. "downstairs bathroom." This way you can easily figure out where you used that particular paint and a few years later will be able to easily find the paint you need for a touchup.
5. Finish sealing the bottle by running a strip of painters tape or masking tape around the neck of the bottle to provide an airtight seal.
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