One of our most frequently asked questions is ‘what should I do with my leftover paint’. Paint disposal can be a problem for all of us so we felt it was important to highlight what can be done with your leftovers and how to dispose of it in a safe and responsible way.

PLEASE NOTE: Paint cannot be disposed of in your normal waste as it is a flammable and hazardous material. You should also never pour paint down the drain as it can cause toxic fumes to release within your plumbing system, coat the drains, and eventually result in blocked pipes. 

Storing for touch ups

Do you have a little bit of paint left over from your project? You may want to keep this to hand for ups! A lot of us won’t be overly keen on keeping bulky tins that may be a bit unsightly thanks to paint drips and general wear and tear. Quite often keeping these large tins uses up a lot of valuable storage space and after a lot of opening and closing the lid may not be as reliable to keep out the air as it once was. This is why our favourite tip is pour out your leftovers and keep them sealed and airtight in an old jar. Once empty you can rinse out your tins and take them to your local recycling centre to dispose.

TOP TIP: Don’t forget to remove the label from your colour match tin and tape it onto your jar in case you ever need to know the details!

More paint left but you’re keen to keep for your next project?

If you realise you have quite a significant amount of paint leftover that you’re not quite ready to part with, a jar likely won’t quite cut it in terms of space.  If you have quite a lot of paint left and you have no other way to store this other than keeping it in the original tin, make sure to give the inside of the lid a good clean to ensure any dried up paint flakes can’t contaminate the paint. This will also ensure the lid can get the tightest seal to prevent the elements ruining your paint!  A tip for creating a tighter seal on the tin is to place a length of cling over the rim of your paint before replacing the lid. 

Another essential tip for storing paint is to keep it in a cool, dry place. Be mindful that water based paint can freeze and thaw in colder temperatures so be careful if storing in the shed during winter months. Even in your house, the colder areas can make your paint curdle, while humid areas can result in rusting which can then contaminate the paint- definitely not ideal!  

Once you have found your perfect location we would recommend storing your paint upside down. This means any skin that can form on the top of your paint, will be left at the bottom when you come to reuse it! You can even go the extra mile and strain your paint (a sieve would be perfect for this!) to remove any pesky flakes that may have invaded. 

More paint left but you won’t be needing it?

If you have more than half a tin of your Blend remaining then a great idea is to donate this to a charity! We often donate our surplus (or as we like to call them ‘whoops’)  tins to Frade. This is a reuse charity that works to rehome paint with someone who they know needs it or sell it in their charity shops with the profits going towards supporting families that need a little extra help to make their house a home. Another amazing national charity is Community RePaint who can take your leftover paint and ensure it is responsibly utilised and not wasted!

Alternatively there is that age old saying one man's trash is another man's treasure, so why not see what you have and sell it. You can list any of your leftover paint online with popular marketplaces. Who knows, you may make a few pounds and make someone's day with a bargain!

Feeling crafty? Use it up!

One of my favourite ways to use up leftover paint is to get crafty! Our Scrubbable Matt and Eggshell finishes are suitable for wood, so if you have a little of this leftover then why not try it out for a project. If you want to protect your projects more you can utilise suitable primers which should give them better adhesion and a longer life before chipping.  

Remember emulsion for your walls isn’t necessarily the best choice of paint for upcycling a chest of drawers for example (for longevity!) but if you’re mindful of this and happy to give it a go then there is absolutely no reason you can’t use your leftovers up around the house! 

Still stuck? Get rid!

So if you have looked through the above options and are still finding yourself stuck with some leftover paint then what else can you do? You can actually dispose of your leftover paint safely so you don’t find yourself hoarding tonnes of half empty tins in your garage! To dispose of paint properly you will first need to learn how to harden it. The best way to achieve this is by adding sawdust, sand, a paint hardener or even cat litter to your paint and leave the lid off in a well ventilated area. This will harden your paint over a number of days and then you can tip it out into a bin bag for waste disposal before taking your tins to your local recycling centre!

So these are all of our ways of disposing of your leftover paint. We hope you’re feeling better equipped now with the best and most responsible ways to ensure you’re being safe and responsible!