PAINTING TIPS

Tue., Sept. 12, 2006

The Spokesman-Review

Summer is high season for home improvement projects, so there are likely to be pyramids of leftover paint cans sitting in basements and garages. Paint that is not properly stored or disposed of can be a household and environmental hazard, so here are tips on reusing, recycling and removing leftover paint.

• Don’t buy more than you need. Before purchasing paint, calculate the approximate amount needed for a project. Ask a sales associate at a paint store to help with an estimate based on square footage, or use a paint calculator, which can be found on the Web sites of manufacturers Benjamin Moore, Behr and Glidden, as well as at www.homedepot.com.

• Store it properly. Paint will last longer if stored correctly. Cover the opening of the paint can with plastic wrap (wax paper for oil-based paints) before closing the lid and gently tapping with a hammer to secure. Store in a cool, dry place, away from extreme temperatures, and out of the reach of children and pets. Storing paint upside down can preserve the quality. Cans exposed to extreme heat can expand and leak.

• Reuse and recycle. Ask friends or family if they can use leftover paint, or try local charities, nonprofit organizations, theater groups, school drama departments or churches. If not, hold onto it until the next household hazardous-waste collection in your community. Contact the local Department of Public Works for upcoming dates.

• Know what you have. Determine whether you have oil-based or water-based (acrylic or latex) paint before it’s disposed of. Unsure? Mix some of the paint with water. Water-based paint mixes easily with water; oil-based paint separates from it.

• Disposing of water-based paint. If there is only a little left in the can, dry it out by stirring in a paint hardener or an absorbent material such as cat litter, mulch, sand or sawdust. Allow it to dry completely in a well-ventilated area. Once dry, double-wrap the container in newspaper (with the lid removed), bag it and throw it out in the regular trash. Oil-based paint should not be disposed of in the regular trash; wait for an opportunity to drop it off at a recycling center.

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