One “Just in Case” Item Almost Everyone Can (And Should!) Declutter
Apartment Therapy Weekend Projects is a guided program designed to help you get the happy, healthy home you’ve always wanted, one weekend at a time. Sign up now for email updates so you never miss a lesson.
Whether you’ve recently painted a room at home or not, I bet you’re storing some cans of paint somewhere. Hanging on to extra paint, much like hanging on to extra tile or floorboards, seems like a no-brainer, especially when you’re all fired up about how great a new paint job looks and you’ve vowed to keep pace with with touch-ups.
But there’s a big difference between the paint you store and the other household “extras” you might hang on to in case something happens to the originals in your house. While there’s a very real chance that the tile you used in your bathroom could become discontinued, you can just about always get another can of your wall’s paint color.
This weekend, you’re going to clear out some clunky clutter by taking inventory of the paint you may have stockpiled.
This Weekend: Sort through your paint collection (and possibly narrow it down).
In going through the paint you’ve held on to, the first thing you should do is gather it all together in one place. Take if off the shelves, out of the nooks and crannies in the garage, and collect it in one spot.
Next, check labels to make sure you know what color each can of paint is. Anything you have no idea about, you get to get rid of. If you’ve already painted over old colors, set those old-color cans in the get-rid-of-it pile too. If the paint is still usable, you may be able to donate it to a friend, local charity, or on your Facebook freecycle group.
For paints in colors that are still featured in your house, any unopened can of latex paint should be good for up to 10 years, or up to 15 for oil-based paints. If you have unopened cans, hang on to them for touch-ups or re-painting that may need to happen.
Openened cans of paint, on the other hand, are only expected to last about two years. To test whether it’s okay to use, open the can and look inside: If any mildew is visible or any foul fungus-y odor is detected, its time has passed. If it’s separated and can’t be mixed with a paint stirrer, or it contains lumps when stirred, it’s also a goner. To dispose of latex paint, mix it with sand or cat litter (basically, you want to make it solid) and toss it with your regular trash. For proper disposal of oil-based paint, contact your local toxic waste department for instructions.
The paint that you do decide to hang on to can be stored in its original containers if unopened. If opened, consider decanting the paint into smaller containers for easy touch-ups (like a refillable paint touch-up pen). Label everything clearly with the color, the rooms it’s used in, and the date, where relevant.
Remember that if you have to get rid of any paint, the paint store you bought the paint from should have a record of your colors and the finish, even if you don’t, and they can mix it up for you again.
Sorry, this list is no longer accepting subscriptions.
Feel free to subscribe to our other emails.
You can catch up with weekend projects right here. Share your progress with us and others by posting updates and photos on Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #atweekendproject.
Remember: This is about improvement, not perfection. Each week you can either choose to work on the assignment we’ve sent you, or tackle another project you’ve been meaning to get to. It’s also completely okay to skip a weekend if you’re busy or not feeling the assignment.