Judith Sutton ABR CRS IDS PMN ASP IAHSP SRES GREEN
Judy@JudithSutton.com 908 803-0472
EXPECT MORE
How to Dispose of Paint — Simple Ways to Get Rid of Unused Paint Safely and Legally
Handy tips on the disposal of unused house paint
Disposing of paint in the wrong way can lead to dangerous repercussions. Here's what the experts suggest:
Paint is one of the most common items people dispose of incorrectly. Being a liquid, it isn't something that should go directly in the trash, and oil-based paints are highly flammable, so what to do?
If you have surplus paint to dispose of or you can tell when the paint has gone bad, there are a number of safe methods to remove it from your home without causing potential harm to your health or the environment.
Two things are for sure: directly placing it in the bin or pouring it down the toilet and sink is wrong.
1.
If you have a bit of paint left over as opposed to a full single can of paint, one of the best ways to dispose of it is to first paint it all onto pieces of cardboard and then place it in the trash once all the paint is used up.
The most cost-effective way to get rid of old paint is to get as many cardboard boxes as possible (the bigger, the better), lay them out in a paint-safe area, and roll multiple coats of paint on each box until all of your paint is used up. This method can save lots of money and is safe; it can be done with oil-based paints and latex paints as well.
Once your paint has been used up and has dried on the cardboard, the cardboard pieces can be recycled as normal in your paper waste bin. If you're wondering how long paint take to dry, it will depend on the type of paint finish you used.
All you will need for the job is paint roller kit or some brushes and lots of cardboard boxes.
2.
Leave non-oil-based paint in the sun to dry out.
This is another hack that works best for smaller quantities of paint.
Leaving your excess paint to dry out in the sun is a simple, hands-off approach that will cost you nothing. The mixture of the sun's warmth and the lid of your paint can be off, exposing the paint to air, which will cause the paint to solidify.
In general, latex paint may be discarded in the trash, but it needs to be dried out first. If you have a small amount of paint reside, dry it out.
It's important not to do this to oil-based paints as they are flammable and won't mix well with heat.
3.
For larger quantities of paint and absorbing the particles to dispose of paint water, you can use kitty litter or a commercial paint hardener to dry them out. The absorbent nature of these two products speeds up the drying process of the paint by sucking in the liquid and creating a solid.
Mix it with cat litter or a paint hardener before throwing it in the trash, preventing spills or contamination.
4.
Recycling your paint is the most eco-friendly option of all out there, and will just require you to check if there are any paint drop-off locations in your area to recycle what you have.
Paint disposal guidelines vary by towns. A web search like 'paint disposal near me' or 'paint recycling near me' is likely to provide information on your municipality’s paint disposal policies, which will probably include regular pickup dates or drop-off sites. Or, simply ask me! I can provide the information you need for your town!
5.
Bring your paint to a hazardous waste disposal site. Oil-based paint cannot be thrown away in the garbage due to being flammable, so the best option to dispose of it from your life that isn't donating it to a store or giving it away to someone else is to drop it off at a hazardous waste disposal site.
Oil paint cannot be disposed of in the trash.
If you attempt to paint using a can of ruined product, it would be a definite painting mistake. It will make a room feel dirtier, as it may end up being patchy, grainy, uneven, and potentially smell "A full can of paint can take weeks to months to (months to years) dry naturally. Speed up the process by spreading it out in a shallow container or mixing it with a drying agent like cat litter."— so please do not do this!
*Note: A full can of paint can take weeks to months (or years) to dry naturally. Speed up the process by spreading it out in a shallow container or mixing it with a drying agent like cat litter.
I’d love to give you a detailed picture of what our company and I can do for you!
By incorporating my personal attention and guidance into the marketing strategy I aim to provide you with
an Exceptional Selling Experience
while ensuring that your property receives the exposure needed
to attract buyers from anywhere
Your Local Real Estate Connection
Get a positive, helpful partner for buying or selling your home:
Trusted resource for answers about the process
Innovative marketing strategies
Expertise about neighborhood features
Ability to target home searches
Strong negotiation skills
Support through the closing and beyond
Why would you settle for anything less?
Adding value for my clients and loving where we live!
Judy@JudithSutton.com
COLDWELL BANKER...GUIDING PEOPLE HOME SINCE 1906
908 803-0472
"...the right relationship means everything..."
PEACE FRATERNITY LOVE in 2025
SERVING THE SOMERSET HILLS AREA ONE CLIENT AT A TIME
Service & Experience
since 1983