I am going to do a color wash in my foyer by mixing equal parts paint and clear glaze. If I am unable to finish at one time, can I close the can and reuse the mixture at at later date?? Also the color I got is a little dark, what is the easiest way to lighten it up alittle?? Adding white or cream colored paint??

Thanks for your help!
Christine

 

Latex paint will potentially keep for a year in a proper temperature range. I have kept it that long before. If it smells bad, then it has gone bad. Alkyd paint will keep for a while if the air is kept from the paint to prevent the chemical reaction from occurring. Lay a sheet of saran wrap over the surface to keep the air off of it. I don't store alkyd paint, so I have no experience with how long it will keep.

The fuller the can the better.

This is my experience, the manufacturer may feel different.

Hope this helps.

 

I've actually kept latex paint for 3 years. We painted a room in 1999. When my daughter moved out last year, I had 1/2 a gallon left and used it to touch up furniture marks and stains. It was a shade of lavender that I kept becuase of the color match, and it worked great.

I also used a paint/glaze mix when I sponged my bathroom, and went back several months later to do some touch up and it was fine.

 

Thanks for the info!! With two small children, it is hard to get one thing done completely at at time

 

A Sherwin Williams store told me that latex paint can keep for up to 5-6 years. After that the paint goes bad. I have used paint that has sat in the basement maybe 4 years.

 

I keep stock colors of latex and oil in my shop because I buy in bulk, but it usually doesn't stay around long enough to make an observation. Latex and oil should keep for several years if properly stored. Lid on tight, in a dark, cool place.

An old painter taught me a trick years ago in keeping touch-up paint. Right before capping it off, blow into the can and close quickly, replacing the oxygen with carbon dioxide. If it makes a difference, who knows, but I do it . Also store gallon cans upside down so if a skin forms on the paint, it will be at the bottom when flipped over and opened.

prowallguy