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Helpful Household Tip: How to Get Rid of Leftover Paint

By
Home Stager with Patsy Overton Interiors, Atlanta, Georgia

Do any of you have a shelf in your storage area or garage that looks similar to this?

Shelves full of leftover paint

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yep, it's full of leftover paint.  (BTW, you can breathe a sigh of relief.  The gas can is empty!)

We are in the process of updating our home to put it on the market.  (I'll be writing more about that in the weeks to come.  Lots of material there.)  Currently, Bill, the handyman (who has done everything for us over the years from painting inside to painting outside to redoing our deck to building cabinets and shelving to...   well, you get the picture) is doing some inside painting.  We started with the bathrooms, stripping wallpaper, priming, then painting, and have since moved on to the foyer, LR, DR, breakfast, family room, and another bathroom.  Whew!  So, needless to say, we have LOTS of new cans of paint that I want to hang on to for touch-up jobs.  So how do we get rid of the leftover cans of paint in the "old" colors?

a bag of cat litterKitty litter to the rescue!  (Actually, it's an off-brand 'cause I'm cheap.) 

Here's what I learned from Bill, the handyman.  Take a cup or two of cat litter, pour it into the can of leftover paint, let it sit for a day or two and the cat litter will absorb the paint.  When all the paint is absorbed, you can toss it.

Today is the day that I'll be removing the old cans of leftover paint and replacing them with new cans of leftover paint.  Isn't it exciting?  I hope I've got enough cat litter. 

Stay tuned for more helpful household tips.  In the meantime, I'd love to hear some of yours!

 

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If you want your home to glow, the colors to flow and the clutter to go, call Patsy overton Interiors.  Accredited, Licensed, Insured.  770-843-2307

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Patsy Overton, AHS, CNRCP

Accredited Home Stager * Certified Color Consultant

Patsy@POInteriors.com    770-843-2307    www.POInteriors.com

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Robert Rauf
CMG Home Loans - Toms River, NJ

Patsy, finally a good use for kitty litter!  Also check with your town, many towns have recyling centers that will take old paint to keep it out of land fills.

Apr 15, 2010 03:07 AM
Vicki Pedersen
Pedersen Real Estate - Riverside, CA
Providing Exceptional Real Estate Service

Patsy,  Thanks for this tip.  I have left the lid of old paint cans and let them dry out before tossing - but that doesn't work if there is more than a bit of paint. 

Apr 15, 2010 03:09 AM
Patsy Overton
Patsy Overton Interiors, Atlanta, Georgia - Duluth, GA

Robert - I don't know of recycling areas around here that take paint, but I'll certainly check.  Good advice.

Vicki - That's been my problem.  If there's just a little paint, it will dry out; but if there's half a gallon there, what do you do?

Apr 15, 2010 03:18 AM
Mary Lou Teague
HOME STYLE AND STAGING LLC - Knoxville, TN
Home Style and Staging Knoxville. TN

Great post with great information..I will try in the future..thanks for sharing

Apr 15, 2010 03:19 AM
Patsy Overton
Patsy Overton Interiors, Atlanta, Georgia - Duluth, GA

Let me know how it works for you, Mary Lou, and I'll do the same.  Didn't get to it today after all.  Definitely this weekend.

Apr 15, 2010 01:14 PM
Cathy Lee
CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA
ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

I did not know this but I learn something new on AR everyday!! Thanks for the tip and I am looking forward to more of your blogs about preparing your home for sale. :)

Apr 15, 2010 01:53 PM
Ginger Foust
Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA
Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Thanks Patsy for this great tip...I'm going to pay it forward in my newsletter.  There's always plenty of cat litter at my house. 

Apr 16, 2010 03:45 AM
Julia Maher
Nestings: Connecticut Home Staging and Model Homes - Fairfield, CT
Connecticut Home Stager

At last!  Cats serve a useful purpose - lol

Apr 16, 2010 04:10 AM
Patsy Overton
Patsy Overton Interiors, Atlanta, Georgia - Duluth, GA

Cathy - yes, the stories pertaining to the updating of my own home are piling up fast.  Stay tuned.

Ginger - glad you can use it!  I had to go buy cat litter.

Julia - I'm with you.  Not a fan of cats.

Apr 16, 2010 05:46 AM