Paint Wise: Buy The Right Size

According to the National Paint and Coating Association, the equivalent of two gallons of paint per person is purchased each year in the U.S. How much of this ends up either stored in a garage or thrown in the garbage?

Start low

Collection of leftover paint is expensive, and many local communities do not have the resources available to offer this service on a continuous basis to local residents. You can help by better estimating paint needs per project, which will minimize the amount of paint being sent to your local landfill.

When using paint for projects in and around your home, it is always best to purchase and use only what you will need for the job. A paint specialist or retailer can help you calculate the correct amount of paint needed for a specific project.

Buying only what you need not only cuts down on the amount of leftover paint for storage, reuse or disposal, but it also saves you money!

Using it all up

When you are close to finishing your painting project, take a quick look in your paint can—how much paint is left?

Here’s a few ways to use leftover paint:

• For small amounts, keep painting new coats until ALL the paint is gone.
• Use it as an undercoat (not as a primer) if you have a bright colored wall needing to be painted a lighter color.
• Use it on another project that requires the same color of paint.

This will eliminate any unnecessary storage or disposal of leftover paint.