What will harden paint

Cat litter: Mix latex paint with an equal amount of clay-based cat litter Stir in completely and let the paint dry. It takes about 10 minutes for the cat litter to harden. Add more cat litter if the paint is soft or runny after 10 minutes. Repeat until the material is very thick. Sawdust, dirt, and shredded paper can be tried as alternatives to cat litter. If recycling or donating is unavailable and you want to throw the paint away, especially empty paint cans with some paint residue left inside, you will want to dispose of it properly.

You will want to use either shredded paper or cat litter, put some inside the can and seal it. Shake the contents around and then open the can and let the contents dry. Once the paint is absorbed into the paper or cat litter, you can throw it away in a sealed container. When disposing of the old paints, never pour the remnant paint down a drain as it can and often does damage pipes and infect water supply. Step 3.

This product is usually in a powder form. This can harden the remnant paint within hours. Dispose of Oil-Based Paint Always check with your local authorities on how to properly dispose of leftover paint. Safety Alerts! Never pour liquid paint into the trash or down drains. Now you know how to dispose of old paint properly. Related Posts. We use your Zip Code to connect you to your closest store. Last Name. No Thanks Enter. Please select your preferred store Optional.

Tell us a little about yourself Optional. True Value Rewards Number. Skip this Step Enter. This functionality is enabled only for desktop. Featured Posts. Shop a Local Store Find a Store. Type of Paint Latex paint - dry to the touch in about 1 hour, and you can safely recoat in 4 hours.

However, the labels on all paint cans specify the dry and recoat times for that particular paint , so be sure to read the manufacturer's directions for exact times. Additionally, what can you do with leftover paint? If you can't properly dispose of the paint curbside, let the professionals handle it. Companies like Habitat for Humanity and PaintCare accept leftover paint in order to recycle it.

You can also search for a hazardous waste drop-off facility in your area at Earth Solvent-based paints have a year shelf life. Latex has a shelf life of 10 years. If there are lumps, the paint is no longer good. Remove the lid and discard separately.

Allow the remaining paint to thoroughly dry out before placing the can in your trash. If you participate in curbside recycling, pour the remaining paint into a cardboard box and place the empty can in your recycling bin. Sherwin Williams is now accepting unused and unwanted latex and oil-based paints , stains and varnish at no charge.

The paint recycling program — which is available throughout Colorado — is made possible by PaintCare, a company that has participating paint drop-off sites in the state. Lowe's does not have a paint recycling or paint disposal program, a corporate customer service representative said.

Due to the wide range of state laws and regulations regarding paint recycling, paint disposal, and hazardous waste, Lowe's does not take or recycle old paint. For small amounts of leftover paint , remove the lid and let the pain dry in the can. Or, mix paint with cat litter, sawdust or sand in a cardboard box line with plastic and let it dry.

For latex paint that has separated, pour the clear liquid on top into a cardboard box lined with plastic. Surprisingly, just mix cat litter into the paint can to absorb the liquid.