Have you ever moved around in your house and you happened to sense an awful smell, which reeks of the unexplainable? It could be that can of paint pain that you left unused for some time. There are reasons why your paint is releasing the putrid odor. For instance, if you did not close the can’s lid properly after use, it is possible for bacteria to slip in, spread and cause the rot. Getting rid of odors isn’t as tricky as most people think!
Typical Shelf Life of Paint
The shelf life of paint depends on these key factors:
- If you have an unopened can of paint, it can last for as long as possible; years, to be precise. For instance, unopened latex and acrylic paints that are water-based can have a shelf life of up to 10 years. On the other hand, the oil-based paints can go for as long as 15 years.
- It is likely that the ingredients could separate as time goes by, but the paint will continue to retain the same ratio of its liquids and semi-liquids. To know that it actually works after such a long time, just open the can, and thoroughly stir together all the contents. Dip a paintbrush into the ready paint and spread it on to a cardboard. If it’s all nice and smooth, then it is good.
- Paint that has not been closed tightly with its lid goes bad quite quickly. This is because it will either dry out, or bacteria will find their way in, resulting in that rancid, stale and foul smell that just can’t seem to go away.
- Storage of the paint also plays a key role in its shelf life. For instance, if you have left it in your garage, or elsewhere and it got exposed to extreme temperatures then it gets bad quickly. To keep your paint for longer, store it in the house, with normal temperatures. Ensure that the paint is not set directly with the concrete floor. This is due to the cold nature of concrete. Once in contact with paint, the paint gets frozen and spoilt quickly.
How You Know Paint Has Gone Bad
Paint cans do not come with labeled on expiration dates; it is up to you to use key indicators like these ones:
-Once you open the lid, and the smell comes off, then you know the paint has gone bad.
-Normal paint is smooth with a creamy texture. If you notice a texture that is full of lumps in your paint, then its shelf life is over. The best thing is to get rid of it.
