How to Store Acrylic Paint?

Every manufacturer of acrylic paint gives several shelf life estimates for their products. When you come up with a decision on where to store your paints there are few things for you to take into account. You will want to choose a place that has a relatively constant average temperature and somewhere where there is less moisture accumulation.

Acrylic paints are water-based paints that dry much more quickly than oil-based paint. Being water-based, these paints are usually sensitive to extreme temperatures. Too much cold and the water, as well as other components of paint, will freeze. With excessive heat, the paint will dry out and become useless.

It is advised that you keep your paints in a location that remains between 65 Degree and 75 Degree for a whole year. When the temperature varies 10 Degree or more outside of this range there is a chance that the natural separation of the emulsion(means mixing of two materials that in normal circumstances do not mix) of which the acrylic-based paints are made.

When you are painting with acrylic paints, you would generally want some moisture in the air to help keep the paint from drying out quickly. In the case of paint storage, moisture can be the worse enemy.

Sometimes due to variance in temperature, many things will grow such as mildew and mold.

To prevent mildew and mold from growing on paints is storage, you need to reduce that amount of moisture in the air around the paints. Here is the guidance on where you should not store the acrylic paint.

Near running water like kitchen or bathroom.
In an area where clothes are dried and washed.
Next to exposed concrete or wood, both can retain moisture.
Near a door to the outside where contaminates are plentiful.
In the utility closet with a furnace or air conditioner where there are excess airflow and water in the air.

Another prime consideration to keep in mind is the length of time you expect the paint to be stored. If you are a frequent painter, you may only have paint on hand for a few days or weeks before you will have used it all.

When the paint is used up quickly, it is less likely that variability of temperatures or moisture levels will affect the lifespan of the paint. You must always keep in mind the amount of time you plan to store your paints and plan your repository accordingly.

If the original containers are not in usable condition for any reason, household items are good to take place to store your Acrylic Paints. In every case, the container must be washed thoroughly, and the lid either screws or seals completely or the paint will not last as long as you might expect. Some useful household items as follow:-

Manson jars with a new lid – long
Condiment squeeze bottles – short
Tupperware – short
Used water/pop bottles – average
Coffee tine – short
Used butter/soap/sour cream containers – short
Any bowl with saran wrap or press and seal – very short

Long-term storage of acrylics, while not big different than short-term storage, does need a bit more foresight. Here are some tips to use for long-term storage or for short storage in locations where humidity is very high.