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Are you looking for ways to dispose of paint in Houston? If your paint is already hardened, then we can help here at Junk King North Houston! For those who still have liquid paint, then read below for ways of using or treating your paint so we can safely dispose of your paint for you!
With many household waste products, disposal is simple: just throw it in the trash. The city’s weekly trash pickup will take almost all common trash and waste. However, there are some things that the city won’t take, including anything hazardous. Paint falls into this category. What can you do with any old paint you have? Some people leave it in the garage for years, letting it take up room. Others do a search for “paint disposal near me,” but even then, they may not find a lot of options. If you’re in need of paint disposal services in North Houston, Junk King is here for you.
The question of how to dispose of paint is a little more complicated than throwing it out. Before you call us to get rid of old paint, though, you will want to make certain that you’ve prepared it for disposal. You should never try to dispose of liquid paint. Instead, there are a few methods you can use to make it safe to handle and dispose of.
How to Store Paint Before Disposing of It
Most people don’t look into paint disposal as soon as they’re doing painting a room or other home improvement project. Instead, they store the paint for a short period of time to make certain they don’t need to do any small touchups. If you’re going to do this, you need to make certain you’ve sealed up the paint can. First, wipe off the top of the can if any paint has gotten on it. Next, place the lid firmly onto the can and tap it down with a rubber mallet. Tap all around the lid so it’s locked into place on all sides.
If you don’t have a rubber mallet, you may be tempted to use a standard hammer. However, this can dent and damage the lid. It may no longer fit correctly if you do that. Instead, put something over the lid such as a piece of wood and then hit it with the hammer. The force will transfer through the wood into the lid, tapping it down without damaging it.
Next, be sure you store the paint correctly. Many people put it in their garage or in a shed, but these areas can get too hot during the summer. This can dry out latex paint and, if the temperature is high enough, actually cause oil-based paints to combust. Instead, you always want to keep paint in a cool location. If you have a basement, that’s the ideal place for paint because it’s both cool and dark. Always put paint cans on a shelf instead of on the floor to help keep moisture away from them. If your cans regularly come into contact with water, they can rust and the paint can leak out.
How Long Does Paint Last?
If you are going to save paint for use later, it’s important you know how long it will last so you can dispose of it when it’s no longer useable. If it’s subjected to hot or cold temperatures, it’s going to go bad very quickly. If stored correctly, though, paint can last for up to ten years if it’s water-based or latex. Oil paints can last a little longer, with most going bad around the 15 year mark.
How can you tell if your paint is still good or if it’s time to get rid of it? If it’s water-based or latex paint, smell it. If it’s rancid, it’s time to look at your options for paint disposal in Houston. Also, look to see if it’s separated or if there’s any hard paint on the sides or bottom of the can. If you’re able to mix it up and create a smooth paint that’s the correct color, it’s still good. You may want to test it on something first, though, to make sure it spreads evenly and smoothly without lumps.
If you’ve stored your oil-based paint correctly, it’s likely to be usable. Just stir it up and test it on some newspaper or other piece of scrap first to make certain it’s still good.
Finding Use for Left Over Paint
Before you begin looking into paint disposal options, make sure you don’t need the paint any longer. Make any touchups you need to make, and be sure you know the specific paint color name or color code so you can purchase more if you need it later. If you only have a little bit of paint left, you may not care to keep it. However, if you have half a can or more, you might want to look at other projects so you don’t waste money.
If you painted the exterior of your home, you may find other outdoor things to paint to match. For example, you could paint your doghouse or child’s playhouse. You could paint your mailbox or planters.
Inside, you can use leftover paint for just about anything. If you just painted your kitchen, you could paint a set of living room end tables to match and draw the color throughout the house. You could paint bookshelves or a bench. While you don’t want to paint everything the same color as the walls, you may find ways of using the same color here and there to make your home’s color scheme feel more cohesive.
Another option is to give the paint to someone who has a use for it. If you have friends or family who are painters, do woodworking, or do a lot of DIY projects, they may have use for it. Schools or local community centers may also take it for projects.
How to Dispose of Paint in Houston
If you have no need for the paint and can’t find anyone who will take it, it’s time to start looking for “paint disposal near me.” However, as mentioned earlier, you do have to make certain you’ve properly prepared the paint first so you don’t cause any harm to the environment by throwing it out.
Latex paint can be dealt with in a few ways. First, many people use the kitty litter paint disposal method. This is simple and very easy to do. Just add an equal amount of kitty litter to the can of paint. The litter will absorb the liquid, solidifying it into a single clump in the can. You can then get rid of the can. Do not put the lid back on the can.
If you have a lot of paint left and can’t mix in an equal amount of litter, find a trash can or a box and line it with a trash bag. Pour the paint into the bag, then add in the litter. Once it’s solidified, tie up the bag and throw it away. Typically, it takes about an hour for the mixture to solidify.
Another option is to purchase a commercial paint hardener. These products are designed to quickly harden the paint so it can be disposed of. You can purchase a paint hardener at most hardware or home improvement stores that sell paint.
Paint disposal for oil-based paints isn’t quite as easy. There is no paint hardener or trick with kitty litter here. Instead, oil-based paint is classified as a hazardous substance, so you can’t just throw it away. Instead, you have to take it to a specific drop-off location or disposal facility. The city of Houston has several Environmental Service Centers that will accept old oil-based paints, including any paint that contains alkyd or is listed as combustible or flammable.
Junk King Can Haul Off Hardened Paint
If you have multiple cans of paint that need to be disposed of, there’s no need to wonder about throwing it away. Can you throw away paint? Yes, but if you’re having Junk King come to pick up other stuff, go ahead and put your old paint with it. We do ask that you add cat litter or a hardener to it to protect our team. If you’ve done that, we’ll take as much paint as you need us to. For oil-based paints, you’ll need to take them to the appropriate center. We cannot take any liquid paint.
Other Items We Handle
In addition to handling the proper disposal of paint that has been prepared, we also haul off much more. We take furniture, appliances, electronic waste, hot tubs, mattresses, and even things like yard debris and DIY project waste. As long as it isn’t hazardous, our team can haul it away for you. If you do have hazardous materials, we may be able to recommend the proper way to dispose of them or refer you to experts who specialize in disposal of such materials.
Call Junk King to Help You Dispose of Paint in Houston Today
Now that you know more about the proper disposal of paint, it’s time to give Junk King a call and get rid of those old cans taking up space in your garage or basement. Scheduling an appointment with us is simple. Just give us a call, text us, or make an appointment online. We’ll give you a free, no-obligation quote in many cases. If we can’t do a quote over the phone, we will come in person with our truck. If you approve the quote, we’ll start work right away.
To get the process started, call Junk King of North Houston at 1-888-888-JUNK or send a text to 1-737-888-5865.
