How To Tell If Paint Is Bad: A Quick Guide

Many, if not all, homeowners are familiar with the half-empty paint shelf. A treasure trove of half-used paint cans from previous jobs can be found hidden deep in basements, attics, or even out in the garage. However, the question is, how to tell if paint is bad?

 Every type of paint can vary according to the types of solvents or chemicals used on the liquid. We invite you to keep reading this blog to learn how to identify how long paint lasts and the steps to take in this process.

4 Tips to Know How To Tell If Paint Is Bad

Like practically anything else, paint can deteriorate over time due to different factors such as temperature changes, some micro bacteria, and humidity. However, this is not the be-all and end-all of paint assessment because there are many aspects to consider when your paint has gone bad.

Following, you’ll find four easy tips that will help you recognize how to tell if paint is bad:

1. Identify the type of paint
2. Smell the paint
3. Check if there is any skin on the surface
4. Stir the formula with a paint stick

Identify the Type of Paint

You must understand and recognize which type of paint is in the can. Paint comes in many bases, like acrylic paints, oil-based paints, latex paint, water-based paint, etc.

Typically, oil-based paints tend to last longer than water-based paints due to the resistance to wear and tear when the cans are in places with high humidity levels. The life expectancy of an unopened oil-based paint can go around 20 years if it is stored correctly.

Moreover, oil-based paints contain synthetic and natural oils, which help the paint liquid not to dry quickly. Water-based paints tend to last fewer years, around 15 years approximately.

So, if you don’t remember the type, check the label, and make a calculation. This is the first step.

Smell the Paint

Spoiled paint has a particular odor that comes from mold growing or bacteria growing in the paint. And the smell you catch is the gases mold put off. It is essential to be careful not to inhale the gases since they are toxic for health.

One of the common odors that expired paint gives off is vile, putrid, or rotten due to the bacteria growth in the liquid. If you have ever smelled rotten eggs or tomatoes, some paints smell like that, so it is easy to identify they have expired.

It is difficult to identify the odors for unopened paint cans, so you must open them. Opened cans usually have those odors because they are exposed to air in the storage places. Sometimes, you can’t stand the smell because they are highly disgusting.

Check If There Is Any Skin on the Surface

If the paint hasn’t been used in a while, it can build a dried film across the top. It will look pretty much like dried paint. But, don’t give up hope because this dried coating can be easily removed using a paint stirrer or similar tool.

The extreme temperature imbalance where paint cans are stored is one of the common reasons for skin formation. But don’t worry, skins over the paint aren’t harmful, but if you let the skin for many months or years, it will damage the color and the liquid formula.

Stir the Formula with a Paint Stick

Sometimes, paint looks terrible just because it’s separated. An easy way to solve this is to stir it up and have a little patience. After a while, the paint formula goes down in the can, leaving only water or some oils on the surface, so you have to stir to get the mix back.

Take five minutes to do this, and if it comes back together, it means it is still good to use. You can use a paint stick to start mixing the entire formula, but if you don’t use a stick, you can opt for another tool like a screwdriver.

If you see that the formula is not getting together again, it means the paint has gone bad.

Store the Paint Properly

The best and easiest way to keep paint from damaging is to store it the right way. That means the paint shelf is a big no for you to put it away.

Paint should not be exposed to temperature changes. Though this means your attic and garage are out of the question due to temperature changes, a viable option is to store properly in the basement.

A great tip to keep the leftover paint for longer is to place a piece of plastic wrap around the top of the can before closing the lid with a rubber mallet. This way, it will help to seal the moisture air-tight for a long time.

Moreover, you must store the cans in a dry place because humidity boosts the damages. Also, it is not recommendable to store the paint if it has some residues like leaves or dirt on the surface. The organic material can produce fungus in the paint.

The best tip is not to store the paint and use all the formula on the walls if you don’t want to waste your money because you probably will not use the paint in a long time, and it exists more than the 50% of probability you will find the paint expired.

Get Professional Assistance When Needed

You can always get a fresh gallon of paint at the paint store. However, we don’t always like to dispose of what we got at home. So, now that you know how to tell if paint is bad and how to prevent it, it’s time you put these tips in action.

Remember that whenever you need professional assistance, you can always count on Mayas Painting team. If you are thinking of home improvement, we are the best to handle paint jobs over interiors and exteriors.

We will be more than happy to assist you. Request your free quote!