Most single family suburban basements have their own paint section – almost as big as the paint aisle at the local neighborhood hardware store. In anticipation of a big remodeling perfect (green, of course), we are hard at work cleaning out every area of the home, including the paint section of the basement.

Before I give tips on what to do with left over latex paint, let me suggest ways to avoid storing so much of it to begin with. Ask yourself this question: How likely is it that I am actually going to re-use the pain? Have I ever re-touched a room with old paint? Be honest!

In my case, after pulling out tons and tons of half-used paint cans, I realized that I’d only searched out a specific can on one occasion in almost 16 years of storing paint. Five years ago I removed a stain from a living room wall and touched up the area with the original paint. However, the results were less-than-satisfactory due to the fact I failed to repaint the entire wall. From the couch I can see the area that I touched up and it still bothers me that I didn’t realize the importance of repainting the entire wall.

When finishing with a paint job, make note of the brand and mix of paint in a note book or in a computer file – just in case you really need to repaint a wall in the future. Then consider donating the left over paint rather than storing it. Most high schools will accept it for use in their theater departments.

When I finally emptied out my basement, I lined up all the cans of latex paint and decided to dispose of most of them once and for all. The good news is that in most communities latex paint can be put out with the regular, curb-side trash provided the paint is dried up. Hardware stores sell an inexpensive powder product that when stirred into a can of paint dries it up within about 8-12 hours.

Please note that it is prohibited to place liquid paint into the trash! If you don’t dry it up first, chances are it will end up spilling in front of your home much to the chagrin of your neighbors.