Sometimes it’s hard to know how long to keep craft supplies and when they need to be replaced, so let’s discuss how to tell if you have expired craft paint that’s reached its shelf life!
Expired craft paint? How do you know if it’s past its shelf life? Recently I needed some acrylic craft paint for a project one of my kids was doing for school and I went to my stash only to discover that several bottles of my craft paint had CLEARLY reached their shelf life.
Sometimes it’s really obvious when you need to replace your craft paint and sometimes it isn’t. But for a long time, as a newbie crafter I thought that you could keep craft supplies basically forever. I wouldn’t be surprised if I have supplies in my office from high school.
And for some craft supplies, like my box of fancy colored pencils, that is fine. But for other craft and art supplies, today we’re talking about craft paint, it definitely has a shelf life.
And of course, there’s the manufacturer’s recommended shelf life of craft paint and the real world shelf life of craft paint. I’m not going to TELL you to use craft paint longer than the manufacturer’s recommendation but I’m also not NOT going to tell you that either.
Instead, we’ll chat about some signs that your craft paint is expired, over the hill, ready to be replaced, less useful, or otherwise trash.
What kind of paints are used for craft projects?
One of the most common types of paint used for craft projects is acrylic craft paint. This falls into the category of liquid craft paints that would also include milk paint, chalk paint etc. and the signs of expiration for these liquid craft paints are pretty much the same.
Another classic craft paint is spray paint which is not water based and has different expiration dates.
Water color paints can be used in crafts but can almost always be revived with water, and in most cases don’t really expire.
So for the purposes of this article, we’re primarily talking about liquid acrylic craft paints, that you’d use to paint cardboard, paper mache, air dried clay, wood, glass, plastic, metal, and other craft surfaces.
What is the manufacturer’s recommended shelf life for craft paint?
Most manufacturers say your acrylic craft paint should last between 2-5 years before it needs to be replaced. If it has never been opened, it may last longer.
(The shelf life of high quality artists’ acrylic paint (usually in a tube not a bottle) may be good for 5-10 years if stored properly.)
How do you tell if craft paint has expired?
Here are some signs and symptoms of expired craft paint that needs to be replaced:
- It’s dried out – there is no helping craft paint that has dried out even if it’s water based. Toss it and replace.
- It’s separated – Sometimes, if your water based craft paint has separated, you can shake/stir it to reincorporate the parts. But if you give it a really really good mix and it is still separated, replace it.
- It’s chunky – Chunky craft paint is usually a mix of dried out and separated craft paint and usually cannot be salvaged.
- It smells weird – Nope, toss it.
- It’s been frozen or gotten very hot – it’s best to replace craft paint that’s been subject to extreme temperatures. It might look ok, but you don’t know quite how well it will actually work, and it’s not worth the risk.
- Skin on top – Skin on top of any kind of liquid paint is a sign that part of the paint has dried. You may be able to remove the top layer but there also might be chunky bits mixed in that will ruin your paint application.
- Mildew/mold – Personally have not seen mold in craft paint, but I’m sure it could happen.
- Contamination – Say the paint container is rusty or you dipped a dirty brush into the container, that will affect your paint. It could affect the texture, application and even the color. Better not to risk it.
How to make your craft paint last longer
- Mix thoroughly before storage
- Clean the top before closing the container to ensure a good seal
- Seal in an airtight container
- Use frequently to keep it mixed and prevent separation
- Store it at room temperature – don’t keep your craft paint in your garage or attic, not too hot, not too cold.
- Mix thoroughly every time you use it – again this will keep it from separating and make sure that the paint is consistent throughout the container.
How do you dispose of expired craft paint?
Check out my article about how to dispose of old craft supplies for all the answers!
BONUS: when does spray paint expire?
Spray paint usually has a shelf life of 2-3. Be sure to mix it very thoroughly before each use, clean the top after use, and store upright at room temperature away from heat sources.
If you liked this, you may also like some of my other posts…
- Gingerbread House and Gingerbread Man Knitting Patterns - December 13, 2024
- Peppermint Candy Cane Wreath Knitting Pattern - December 9, 2024
- Gingerbread Wreath Knitting Pattern - December 9, 2024
Leave a Reply