Regardless of how large or small your painting project is, you will undoubtedly end up with at least some amount of paint left over. And, you’re not alone in this regard, as it is estimated by PaintCare.org that roughly 10 percent of all paint that is purchased in the United States each year goes unused. That equates to approximately 70 million gallons of unused paint. When you decide to dispose the paint cans and the unused paint, it is important to understand that these items are actually prohibited from being thrown into the regular trash bin. Likewise, pouring the remainder of your paint down the drain is also a big no-no.
So, just what can you do with those cans of paint that are taking up space?
You have a couple of options. First, if the paint is still fairly fresh, you could consider giving it to a friend – or even another property investor – who could make use of it. You could also donate it to a local chapter of Habitat for Humanity, where it can be used for a variety of needs.
If, however, the paint has gone bad, there are certain steps that should be taken for properly ridding yourself of the remainder. In this case, depending on the rules and regulations in your particular area, there may be a paint “drop off” site where the cans can be dropped off and then disposed of properly.
Depending on the type of paint that you have, there can also be other potential options. For instance, with latex and acrylic paint, you could add paint hardener and then, after the paint has solidified, you can then place it in the trash. (As a side note, kitty litter is one option that can be used to help turn your liquid paint into a hardened substance).
If the paint that you have is instead an oil based and alkyd type, it is still considered to be a hazardous substance – even if the paint has hardened. In this case, it may be necessary to find a hazardous waste drop-off center near you. There are certain retail stores that also offer drop-off services for old and unneeded paint.
If maintenance on your rental properties is starting to take up too much of your time – or, if you would simply prefer to hand off the daily duties of property and tenant maintenance – working with a property manager can be a viable option. For additional details on how to best coordinate your property management needs with an experienced professional in the Orlando area, give us a call.