Contamination and Storage
Guidlines
How you store and use paint can be more important than you think, not only will your paint be fresher for an extended amount of time, but it also eliminates the need for repurchase of paints for smaller areas (touch-ups). Secondly, it prevents the paint from drying out, becoming clumpy or developing skin on the surface, rendering it unstable. It can also be an important factor when it comes to disposing of the product as hazardous chemicals can cause excess contamination if not stored correctly. When paint has gone off this usually means contamination has occurred. This is due to external factors changing the chemical structure of the paint and encouraging mould growth to form.​
These factors can be…
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Temperature- Extreme temperatures (either hot or cold) for long periods can affect the longevity of the paint, alternatively going from extreme temperatures in a short window of time can also jeopardise the paint quality.
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Air- Once the tin is no longer airtight the paint then becomes susceptible to contamination, long exposure to air can cause the paint to harden and solidify making it unusable.
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Impurities- Surface contamination such as dirt, oil, and grease can impair the adhesion of the paint.
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Bacteria- Old paint can become contaminated with bacteria, causing it to go off permanently
Viscosity and odour- A change in viscosity and odour can indicate that paint has gone bad.
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Climate- Humid or dry climates can impact the paint's durability and longevity
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Age- Older paint can go off simply just because of the age of the paint, this can be expected with all paint brands so it’s important to check your paints annually and dispose of any correctly.
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Ultimately, many factors can contribute to the contamination of your paint. However, these can all be avoided with the right protocols and simple changes.
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Product must be stored in a cool and dark environment, no heat (sunlight) should directly penetrate the product as this could cause disturbance to the formulation, alternatively storing the product in a freezing climate could affect the product viscosity.
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The ideal storing condition is a room temperature space with little to no daylight exposure for optimum longevity of the product.
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When using small quantities of the paint, pour it into a kettle to reduce the chances of colour contamination as well as product contamination.
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DO NOT leave the lid off the paint container as this can make the paint unusable and promote the chances of mould and hazardous chemicals leaking. Ensure the lid is tightly sealed and preventing air from entering, use a rubber mallet or screwdriver to tap the lid into place securely.
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We DO NOT recommend pouring leftover or excess paint back into the original container. Instead, dispose of the paint accordingly or cover it with a plastic wrap to preserve it for a later date. This is especially profound if the paint has been mixed with any thinners or chemicals, changing the formulation!
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At the point of manufacture, biocide is added in to all H+G paints to keep the paint in good condition whilst in storage. The biocide content is dictated to the manufacturer by legislation and H+G paints contain the optimum amount of biocide to preserve the life of the paint, however, it is possible to contaminate any water-based paint stock.
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Hanford + Green is not liable for any contamination caused by the misplacement of paint and lack of poor protection against contamination. If you are unsure about any of the information given, please consult one of our professionals for some guidance on 01869240374.