| If you have ever used acrylic paints, you may | | | | acrylic paint, making it impossible to work with. |
| have wondered about their shelf life. What can | | | | You know it's too late to save your paint when |
| you do to make them last longer? | | | | it's rubber in consistency and you can't remove |
| You should be able to store your unopened acrylic | | | | lumps from the tube or jar. However, here are |
| paints for a few years without experiencing | | | | some suggestions for making your acrylic paints |
| significant changes in their consistency or working | | | | last longer before they reach this state: |
| qualities. However, there are several factors that | | | | - With a wet sponge, wipe out paint tube caps |
| reduce their shelf life and may render them | | | | and screw-on lids. Doing this regularly will |
| useless. | | | | discourage paint from drying out around the |
| Once you begin to use the paint -- whether you | | | | container opening. |
| have tubes or plastic jars with screw-on lids -- air | | | | - Periodically open your jars of acrylic paint and |
| gradually flows into these containers, evaporating | | | | lightly spray the inside with water to keep the |
| liquid contents and drying out the acrylic paint. And | | | | paint inside wet. |
| by simply regularly opening and closing the | | | | - If you work with a lot of paint tubes and jars, |
| container, paint may dry out around tube caps or | | | | you may want to write the date you open the |
| screw-on lids. You may need to scoop out and | | | | container on the outside. A dating system can |
| discard the dried paint globules. Eventually, further | | | | remind you which containers you should use the |
| drying may change the physical properties of the | | | | quickest. |