If you have finished up a project and are unsure of what to do with your leftover acrylic paint, it might occur to you to put it in the fridge. There is a worry of leaving the paint to sit and dry out in a hot cupboard, or be stored away somewhere you might forget about it, but keeping it in the fridge might prevent this.
Can you refrigerate acrylic paint? You can actually refrigerate acrylic paint. However, it is important to understand that acrylic paint should only be refrigerated for a few days at most, and you do need to use it within this timeframe or remove it from the fridge.
So, if you are wanting to store some acrylic paint in the fridge overnight, or are considering it as an option for any leftover paint you might have after your next project, here is all you need to know!
Why Would You Put Acrylic Paint In The Fridge?
There are a few reasons you might want to put acrylic paint in the fridge. One such reason is being halfway through a painting or craft before having to stop, and having nowhere to put your paint palette or containers.
No one wants to waste all that paint and then have to try and mix an exact match to the colors they were using the next day.
If you are planning on carrying on painting over the next few days and don’t want to waste the paint in the palette or the containers, placing it in the fridge is a great way to keep it protected and ready to use again the next day or so.
Instead of washing the paint away, you can pop the palette or containers with the acrylic paint into the fridge, and leave it there for a few days. Just remember that it will have to be stored in airtight containers, or it will dry out.
When you are wanting to carry on painting, you simply take the paint out of the fridge and leave it to sit for a bit until it reaches room temperature again before painting.
How Long Can I Store Acrylic Paint In The Fridge?
Storing acrylic paint in the fridge should be a temporary storage solution, and not your go-to for keeping your acrylic paint safe.
Placing the same acrylic paint in the fridge more than once or twice and leaving it to reach room temperature between could cause the paint to lose its texture and color, make it difficult to work with, and cause it not look as great when it dries.
You should only consider placing your acrylic paint in the fridge when trying to finish a project, and you should not leave the paint in the fridge for more than two days at a time. It is a temporary solution, and should not be how you store all of your acrylic paint.
How Do I Store Acrylic Paint In The Fridge?
Storing acrylic paint in the fridge is fairly simple, and depends on what you will be storing the paint in. When using a palette, you can carefully wrap the palette of paint in plastic wrap, to keep it protected against drying out while in the fridge. Try to cover it tightly, but be gentle so you do not disturb the paint.
If you want to move your paint to containers, you could use small mason jars. Fill as many mason jars as you need for the number of colors you are using, seal the lids tightly, and place them in the fridge. If you do not have mason jars, small plastic containers which seal well are fine too.
Make sure that the palette is wrapped well in plastic wrap, or the mason jars are sealed shut, so that the paint does not get lumpy or dried out when in the fridge.
When you are ready to use the paint, remove it from the fridge and allow it to sit out for an hour or two until it reaches room temperature. This helps to get a smooth texture back, which is much easier to paint with.
Related Questions
What Happens If You Store Paint In The Fridge?
Not much will happen if you store paint in the fridge for a day or two. At most, you will notice some condensation forming if you remove the paint from a cool fridge and place it in a humid environment.
Does Putting Acrylic Paint In The Fridge Make It Last Longer?
Placing acrylic paint in the fridge does help to make it last longer if you are in the middle of painting, and the paint is on a palette or in small containers. You can keep the acrylic paint in the fridge overnight to stop it from drying out or clumping out, which means it lasts until you need to use it again.
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