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On Apr 3, 6:35 pm, Rob wrote:
I was given a 5L pot of Laura Ashley (no less) paint that's been opened
but almost full.

The can says 'use within 6 months of purchase' and indeed google
searches tend to repeat this. The paint is about 4 years old - as long
as it's taken me to get around to think about using it ;-)

What's the worst that can happen? I don't understand how paint can
degrade. Should I just chuck it and buy some more?

Thanks, Rob

I've touched up with paint thats older without any hassle but i've not
painted a full wall.

I used an open-5-years white emulsion recently, no problem. Needed to scrape
off the sides of the tin, but it came away in two or three large
snot-consistency pieces.


A painter advised me to always store cans of paint upside down as the
paint kept better. ( after properly resealing of course)

I think that's so any degradation due to air in the tin then happens at the
bottom rather than the top. OK for paint you don't stir, not so good
otherwise?