Make Your Leftover Paint Vanish Like a Ghost this Halloween

From PaintCare Oregon Program:

By Lauren Scher

The Dalles, Ore. Oct. 15, 2024 — As Halloween creeps closer, Oregonians are getting excited to don costumes and venture out for tricks and treats. Little do they know, the spookiest thing is lurking right at home in their own garages, sheds, and basements! 

Every fall as people wrap up their summer projects, countless gallons of leftover paint are stashed away. Unfortunately, not all of it stays there. It is estimated that about 10% of all household paint gets thrown away eventually and can end up in landfills, instead of being reused or recycled.   

This October, instead of letting your leftover paint haunt your home, why not use it to conjure some Halloween magic and benefit your community? Here are a few creative ways to repurpose your leftover paint: 

• Jack-o'-Lantern: While carved pumpkins will generally begin rotting in a few days, painted Jack-o’-Lanterns can last weeks. Why not paint a bunch of gourds in spooky colors or add faces or fun designs? Painting is easier and more fun for little ones and creates less mess.  

• Spooky Signs: Use your leftover paint to craft creepy yard signs like "Beware" or "Enter If You Dare." Consider transforming old scrap wood or sheets into your haunting decorations as another way to reduce your environmental footprint. 

• Painted “Tombstones” & Other Decorative Ideas: Let nature be your ghoulish guide. Turn rocks into tombstones or paint them with bright colors and googly eyes. Alternatively, highlight the natural color of the rocks with earth tones for a classic fall theme.  

• Costume Designs: Instead of throwing away old costumes, give them a new look with paint. Use paint to add designs or text, or to make the costume look aged or messy. Paint can also change the look of accessories, like transforming a wand to fit a fairy, witch, wizard, or warlock.
   

When you are done with Halloween fun, head to one of PaintCare’s free drop-off sites for recycling any remaining leftover paint. With nearly 200 convenient drop-off sites throughout Oregon, find the one closest to you using the convenient drop-off site locator on PaintCare’s website. PaintCare accepts house paint, primers, stains, sealers, and clear coatings like shellac and varnish. Before you drop off your paint, make sure the cans are no larger than five gallons, the manufacturer’s label is intact, and the lids are secure. Call ahead to your drop-off site to confirm they are open and can accept your paint. 

Remember, there is nothing scarier this season than wasting paint. For additional information on PaintCare, visit www.paintcare.org.