Unstick stuck paint lids with this DIY paint pouring lid hack!
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If you’ve visited me for any length of time, you’ll already know I eat, sleep and dream of Fusion Mineral Paint!
Get all Fusion’s products for 10% off HERE
I just love using Fusion for painting furniture and my many Funky Junk’s Old Sign Stencils projects.
One of Fusion’s very best super powers is its ability to fuse onto surfaces, becoming one of the most durable paints on the market.
Find out why Fusion is my favorite DIY paint in this informative post!
All About Fusion Mineral Paint HERE
Includes how to use it, what to paint with it, my fav products with a discount!
And because of that supreme bonding power, if you don’t clean the lids off well after each use (raising hand here slowly…), the lids can stick to the bottles.
Or worse, my lazy ways can create such a goopy mess over time that I can’t even re-close the lids, ending up with paint drying out.
Now know, if you do the following diligently, you will not have a paint lid sticking issue…
Paint lids will not stick if you:
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- Wipe the rims clean after each use.
- Rinse the lids completely under running water until they are spotless.
- Place some plastic wrap in between the lid and the rlim before screwing the lid back on.
But… being that I tend to paint and run, I may start off good, but over time, run into issues.
Not long ago, I was in a group asking for ideas on all this, when my friend Debbie Dion Hayes Creative mentioned, “Why don’t you drill a hole in the lid?”
DOH! Of course! But could it be that easy?!
What happened with this idea…
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So before I shared this idea, I test drove it over several months. And my findings were all the same… each and every time, super consistent! And it’s ALL good news…
- The paint NEVER dried out!
- Clean up took seconds compared to minutes!
- And the paint jars were so much easier to store without all that plastic wrap layering I had on the go.
- Every single pint has turned into a paint pouring bottle!
Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it?
Well… today I’m finally sharing this fabulous DIY paint pouring lid idea, along with a super helpful video at the bottom of this post so you can learn and do it too… within minutes!
Here’s how to turn any paint container into to a pouring one!
DIY paint pouring lid hack
Supplies I used:
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3/8″ drill bit (or just use a big enough bit to drill a decent sized pouring hole)
Block of scrap wood
Clean running water
How to create a pouring lid:
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1. Remove the paint lid and liner from the pint.
Sometimes the liners are stuck to the top of the pint, and others are embedded into the lid.
2. Clean the lid under running water until spotless.
3. Wipe the rim edge down leaving it spotless.
4. Decide where you desire the hole to go, then flip the lid upside down on a scrap piece of wood.
5. Hold the lid in one hand, then start the drill slowly at first, gaining speed and adding more pressure until the plastic lid is completely drilled through. Dust off the lid.
I used a 3/8″ drill bit but other similar sizes would likely work just fine too.
6. Screw the lid back on the pint, then cover the hole with a piece of masking tape to store.
How to use the pour lid
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7. Before using the paint, cover the masking taped hole with your thumb, then gently shake the paint to mix.
8. Remove the masking tape, then tip the paint bottle and gently squeeze the paint to pour out the desired amount into a clean container.
It functions exactly like a squeeze bottle or fifo bottle!
How to store
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9. Wipe paint drips around the hole with a rag, then re-cover the hole with a fresh new piece of masking tape.
I have been using this paint lid hack for a few months now and here are my findings:
Other fabulous findings using this method:
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No matter how low the paint gets in the bottle, it does not dry out. I get every last drop out of a pint!
I never need to open the lids, but you still have that ability if you want to. Just ensure you clean the lids spotlessly again before re-closing so they don’t stick.
A drilled paint lid pour spout will encourage you to pour the paint into other containers to use. This reduces the possibility of contaminating the paint.
Even when the odd time I forget to cover the holes with tape for a couple of days, not one pint has dried out yet!
Cleanup is now seconds vs. minutes due to no lid cleaning nor rim wrapping required.
Video – how to make your paint pour
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Click the video above to watch how easy this entire process is!
Now that’s a hack I call a clear win!
LOVE this idea? As a thank-you to Debbie, please go give her a follow on Instagram HERE. She deserves it after this one!
Thank-you Debbie! My (lazy) paint life ways have forever changed! Or should I say.. I can continue to be lazy with ease now…
Think you’ll give this DIY paint pouring lid hack a try yourself?!
Other paint related ideas:
How I built a block shelf to store paint supplies
Create adjustable shelves with reclaimed wood for your paint!
Build an easy stain carrying tray
How to build a stencil trolly from an old crate
Create a massive stencil storage rack out of stained 2x4s
Build a Antiques paint cart from a cupboard
Learn everything there is to know about stenciling from THIS post
Refinishing wood with wax and hemp oil – a review on which works best
Visit other Storage or Organizing projects
Check out my other Fusion painted projects
WOW! Seriously, my jaw dropped at the cool idea! I can’t tell you how many sample size paints I have had to throw out because the lid was so crudded up with paint that the paint dried out inside. This is genius! 🙂
Haha, sounds like you clean like me, Sharon! Hope this works well for you!
LOVE this hack! I haven’t tried that type of paint but will be soon.
Thanks Jill! I really love Fusion for furniture, stenciling, and have even painted my front door a few times with it!
Oh, such a simple and clever idea! And masking tape is far cheaper than new containers of paint, no matter how small they are. Plus, any reason to use a power tool is good enough for me. Thanks for sharing!
Haha, I agree with you there, Deb! I was debating on going the Fifo bottle route but I actually think I prefer this idea more for many reasons!
You say this fusion paint is the best. My question I have this awful kitchen cabinets that are like paper thin particle board, not real wood. Will this paint work on cabinets like that if I redo them? And what would I have to do to prep. Some one before me painted them without sanding and the paint is like a thick mess that peels off. HELP, they look horrible and I would like to redo them if possible and not horrible work to do.
Thank you for any advice you can give.
deb
Hi Deb! I would suggest to bring a door and pictures into a Fusion retailer to get their opinion on your given surfaces. I’d hate to make a blanket statement without knowing all the particulars.
That said, I’ve used Fusion on furniture, fabric and stenciling small projects. I don’t have experience using it for larger cabinetry as yet.
Fusion is also a matte finish (you can add top coats to achieve the look and feel desired though) so I would suggest to start with a small project to ensure it’s the kind of finish you desire for your cabinets.
This might be a huge difference when I drop the jar. A small puddle compared to the jar splattered across the floor. Great idea donna!
Haha! I hear ya there! And I have the big splatter still on my floor to prove it. LOL
Oh thank, thank you, thank you. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to use our bench vice to try open stuck paint lids. This is going to make such a big difference.
Hope it works as well for you as it does for me Michelle! ‘Pouring lids’ are so easy!
Just saw this post and so happy I did!! I absolutely will use this hack as I, too, can become lazy in the cleanup process and it just spells trouble the next time I want to use that bottle!! Not now!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
I’m definitely giving this a try Donna. My method has just been to run the paint jar under very hot water. It unseals easily, however, on occasion water has got into the paint-too much water. 🙁
I think your method sounds ideal!
Thanks for the great tip!