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If you love a good DIY project and saving money, here’s a painting trick you might not have thought of: free paint from your local Central Sanitation Dept. We have one in Martinez, CA that gives away paint for FREE! That’s right—there’s a “store” at Central San where they give away free paint that people have brought in for recycling. The address is 4797 Imhoff Place in Martinez, CA. Other cities near you may have similar programs, just check online for “free paint at (your city and state) sanitation department, or hazardous waste collection facility.
Instead of spending a fortune on new paint, I head over there and pick out several cans in similar shades. Then, I mix them together in a big plastic bucket to create my own unique colors. If you plan to store extra paint, be sure to pick up the lid too (they are usually sold separately). I’ve observed that new paint at home improvement store averages about $50/gallon, and upwards of $100! You can save a tremendous amount of money with my tips.
The Fun of Mixing Custom Colors: One of the best parts of using recycled paint is the creative process. Since the selection varies, I never know exactly what I’ll find. When I’m painting a room, I grab multiple gallons of paint in shades that complement each other—say, different blues, tans, or grays—and blend them together. It’s always a little experiment, but I’ve come up with some truly beautiful and one-of-a-kind colors this way.
Why I Love This Method
• It’s FREE – Paint can be expensive, especially if you need multiple gallons. This method costs nothing!
• It’s Eco-Friendly – Reusing paint keeps it out of landfills and helps reduce waste.
• It’s Creative – No one else has the exact same wall color as I do. Mixing paint allows for unique shades you won’t find in stores.
• It’s Practical – Even if I run out of a color, I can always go back and find more similar shades to mix in.
Tips for Success
• Stick to similar types of paint. Mixing different finishes (e.g., flat with glossy) can create unexpected results. I usually mix only flat or only eggshell together. You can usually mix eggshell, and satin together. Flat and semi-gloss do best by themselves.
• Mix more than enough. If you love a custom color, make sure to mix enough to finish the whole project—matching it later can be tricky!
• Test before committing. I brush a small sample on the wall and let it dry before painting the whole room.
If you live in or near Concord, CA, and need to paint, I highly recommend checking out the “free paint store” at Central Sanitation. It’s an awesome way to refresh your home while saving money and helping the environment. It’s officially called the Reuse Room. Happy painting!
Familiar with other cities that offer FREE paint? Drop a comment and I’ll add the info. here! A quick Google search showed many other similar locations.
San Francisco, CA offers: Latex: Off-white, beige, tan, brown, green-gray, blue-gray, in 1 and 5 gallon containers & Oil-based (stain, lacquer): Various colors in 1 gallon containers at a place called Recology
Step by Step:
• Decide general colors you wish to paint your walls.
• Purchase a large plastic bucket with a lid from Home Depot or similar, or better yet one that you already have!
• Purchase or gather other supplies you’ll need. You’ll need paint brushes, paint rollers, stir sticks, drop cloth
• Visit Central Sanitation or similar to pick up cans of FREE paint in similar hues.
• Pour your selected paint into your plastic bucket.
• Mix well with stir stick and proceed with directions above.
• Use your brushes and rollers to complete your painting project.
• Admire your results! Be proud of what you’ve accomplished and the money you’ve saved!
Paintbrushes
Tip: I’ve done a lot of FREE indoor painting over the years, painting every room in my house. Early on, I experimented with different methods to “cut in” around baseboards, moulding, doors, etc. I tried painter’s tape and edging tools with varying success. It was often tedious and often “bled” in between. A handyman once told me that “if you get a really good angle brush and paint just up to next to the edge you’re painting, this is the easiest, way that produces professional looking results”. He was right! I’ve used this method every time since with impressive results!
Other Supplies
If you’re just getting started with painting, I recommend a basic painting kit. Then, you can add in other materials as you go.
The Dollar Tree sells some painting supplies for a good price. I’ve purchased paint brushes and paint rollers there.
Amazon and The Home Depot have an extensive selection of painting supplies. You won’t need a lot to get started!
Have FUN and Happy Painting! I’m happy to answer any questions about the process; drop a comment and I’ll respond soon! Please share pix of any rooms you end up painting with this method! We can inspire and motivate each other.
