The Kitty Litter Hack You Need To Know If You Recently Painted

When undertaking a new painting project, it's inevitable (and sometimes imperative) that more paint is purchased than is actually planned for use. Some of that excess can be saved in case future touchups are needed (be sure to properly store your leftover paint), but there will usually be leftovers that need to be discarded. Paint can't just be thrown in the garbage or down the drain because of its chemical consistency. However, a few scoops of kitty litter can make it perfectly safe to send out with your regular trash pickup.

Regulations vary by location, so check your local waste disposal guidelines before tossing anything in the dumpster. Paint, oil, and many household chemicals are not suitable for your plumbing or your local dump site. Thankfully there are many resources available regarding the right way to get rid of them. 

One of the easiest ways, it turns out, is to transform that liquid paint waste into a solid form.

Traditional kitty litter — the standard clay, clumping kind — is designed to absorb cat waste and then form a solid mass that can be more easily removed from the litter box. However, that's not the only thing kitty litter is good for.

Kitty litter poured into a paint can will absorb the excess and harden into a solid mass. Be sure to pour a couple of inches of litter into the can, then allow it to sit uncovered until all the liquid remnants have dried. Once that is done, the paint cans are permissible to be thrown away with the rest of your household trash, or placed into your recycling bin, depending on the guidelines of your locale.

These guidelines exist for all our safety, as allowing dangerous chemicals to seep into the ground via the garbage dump can lead to a number of health concerns for an entire area of people and local fauna, and can even destroy vegetation. Not only that, but some chemicals may be corrosive, meaning they could seriously damage pipes both in and out of your home. That's why using kitty litter to absorb leftover paint is such an easy and environmentally conscious choice.

Basic kitty litter is an inexpensive purchase for a regular-sized bag, so it's a good investment to purchase one or two to have around the house. Not only does it work in absorbing everything from innocuous spills to toxic chemicals, but it also soaks up general dampness in the air. In this capacity, any musty or sweaty smells can be irradicated as the moisture is wicked away.

There are actually dozens of special uses for kitty litter, making it a useful staple for your hardware or cleaning storage locations — much like keeping flour, sugar, and other pantry staples on hand in your kitchen. Not all kitty litters are created equal, so be sure the kind you get will work in the capacity you need. Generally, the clay and silica types will work best for general use, even though technically all kitty litter is meant to absorb.

You don't need to own a cat in order to benefit from the usefulness of the product either. Try kitty litter after finishing your next paint project, and before you know it you'll be using it all over your home improvement and DIY projects.