The Reusable Paint Tray Every DIYer Needs Before Their Next Big Project

If you're going to tackle a painting project of any size, a paint tray is a must-have. Some people throw them away after use, but that's not very economical or eco-friendly. Unfortunately, cleaning the tray for continued use is a chore that most of us could do without. So when we heard about the Repaint Tray, which promises to be easy to clean for reuse over and over again, we needed to take a closer look.

There are three parts to the Repaint Tray: a heavy-duty steel tray, a silicone liner, and an airtight silicone lid. The liner is a snug fit, and you use the combination just like you would any other paint tray. The lid is particularly useful because it means you can leave some paint in the tray and use it again the next day without having to fiddle around with plastic wrap to stop it drying out. The company claims paint can remain usable for up to 21 days. 

The other big bonus is that when the job is finished, you don't need to spend ages washing out the liner. Leave it to sit for a couple of hours until the paint dries, and then just peel the paint off the non-stick silicone liner like an extra skin and throw it away. The liner might need a quick wash with water and a little dish soap, but rarely more than that.

Repaint Studios, the company behind the Repaint Tray, is keen to focus on the environmental aspects as well as the practical benefits. According to the company, roughly 240 million plastic paint tray liners go into landfills each year. By contrast, this liner is non-toxic and long-lasting, so it has less impact. However, that durability means it doesn't break down naturally, and Repaint Studios says not to put the silicone liner or lid in with your normal recycling. The company has its own program for that via the post office.

The Repaint Tray can be used with most water-based finishes. It is not compatible with oil-based primers, paints, stains, polyurethanes, varnishes, or paint solvents. The price might put some people off. The tray, liner, and lid cost $39.95 direct from Repaint Studios, and liner and lid replacements are $21.99. The liner cannot be bought on its own. At the time of writing, there don't appear to be any direct competitors. There's an interesting hack that uses a 5-gallon bucket instead of a paint tray, and it's a low-cost alternative, but it isn't any easier to use or any better for the environment.

A TikTok video shows the Repaint Tray in action, and it does look impressive. It might well be the reusable paint tray DIYers need for their next big project. For those who have a lot of painting to do, the durability will offset the investment, and it's good to be more eco-conscious too.