If you’re new to DIY, sometimes even the most straightforward tasks can feel, well, really intimidating.
And, if you haven’t done a lot of painting you may find yourself constantly searching for that fancy paint can opener tool or making a huge mess every time you close your paint can. Did you know there’s a simple way to open a paint can (and close it) with no mess, no fancy tools, and no stress?
It’s easy, I promise.
There’s no question too basic here, so today we’re tackling how to open a paint can.
Once you’ve got the paint can open, you can click here to learn how to paint a room!
How to Open a paint can
To quickly and easily open a paint can lid, all you really need is a flat head screwdriver.
No, you don’t need that fancy paint opener that you’re constantly losing. Just a screwdriver will do!
To open your paint can, all you need to do is wedge the end of your screwdriver into the gap between the lid and the paint and gently push down on the handle of the screwdriver. This helps begin to push the lid up and releases some of the pressure.
Remove the screwdriver and repeat that process 3-4 times around the entire lid of the can. After you gently lift in a few different places, the lid will pop right off!
Will I get paint on my screwdriver?
No! The screwdriver won’t be coming into contact with any wet paint, so it should stay perfectly clean. If you’re working with an older paint can that’s a little dirty, there’s a chance you’ll get a bit of dried paint on the screwdriver, but it should be able to wipe right off with a paper towel or old rag.
I can’t find my screwdriver! What else can I use?
If you’re in a hurry and can’t track down your flat head screwdriver, you have plenty of other options. Here are a few other things I’ve used to open paint cans over the years:
- A putty knife
- A 6-in-1 painter’s tool
- An paint can opener
- And, if you’re really in a pinch, you can use a plain old bread knife!
No matter what tool you’re using, the process is exactly the same – just wedge the flat part of your tool between the lid and the can and gently press against it until you release the pressure and open up the can!
what about those fancy behr paint can lids?
My favorite paint brand, Behr, has recently released a new line of paint can lids that can be a little, um, confusing if you haven’t worked with them before!
But, no stress because these are even easier to open and use than a traditional paint can!
The Behr paint can lids have little twist-top holes on one side of them that allow for really easy pouring. To open a Behr paint can lid, just twist off that top and grab the spout that they’ll give you with your paint – you can twist that onto the hole and now you have a really easy-to-use spout ready for no-mess pouring!
Of course, if you don’t want to use the no-mess spout, you don’t have to! You can still open the paint can lid the traditional way (with a screwdriver, putty knife, or a paint key), and it will function exactly the same. These lids are plastic instead of metal, so I find they’re generally even easier to get off!
Help! How do I remove the metal clips from my paint can?
Some paint cans will come with metal clips around the top – this is really common when you’ve ordered paint or stain online!
These little metal clips are a little annoying but, thankfully, they’re very easy to remove with the same tool you’re already using – a flat head screwdriver!
All you need to do is press the end of the flat head screwdriver into any gap you can see between the clips and the can and gently move the screwdriver handle up and down until they pop off!
The only thing to look out for here is that sometimes these things can fly off if you aren’t careful, so be prepared for flying metal clips. As long as you move slowly and steadily, however, they do just pop off and you can open the paint can as normal!
how do you close a paint can?
Now this is the million dollar question. How in the world do you close a paint can lid without splattering yourself – and everything in a 10-foot radius – in paint?!
All you need is an old towel or rag and a hammer.
I like to keep a stash of old towels and rags in my garage at all times for jobs just like this, but if you don’t have any old towels that can be relegated to the bathroom you can purchase some shop towels – I promise you’ll find yourself using them all the time!
Before you put the lid back on the paint, I recommend running your paintbrush (or, if you’re feeling lazy and don’t mind washing your hands, just use your finger!) around the little channel in the top of the paint can to help remove excess paint and get it back into the can.
Once the excess paint has been cleared out, grab whatever towel or rag you want to use and drape it over the paint can and lid. Then, use the hammer to tap around the edges of the paint can lid to re-seal it!
The rag helps prevent all of those flying paint splatters and helps keep the mess contained. Be sure to use one that you don’t mind getting dirty (because it will get paint on it), and be sure to remove it right away so it doesn’t dry and get stuck to the paint can!
It’s very important to properly close your paint cans because if you don’t the paint can dry out and be ruined.
wait…I can’t find my hammer!
No worries – if you can’t find a hammer to close your paint can lid, you can use literally anything that’s heavy and hard.
I’ve used the handle end of my screwdriver, a power tool battery, another paint can, and even a (non-breakable) cup! You just need something that won’t break when you hit it against the paint can lid and can essentially function as a hammer!
And that, my friends, is everything you need to know about how to open a paint can! Have another basic DIY question you’d love to see me tackle? Drop it in the comments below! p
Nancy says
I have found these measures work to. 1.You might keep the paint can key where you hang your keys, then you know where it is when you need it. 2.You can also keep the rim of the can clean by using a cheap
plastic ladle to take paint out of the can. 3. If you put a block of wood across the can top then hit it, it doesn’t crimp the edges and seals better. Works for me after 40 years of diy. Thanks for your ideas.
Robyn s says
You should also or can put two nail holes on each side or all four sides of the top of your can so that the paint will go back in the can on its own by this I mean that little track that goes around the top where the lid sits on it