How to Dilute Thickened Latex Paint

As latex paint ages, it sometimes thickens. Thick paint goes on unevenly and dries slowly, making it unsuitable for use. But you don't have to throw it away. Thick latex paint is easy to thin with a bit of water. The trick is to go slowly. While latex paint is easy to dilute, if the paint gets too runny, it's impossible to fix without adding more paint.

Water
Paint conditioner
Paintbrush

Instructions

- 1
  Stir the paint thoroughly with a paint stick. As you stir, scrape the top and bottom of the can to make sure the pigments evenly mix.
- 2
  Add a paint conditioner to the thickened paint according to the manufacturer's instructions. Paint conditioner won't thin the paint; it makes it easier to apply.
- 3
  Add 1 oz. of room temperature water to the paint can and stir the paint thoroughly.
- 4
  Dip a small artist's paintbrush in the paint and paint a test swatch on a scrap piece of paper or cardboard. If the paint is still too thick, repeat steps 2 and 3, adding 1 oz. of water at a time until the paint is thin to the desired consistency.

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