From the article: How to Get a Messy Paint Tube Cap Back On
How do you go deal with a cap on a paint tube that's so messy and clogged up with paint you can't get it back on the tube? Do you have any 'secrets' you wish you'd learned years ago? Share your tips and suggestions here. Share Your Tips
Prvention
- Never had a problem with capping oil tubes as I wipe the top across the palette after squeezing out what I need.
- —Guest Nila
Plastic Wrap
- Try putting a small square of plastic wrap over the tube opening before screwing on the cap. I also save clean caps from empty tubes for when I get one that is unclean-able.
- —dbs82
Soak the Caps
- For oils, soak the caps in mineral spirits or turpenoid and most of the caked on paint will clean off easily. For acrylics, use rubbing alcohol. For watercolors, a short soak in some water. To clean the threads on the metal part it's usually easy to remove the thicker stuff with your fingernail, then wipe with a paper towel soaked in solvent or water by wrapping the paper towel around the threads and twisting as you squeeze the threads.
- —Guest Edward
Use Another Cap
- I don't bother trying to clean it, I use another one... I keep the ones from white tubes because I use up white so fast the caps don't get all gunked up.
- —Guest Josie
