Want to spruce up your plastic patio chairs or those plain flower pots? Maybe your kids have outgrown some of their plastic play animals and you’d like to repurpose them. Whatever the case, just because it’s plastic does not mean it’s a lost cause. Here are the basics of painting on plastic.

What Can I Paint?

• Outdoor furniture
• Bottles and jars
• Storage containers
• Closet organizers
• Easter eggs
• Toys
• Trash cans
• Light switch covers
• Flowerpots
• Mirrors and frames
• Figurines
• Plastic foliage and flowers
• Décor accents
• Furniture

Tip: Check your storage shed for those outdoor items you no longer use. Visit a local thrift store for outdated plastic items such as wall hanging, frames, and figurines. Turn that trash into treasure with a fresh coat of paint.

Materials

How to Paint Plastic

Prep your item:

Clean your item thoroughly with warm water and mild dish soap. Be sure to remove any grime or greasy residue. Rinse with clean water and dry with a soft cloth or towel. Wipe down the entire surface with rubbing alcohol and allow to dry.

Spread out a drop cloth or old sheet in a well-ventilated area, and set your item in the center.

Use a fine grit sandpaper to remove any and all shiny surfaces from your item. Be careful not to press too hard so as not to scratch the surface. Plastic is nonporous and removing its shiny surface will help your paint to adhere. Use a soft, clean brush or cloth to remove all dust from the sanding process.

Paint your item:

1. Once your object’s surface is completely clean and dry, block off areas you don’t want painted with painter’s tape.
2. Before painting, read the directions on your can of spray paint. Generally, you’ll need to thoroughly shake the can before starting, and in-between applications.
3. To ensure you have a good can of paint, or even that it’s the right color, do a test spray on a piece of cardboard, newspaper or your drop cloth.
4. To apply, position the nozzle toward your object, and spray a light, thin layer of paint. With this first layer, your object should not be fully covered. Give each layer a few minutes to dry before adding the next one. It should take multiple thin, even layers to refresh your item’s color without over-painting.
5. Allow your item to dry completely before displaying or using.

Product Tips:

Need some project ideas?

Here are a few creative painted plastic projects you might like:

Here are some awesome tips for painting glass and how to choose which paint you need.

Everyone seems to have that folding table they pull out for parties, projects and more. Try giving it a makeover with extra spray paint you have on hand!

How To Spray Paint A Plastic Table

In this episode of Leftovers with Annie  we feature Rust-Oleum Hammered Rust Stop Spray paint to refresh a folding table.

Prep Work They key to the success of this project is the prep work. Make sure you sand and clean this table properly. This will help the paint adhere well.

Taping Off or Removing? You have two options for this type of project. You can remove the table legs or tape off the area when you paint. We found it much easier to tape and cover the legs of the table when we sprayed the top. Then after the table top was completely dry, we taped off the top in order to spray the table legs. Keep in mind that depending upon the color you are using, it may be best to give this type of project up to three coats.

Spraying The Table The key to this project is the Rust-Oleum Rust Stop spray paint. This particular type of spray paint is more durable vs. your standard spray paint. It offers a corrosion-resistance and lasting moisture protection. I hope you can tell from the video, but the table top almost looked like lacquer once it was done. If applying to a light color table top, you may need up to 3 coats if you're using a dark color like we did.

Products Featured:

Hammered Spray Paint Drop Cloth Sanding Sponge Face Mask  

For more helpful tips and advice visit a neighborhood Ace, or visit us online at acehardware.com

Always follow manufacturer's instructions before using any product.

Published on 1/27/2021

  These “How-To’s” are provided for informational purposes only. The information contained in Ace Hardware’s “how-to” videos and/or articles is intended to provide general guidelines for projects in and outside of your home.  Tools, products, materials, techniques, building codes, local regulations are continually changing. Ace Hardware assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained herein and disclaims any liability for the omissions, errors or the outcome of any project. It is the responsibility of the viewer to ensure compliance with all applicable laws, rules, codes and regulations for a project and the product being used. The viewer must always take proper safety precautions and exercise caution when taking on any project or using materials of said project. If you have any questions, concerns or doubts in regards to any element of what is displayed in the videos and/or articles, contact a licensed professional.

These “How-To’s” are provided for informational purposes only. The information contained in Ace Hardware’s “how-to” videos and/or articles is intended to provide general guidelines for projects in and outside of your home. Tools, products, materials, techniques, building codes, local regulations are continually changing. Ace Hardware assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained herein and disclaims any liability for the omissions, errors or the outcome of any project. It is the responsibility of the viewer to ensure compliance with all applicable laws, rules, codes and regulations for a project and the product being used. The viewer must always take proper safety precautions and exercise caution when taking on any project or using materials of said project. If you have any questions, concerns or doubts in regards to any element of what is displayed in the videos and/or articles, contact a licensed professional.