How to Prepare Paint

Use a flat screwdriver or an official paint-can opener to get the lid off a can. Be gentle - you don't want to bend the lid. Pry up in a circle until the lid is loose enough to lift off with your fingers. You may have to go around more than once.

Follow the instructions stamped on the lid to open a 5-gallon bucket. You may have to use a utility knife to slice through tabs on the edge of the lid before prying it up.

Stir the paint. Simply get a sturdy stick (often given away free at the paint store) long enough to reach the bottom, and stir until all the sediment on the bottom has mixed into the liquid.

Thin only if absolutely necessary - most paint is ready to go straight from the can, but if you must thin it, don't thin it any more than recommended by the manufacturer. Don't thin alkyd (such as oil-based) paints with water; don't thin latex (water-based) paints with solvents.

Mix that paint!

Note that there are sometimes small differences in tint between cans or 5-gallon buckets. When you get near the last 25 percent of the can or bucket, mix that paint with the next can or bucket so that lines of different color don't appear.

Done painting? When you're ready to seal a can, first brush out all the liquid from the grooves in the top, place the lid on, then put a piece of newspaper or a rag over the lid before gently tapping with a hammer.