Scrap stain safely, recycle, or donate to be green and guilt-free
If after hours of backbreaking work staining your deck, you might be ready to toss any leftover wood stain into the trash. Not so fast. Simply chucking your wood stain in the garbage can harm the environment, pose a fire risk, and even result in a hefty fine since wood stain is considered a hazardous waste material.
Learn how to dispose of wood stain properly and how to store it safely in case you have other DIY staining projects in the works.
It can be tempting to pour old stain down your drains, flush them away, or toss half-full cans of wood stain in the trash, but oil-based wood stains are highly flammable and contain corrosive, carcinogenic solvent chemicals that are toxic to humans, animals, and the environment. This includes volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that release vapors as the stain dries and can be harmful when inhaled.
Getting it wrong with disposal can lead to fire risk, water supplies or soil contamination, pipes corroding, skin or eye irritation, or respiratory issues—and because oil-based wood stains are classed as hazardous waste, you risk receiving sizable penalties from your local municipality if you’re caught dumping them in your regular garbage or a standard dumpster.
It’s not advised to place hazardous waste materials in your dumpster without first consulting your dumpster rental company. If these items make their way to the landfill, they (in most circumstances) will be returned to you, and you will face a fine of up to $500.
While the methods below are generally widely acceptable, always check the ingredients and local rules before deciding on your strategy for trashing your stain. Water-based and latex-based stains aren’t as common, but if you dry them properly, they don't typically count as hazardous waste, whereas more widely available oil-based stains always do and require proper disposal.
An estimated 10% of the more than 750 million gallons of paint and stains sold annually in the United States is left unused, according to the EPA. Local household hazardous waste collection programs receive more paint and spend more money on handling it than other hazardous waste, the agency adds.
Saving your stain from being tossed prevents unnecessary waste and protects the environment. Provided you don’t just have a little dribble left, and it hasn’t been sitting in the back of your garage for years, why not donate your spare stain? You could give it to a charitable organization, such as Habitat for Humanity, or a community project that accepts these items.
Other options include checking if your neighbors are about to stain a fence or listing the leftovers on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or another site for free. If you choose local pick-up only as the “delivery” option, you’ll also save yourself some time and gas by relying on others to come get your stain.
Some municipal waste departments and even private companies have surplus paint recycling programs. They use the stains to make other types of coating products. While oil-based paints and stains are more challenging to recycle than water- and latex-based formulas, it’s still worth checking whether your local service accepts them.
You’ll usually need to drive your cans of stain to the facility, which will cost you a bit of time, and if the stain spills, you risk potentially damaging the interior of your car or truck. You likely won’t pay for disposal as you would if you hired a professional junk removal service to come pick it up for you.
If reusing or recycling isn’t an option, the next best option is to take your leftover oil-based wood stain to the nearest hazardous household waste collection site. These facilities will safely dispose of the product. Contact your municipal waste collection service for details if a quick online search doesn’t bring up the closest location.
Some municipalities have free programs that accept various types of hazardous waste products. Paint and stains are almost always included, but you could also get rid of other difficult-to-trash items, like lightbulbs, household cleaners, and batteries.
Keep in mind that this option also requires that you drive your waste materials to the drop-off site, so it will cost you some time, and you might be putting your car’s interior at risk of damage if there’s a spill or leak.
If your leftover wood stain is water- or latex-based, you can usually dispose of it in the trash if you let it harden first. These products are less flammable and don’t have the high toxicity levels of oil-based stains. If only a trickle remains in the can, you can open the lid and let the liquid air dry.
For larger quantities, try these water- or latex-based stain-drying techniques:
Pour the remaining wood stain into kitty litter or shredded newspaper. These absorbent materials soak up the liquid, and it will dry out more quickly.
Line a cardboard box with a strong plastic bag and pour the stain into it. Stirring occasionally helps speed up the drying process.
Buy oil-based stain hardeners.
Once the stain fully hardens, it can go in the trash. If it is still in the can, leave the lid off so it's obvious the stain has solidified. Otherwise, you could be on the hook for illegal dumping fines.
This process isn’t possible with oil-based stains, as the VOCs released during the drying process are air pollutants. When there is a lot of stain left, always reuse, recycle, or dispose of it as hazardous waste. However, if you used all the stain and there is only a thin layer left on the can’s inner surface, this can be left to dry in a well-ventilated area before putting the empty can into the trash.
What about those flammable, oil-based stain-soaked rags you're left with after completing your wood-staining project? Drying them out fully reduces the risk of spontaneous combustion. The VOCs will evaporate, and there will be less heat build-up.
Before disposing of rags you used to stain wood, select a well-ventilated space to hang or lay them out. Steer clear of spots near radiators or other heat sources, open flames, or combustible materials, like any leftover wood. Lay the rags flat, as bunching can trap heat, and wait until they are completely dry. Once dry, put them inside an empty metal container with a secure lid before disposing of them in the trash or storing them in a cool space for future use.
If you use thinners to clean oil-based stain off the brushes, dispose of the mineral spirits carefully too.
Storing leftover stain rather than tossing it isn’t just better for the environment—it’s also handy and can save you money if you need to do any touch-up jobs in the future. Oil-based stains can have a shelf life of five years or more when properly stored, and latex ones last for around three years. Check out these tips for stashing your stain safely:
For cans that are less than half full, transferring the stain to a smaller, air-tight jar helps prevent a skin from developing on the top. Don’t forget to label clearly.
Wipe away paint dribbling down the can sides and around the rim.
Seal the lid tightly using a rubber mallet—air is your stain's enemy.
Store in a cool, dark, dry location away from kids and pets. For latex-based stains, they often need to be in an area where temperatures remain above 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Store all stains away from sources of fire and excessive heat.
Note the date you opened the stain so you know when it is likely past its best.
It also pays to do careful calculations when determining how much wood stain you’ll need for your project. That way, you’re less likely to have lots of excess product to purge.
Disposing of wood stain is relatively easy, as the cans are small and lightweight, and most homeowners will have access to a nearby recycling facility that accepts paints and stains. In many areas, you can even bring your wood stain and other hazardous materials to a local hazardous waste disposal program for free to ensure safe disposal.
On average, you’ll save between $100 and $300 by disposing of your wood stain yourself. Provided you have the time and either a safe way to transport the cans or can rent a truck to haul them away, it’s a good way to save some money.
If you just have a can or two of wood stain lying around, getting rid of it yourself is likely the best option and will only cost you a bit of your time. If you have many cans that will make loading and transporting them difficult, or if you have a lot of other hazardous waste to get rid of, it’s probably best to hire a junk removal professional who removes hazardous waste to pick it up for you. This is especially true if you have dangerous materials to get rid of, like asbestos or mercury-containing light bulbs.
Wood stain is not flammable after it dries. The solvent in wood stain is what causes the liquid form to be highly flammable, but the stain drying process involves the solvents dissolving, which leaves behind a non-flammable product on your wood project. Wood stain is, however, flammable before you apply it, so you should always store partially full cans and used wood stain rags away from sources of heat and open flames.
Wood stain is not considered toxic after it dries. The solvents in wood stain are what give off volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are toxic, but these dissolve as the product dries, leaving behind a non-toxic product. When working with wood stain, you should always wear a respirator and rubber gloves to protect yourself, but once it dries fully, it’s not toxic, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Wood stain does go bad, but it will last in the can for between three and six years, provided you use proper storage techniques. Storing wood stain in open containers or in extremely low or high temperatures will cause your wood stain to become unusable much more quickly. Water- and latex-based wood stains typically last for just two to four years, while oil-based wood stains can last for three to six years.
