Mod Podge is a great product to have in your art supply because it is so versatile and simple to use. When you add a new art supply, you always want to make sure that you know how long it is going to last. One of the biggest questions revolving around Mod Podge is whether or not it expires.
So, does Mod Podge expire? While Mod Podge doesn’t have an expiration date, it can still go bad. After you open it, it should be used within 8 months. If you keep it unopened after you purchase it, it can hold for years before it goes bad. There are several things you can do to extend the life of your Mod Podge.
It is important that you properly store your Mod Podge when you are done using it. If you don’t close the lid tight enough when you are finished using it, it will go bad faster than expected. It is also important to keep it out of direct sunlight or any heat sources. Let’s read on to find out more!
How to Tell if Mod Podge Went Bad
It is pretty easy to tell when your Mod Podge goes bad. You will notice that it is lumpy instead of smooth, and the consistency will be completely different than what you are used to. You might also notice the color starts to turn yellow. If you try to use a Mod Podge that is tinted yellow from age, it will speed up the yellowing of your painting.
In some cases, the product might even start separating when it goes bad. You might think that you can fix separated Mod Podge, but this is not going to work very well. Even if you are able to mix the product back together after it is separated, it won’t stay that way long enough for you to use it.
Sometimes, when Mod Podge goes bad it will develop a strange smell. This can potentially be a sign that your product is growing mold, and you should avoid using it at all costs. If you use moldy Mod Podge, it can have some seriously negative side effects on your painting. The mold can continue to grow and ruin the surface of your painting.
If you go to open your Mod Podge after not using it for a while and you notice you didn’t close it all the way, there is a very high chance that it has gone bad. When you don’t close your Mod Podge properly, it lets oxygen in and dries it out. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to fix it.
Can You Reactivate Mod Podge?
Mod Podge is water-based, meaning it can be reactivated after it is applied to a surface. All you need to do is apply water to the surface and it will likely wipe right off. You would need to be careful, especially if you used a water-based paint under the Mod Podge. Using water can also reactivate the paint underneath the Mod Podge and completely ruin your painting.
If you are wanting to reactivate old Mod Podge, you won’t have much luck. Even if you are able to get it to mix together with some water, the consistency will change, and it won’t work properly. It might even dry cloudy or white if you try to use it to steal a painting.
When Mod Podge gets old and it dries out, all of the liquid that was in the product evaporates. This means that there is nothing you can do to reactivate the Mod Podge. You won’t be able to get any liquid to mix in with the hardened product, which means you won’t be able to use it any longer.
Does Mod Podge Turn Yellow?
Over time, Mod Podge will yellow, especially if you use it as a sealant on a piece of art that is hit by direct sunlight. It can take a long time for Mod Podge to turn yellow, but it will happen, so you need to take precautions if you want to make your painting last longer.
The best thing you can do is keep the painting away from heat sources and sunlight to extend the clear life of the Mod Podge. If you keep your Mod Podge painting in direct sunlight, it can start to yellow in as little as a year. If you keep it out of direct sunlight, you can have painting stay clear for many years before it starts to yellow.
This isn’t a quality that only Mod Podge has. Other sealants will also start to yellow overtime, especially if they are in direct sunlight or too close to a source of heat. No matter what type of sealant you use on your painting, it is essential that you keep it out of direct sunlight to keep it from yellowing.
Can You Spray Clear Coat Over Mod Podge?
It’s not necessary to spray a clear coat over Mod Podge because it works as a sealer itself. There are so many different formulas of Mod Podge that you won’t need a clear coat to protect it. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t spray a clear coat over Mod Podge.
If you want to spray a clear coat over Mod Podge, you are going to need to give it plenty of time to dry before you add the clear coat. Mod Podge dries pretty quickly, but for the best results you should wait about 24 hours before you try to spray a clear coat on top of the product.
I recommend using Krylon Clear Spray, if you plan on applying a sealer to your Mod Podge. It offers great protection, and prevents the paint from chipping and flaking.
To apply the clear coat on top of the Mod Podge, you will spray and thin even layers across the entire surface. Hold this spray can at the distance identified on the spray bottle. Slowly but evenly move the can back and forth across your painting. It is best to work in one direction like right to left or top to bottom.
Spraying in a single direction can help you ensure that you are covering the entire painting. You won’t have to wonder if you already covered an area, and you won’t have to worry about missing any spots.
Final Thoughts
Mod Podge is a very popular product because it is extremely versatile and can be used for multiple different projects. One of the biggest questions that gets asked about Mod Podge is whether or not it expires. While there is no set expiration date, it can still go bad. When this happens, you will easily be able to tell.
When Mod Podge goes bad, the consistency will change, you might notice that it’s turning yellow, and in some cases, it has a weird smell. If you do notice a weird smell coming from your Mod Podge, this most likely means that it’s growing mold and you should not use it. If you use a Mod Podge that’s tinted yellow, it will speed up the yellowing process of your painting.
This product also has the potential of yellowing on your painting over time. This will take several years to happen but can be speeded up if the painting is capped in direct sunlight or near a source of heat. To increase the life of your painting, it is best to keep it away from sunlight.
Make sure to follow all my tips and recommended products to ensure your Mod Podge painted project turns out great! Also, don’t forget to check out my other articles for all your painting Q&A’s. Happy painting!