Q&A for How to Thin Latex Paint

When you're mixing your paint, lift the paint stick above the can. If the paint takes more than 5 seconds to drip down, it's too thick and needs to be diluted. Similarly, if it remains on the stick or comes off in clumps, it needs to be thinned.

You can remove latex paint by using rubbing alcohol. Grab some regular rubbing alcohol and pour it onto the entire spot of latex paint. If the paint has dried, let the alcohol soak for a few minutes to break it up a bit. Then, use a cloth or fabric brush to scrub off the paint spot.

No, you added a solvent to a water-based product. Water-based paints are thinned with water.

First you should prime the walls with PVA primer. If you are rolling the paint, it should not need thinning. If you are spraying with an airless paint rig, it should not need thinning. Thinning is required for HVLP and other fine finish guns.

Yes, it will make the color lighter (because you technically get more paint by putting water in it). You can't avoid it, but you can do a lump sum in one go to make the color consistent.