Take the 2-minute tour ×  I'm not quite sure how much drywall
mud I'll be using for my upcoming project so I'm planning to buy
a box of it. Assuming that I have some left over, is there a
technique for not wasting it? Will it last for awhile if I make
sure to tie up the bag again and close the box lid? Or should I
assume that it'll only last for a short time after I initially
open the box.  Also, what's the shelf life for drywall mud?
Should I only buy as much as I think I need? Or if I found a
good deal, will it keep for awhile (for use with other projects
later)?   share|improve this question  3 Answers 3  up vote 12
down vote accepted  I don't have any experience with boxes, but
have quite a bit with the 5-gallon buckets of compound. Without
knowing much about how those boxes seal, I'd recommend going
with a bucket- the buckets/lids seal air tight which is
important for keeping the mud from drying out. The other thing
I'd recommend- every time you close the box or bucket, put a
piece of plastic sheeting ov