I keep drywall mud in my truck so that I’m ready for small repairs. When I got tired of the ever-present dried mud on the inside wall of the bucket, my wife made this stretch cover. She cut a 24-in. circle out of fabric called “cotton duck,” then serged its edge to prevent raveling. She turned it under to form a casing and put elastic in it.
To use the cover, I wet the fabric, stretch it over the bucket, and put a wadded-up damp paper towel in the middle for added moisture. I secure the lid with a bungee cord.
I have tested this setup over an extended period of time, and it works great; the mud stays damp and ready to use. It also makes getting into the mud a lot easier than having to pry off the lid.
—Don Mathis, Macomb, IL
Edited and Illustrated by Charles Miller
From Fine Homebuilding #257
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Does the elastic secure the fabric to the lid or to the bucket? (Or what role does the elastic play?)
An easier way to do this would be to stick an old yogurt or margarine tub into the mud and put some water in it.
My husband uses a much simpler method to keep drywall mud from drying out. Using a spray bottle he slightly dampens the mud in the bucket and then he covers the top of the mud with clear food wrap (saran wrap, or cling wrap). He tucks this around the edge of the mud, all the way around on the inside of the bucket. Then he closes the lid and uses a rubber mallet to secure the lid. The food wrap keeps the mud moist for several months. The piece of food wrap lasts for quite awhile but eventually it gets soggy and has to be replaced.