A paint can guard is mounted on a sealing rim of a paint can. The paint can guard includes an annular rim guard for covering the sealing rim of the paint can, an annular brush wiper having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a plurality of struts coupled between the rim guard and the wiper for supporting the wiper in spaced relation to the rim guard. A substantially annular passage is defined between the outer surface of the wiper and the rim guard. Paint from a brush wiped on the wiper may flow on the inner surface of the wiper into the paint can. The brush can also be wiped on the upper or lower edge of the wiper. Paint that drips or spills outwardly of the wiper may flow through the passage between the outer surface of the wiper and the rim guard into the paint can, thus avoiding spillage.
