How to Clean a Paint Brush

Posted on September 3rd, 2009 by Elaine

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Whether you’re an avid painter or a do-it-yourself guy who likes to do paint home improvements, it’s likely that you’ve invested in a few paintbrushes. After several uses, a paintbrush can become completely coated, and if not cleaned properly, the bristles will end up stick together, ruining them. If you know how to properly clean a paintbrush, this won’t be a problem anymore.

What You’ll Need:

Dirty paintbrush
Solvent
Mild soap
Water
Soft tissue or cloth
Gloves

Procedure:

Always clean your paintbrush immediately after use, while the paint is still wet. Use a cloth or soft tissue to wipe the excess paint off the bristles and the handle. Hold the bristles gently, then squeeze them with your fingers, starting from the ferrule edge and going outwards. Don’t tug on the bristles though, or you might accidentally remove them.
Rinse the brush using the right solvent. The type depends on the kind of paint you’re using. For oil-based paint, you can use mineral spirits or turpentine. If you’re using water-based paint, use ordinary cool water. For shellac, you can use denatured alcohol. Slip on a pair of gloves, if you’re using strong solvents. If you’re not sure what paint type you’re using, check the product’s label.
Use another clean cloth or tissue to remove as much paint as you can.
Rinse the paintbrush under the sink. Don’t use hot water, as it expands the ferrule, causing the bristles to fall off.
Get some mild bar soap, holding it in one hand and the paintbrush in the other. Run it over the bristles, working up a lather with your fingers. Rinse the brush again using tap water. Examine if there’s still color mixing with the water. If there is, you’re not done, and you have to repeat the soap, lather and rinse procedure.
When you notice that the bubbles are white and the water is clear, you can do a final rinse.
Shake off the water from the brush and bristles. Afterwards, use your fingers to shape the brush to its regular shape. Wrapping the bristles in some tissue or a clean cloth also helps maintain the bristles’ shape.
Leave the paintbrush to dry, at room temperature. Make sure it’s standing upright, with the bristles up, otherwise you’ll end up with a misshapen brush.
Wash your hands after you’ve cleaned and washed the paintbrush.

You want paint to be all over your canvas, but not sticking all over your paintbrushes. Follow these simple steps and keep your brushes clean and reliable all the time. If you enjoy learning this article, might as well read how to get rid of old paint and as a bonus, learn how to make instant paint recipes