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How do I clean my paintbrush?
Home » Home Improvement » Paintbrushes » How do I clean my paintbrush?A high-quality brush can last for years if you clean and store it properly each time you use it. If you need to take a painting break, the best way to protect your brush depends on the length of your break. If you will only be away for a few minutes, leave your brush resting partially in the paint. If you plan to take a longer break (thirty minutes to several hours), wrap the brush in a damp rag, aluminum foil, or plastic wrap.
If, however, you finish your painting job or plan to stop for the remainder of the day, you should clean your brush immediately. Wipe the excess paint off on a newspaper and then do the following steps that correlate to the type of paint you are using:
- Water-Based Paint Cleaning: Put the brush into a bucket of clean water (you can also add some liquid soap). After a minute or two, remove the brush and comb out its bristles using a wire brush. Then, throw out the dirty water, refill the bucket, and start over. Repeat this cycle until the brush is mostly clean, and then finish by rinsing out the brush under a faucet. Once water runs clear through the brush, shake out the excess water and store the brush.
- Oil-Based Paint Cleaning: Rinse out the brush in a tub of paint thinner or kerosene. After working the brush back and forth in the paint thinner until it is clean, shake out the excess solvent and store the brush. Also, if you let the dirty paint thinner sit for several days, clean paint thinner will rise to the top, and you can reuse it.
If you forget to clean your brush, and paint hardens to the bristles, try soaking the brush using especially strong paint removers, such as acetone, and look at the paint can for suggestions. Except in this circumstance, avoid soaking your paintbrush for extended periods of time.
Store your paintbrush by hanging it, but do not store it on its bristle tips. If you still have it, wrap the bristles in the plastic sleeve in which you purchased the brush. Use a brush comb on occasion to clean and straighten the bristles; otherwise, simply cleaning your brush after you use it makes it completely ready for you to use it again.
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