Thread: Brush Clean Up - What do you use ?

If the brush is really stuffed, an overnight soak in paint stripper, then next day wash with washing-up liquid works well

I only buy cheapies, and I bin them

I keep separate brushes for oil-based and water-based paints, and I also clean each differently.
Water-based I simply rinse and then use an old tooth brush to stroke out the stubborn areas of paint. Oil based paints I wash thoroughly with turpentine, again stroking with a tooth brush. Both type of brushes are then washed with hair shampoo and if I expect to not use them for a lenghty period I follow-up with conditioner.
I've used my current set of brushes for 11 years.

soth

Often, when working on projects, it seems that I spend as much time cleaning up as I do applying finish. Same with some painting. Back in the day.... when I was teaching, we used to keep brushes in thinners as the students would use them, abuse them, one right after another. and the next class and the next, etc. The Tennis coach provided the materials and we made brush holders similar to this one I made for my shop, I did add the Towel holder to mine, and used containers from dog treats, but they were the same as the tennis ball cans.

Between coats and applications I keep my brushes in this container with an inch or two of the appropriate thinner. After the project is completed and I am through with finishes for a while, I clean the brush and put it away properly.

Same with painting jobs. I have been on this fence project for quite some time and if I had to clean up after each application I would have consumed bunch more of the solid stain, wasted in the cleanup. In that instance, I usually pour a small amount into an empth paint can (gal.) and then paint from the used can and save the fresh sealed. At the end of my task I simply close the lid with the brush inside. Next day, Open the can and begin with a full brush.

Of course I too use cheap brushes, I prefer China Bristle Chip brushes. Toss out when the project is done.

i've found using pure soap and warm water to be very effective when cleaning the brushes. mainly use water based paints.the brushes i have had lasted for years.
cheers

For water based paints wash with water and then soapy water is the go for a good brush as everyone is saying. you will probably find using a cake of sunlight soap will work just as well as the washing detergent (cheaper too).

For oil based paint (enamels) turps is the go initially again if its a good brush but a cheap one is often the best policy unless the job warrants a good brush. Finish of again with the soap and water.

If you are going to use the brush in the near future you could make up a "brush keeper" which the old painters used before the days of water based paints.


They would drill a hole in the handle just above the ferrule and use a tin or bottle filled with a mixture of turps and linseed oil up to the base of the hair on the brush when it was suspended by a piece of wire through the hole and hung across the top of the container.

The mixture didn't dry out and the brush could be put into use with a quick rince of turps. It stopped the brush going hard as they didn't have to wash it thoroughly and it stayed clean.

If the brush was not going to be used for a long time they wrapped it up in grease proof paper with a rubber band to stop it getting dirty and its probably a good idea to use some cling wrap to do the same if you have finished your job and won't need the brush for a long time.

For water based paints that tend to dry around the top of the brush after being used for some hours, I have found that the fine brass brush (like a steel brush only different!) is a great help to remove all that gunk. Been using the one brush for repainting the house and sheds (and other things) now for some 18 months, still looks like new, which is just as well, cost a squillion!
Jacko

My father always taught me the importance of cleaning brushes , and the job wasn't finished untill all the were prperly cleaned, and because of this I only heve 1 brush less than 10 years old and thats a 2" monarch tapered Filament that cost around $30 , the first non brissle brush I have had, worth every cent.

With non acrillic I use GOOD quality thinners not turps then I use hand cleaner with like jacko a brass wire brush to combe the thing and hot water
Acrillic paints wash well in hot water then hand cleaner and brush with hot water again

If i'm painting a room between coats I wrap the brush in glad wrap to save cleaning if i am going to use it again in a couple of hours or so

I like Hickory's idea though and will proberly steal

Rgds

Just an extra to Ashore's 'wrapping in glad wrap", if you as well put it in the fridge (with SWMBO permission of course), overnight is very doable!
Jacko

Originally Posted by meerkat

I decided to pinch some washing powder and try that and I have found it cleans up far better than the liquid.

Andrew, I'm a dry washing powder man as well.
- I keep a couple of round small plastic containers in the laundry, the ones that you get when you buy olives or pickles in at the deli.
- Put one scoop of powder in the bottom of container,
- add brush and sufficient water to make a "just runny" paste using the brush, (feel the paste - it gets quite hot)
- work the paste well into the brush by pushing the brush against the bottom and sides.
- leave paste on brush for about 10 minutes
- wash and rinse
Works for oil based paint but also works for par-dried acrylic.

You blokes all worry me.

Cleaning brushes is Women's Work!

I haven't got a clue how she does it!

P

Acrylic cleanup is, wash with soap then the big secret....use fabric softener but don't let the missus know. They go really soft, just like when you first used them. For non acrylic, turps, soap and hot water then fabric softner.

Originally Posted by woodbe

I only buy cheapies, and I bin them

Got to plead guilty - me too.

Hi,

I just used the search facility and this thread is close to the subject matter I was after. Once I have finished with the cleaning up of the brush I generally wrap it up in newspaper as in the image attached.

Are you aware if there is a better way of doing this?.

Thanks to those who reply.

Regards
David