No paint job is complete until the brush is clean
Let's say it: Paint brushes aren’t inexpensive. Replacing them after a few uses is frustrating and costly, so learning how to clean paint brushes can help extend their lifespan and save money. The trick is knowing the best procedure. So, before you wrap up your next room-painting job, take a few minutes to clean (and thank) your brushes.
There aren't any substitutes for properly cleaning your paint brushes to make them last longer and perform better. Even inexpensive paint brushes that receive proper cleaning attention after each use can last a long time. Premium paint brushes can cost over $20, making replacing them often hard on your painting budget.
A clean brush performs better because the bristles remain pliable and conform to the contours of your wall or trim better than a brush with dried-on paint particles. Bits of dried paint deep within the brush bristles stiffen them and can cause streaking and uneven paint coats.
The average cost of painting your home's interior is about $2,000. So, it may not seem like a $20 paintbrush in the trash can is a big deal. However, cleaning your paintbrush takes only a few minutes and costs less than $1 for soap and water or up to a couple of dollars in a solvent if you're using oil-based paint.
That's a small price to pay, considering how many times you may use your brush in a single paint job. The cost savings could be in the hundreds of dollars while painting an entire home's interior.
While painting, you can get a jump start on cleaning your paintbrushes. Although you can't always avoid it, try to keep the paint from getting up into the brush's ferrule by only partially submerging the bristles into the paint. It's okay if some paint begins to dry high on the brush, but avoiding the situation makes cleaning and conditioning your paintbrush much easier.
How you clean your paintbrush depends on the type of paint you're using. Check out these methods for scrubbing all kinds of paint off your brushes.
Start by removing excess paint from your brush. Drag the bristles on the inside lip of the paint can to get most of it off.
Dab the brush several times onto scrap newspaper, the wall, or a disposable rag.
Fill a bucket with warm water and a few teaspoons of dish soap. Swirl the brush in the solution for several seconds to wet the bristles.
Protect your hands with latex or nitrile gloves and loosen any paint from the bristles by massaging them with your fingers while the brush tip is still submerged.
Insert the brush comb into the brush near the ferrule and pull it through the bristles several times, dipping the brush into the cleaning water after each pass.
Run the brush under warm water to rinse off the soapy solution.
If there's paint on the ferrule or handle of the brush, use a paint scraping tool to remove it and rinse off the brush under warm water.
Hang the brush with the bristles facing downward, or lie it flat in a protected place. If you have it, store the brush in the original packaging.
Remove any excess paint from your brush by dragging the bristles on the inside lip of the paint can.
Dab the brush several times onto scrap newspaper, the wall, or a disposable rag.
Fill a plastic container with mineral spirits, paint thinner, or citrus organic paint cleaner up to the depth of the brush bristles. Swirl the brush in the container for several seconds to penetrate the bristles.
Protect your hands with latex or nitrile gloves, and use your fingers to loosen any paint from the bristles by massaging them while the brush tip is submerged.
Insert the brush comb into the brush near the ferrule and pull it through the bristles several times. Dip the brush back into the solution after each pass.
If there's paint on the ferrule or handle of the brush, blot the areas with the cleaning solution until no spots remain.
Use your fingers to squeeze any excess solution from the bristles back into the cleaning container.
Hang the brush with the bristles facing downward, or lie it flat in a protected place in the original packaging if you have it.
Restrictions apply when disposing of old house paint and cleaning-up chemicals, even organics. Check and follow your local guidelines for properly disposing of oil-paint cleaning chemicals and rags.
If you're unsure of what kind of paint it is, dab the brush with a small amount of rubbing alcohol. If a bit of color comes off, it's a water-based paint.
Fill a container to the depth of the brush bristles with either warm water and dish soap or mineral spirits, depending on the paint type.
Suspend the brush by its handle so the bristles are submerged but not resting on the bottom.
Allow it to soak for several hours or overnight.
If paint remains stuck on the brush, complete the above steps again to remove all the paint.
Paint brushes are relatively easy to maintain. The general rules are to clean them properly and then leave them alone until next time. Here are a few tips for taking care of your paint brushes.
Avoid allowing paint onto or into the brush's ferrule if possible.
Avoid fully submerging the brush in the cleaning solution.
While cleaning, avoid using hot water. Brush ferrule metal is soft and expands easily with heat, which can loosen it from the handle over time.
Never rest the brush on its bristles while cleaning, painting, or storing.
Hang brushes to store them when possible. If you must lay them flat, place them in a protective cover away from items that will bump or move them.
The trick to successful brush cleaning is doing the job immediately after painting. Leaving enough cleaning time after the job can be challenging and, sometimes, restrictive. If you're tackling your painting work, cleaning your brushes afterward can save substantial money in the short and long term.
However, painting isn't everybody's favorite way to spend a weekend. If you have a large painting project or don't want to do touch-up work, you can avoid paint brush cleaning altogether by hiring a nearby local interior painter to help out.
You can clean water-based paint from brushes in the sink and allow the waste water to go down the drain. However, one tip to remember during a painting project is that it's illegal to allow oil-based paint or its cleaning solutions, even organic ones, down the drain and into the sewer system.
With patience, you can often save a dried paintbrush. Soak the bristles overnight and clean the brush as you would any other time. You'll likely have to repeat the cleaning steps, including soaking, more than once.
The only time that it's okay to leave a paintbrush in water overnight is when you're trying to remove dried-on paint. However, don't allow the bristles to rest on the bottom of the container. Remember that soaking it longer than necessary can damage the brush.
