Paint Brush Care Tips

I can speak for every Professional Painter and Do-it-Yourselfer when I say that a Good, Clean and Undamaged brush is a Painter’s Most Valuable Tool. Good brushes can be expensive but they are worth it. With proper care, they will last you a long, long time. We highly recommend buying Quality brushes and treating them right.

Most high quality brushes cost between $15.00 - $50.00. With poor brush care, painters are literally throwing hundreds of dollars down the drain each year!

Follow these tips and your brush may very well outlast you:

When Cleaning after using Water Based Paints

  • Clean brushes immediately after use - DO NOT SOAK BRUSHES IN SOLVENT OR WATER as this can damage the bristles;

  • Rinse with warm water until water is clear (hot water may damage the bristles). You can also use a mild soap or dishwashing liquid;

  • If paint hardens near the handle or ferrule, lightly brush it with a wire brush, stroking it from the handle down to the bristles. Do this until all old, dry paint has been removed and then re-rinse;

  • If there is still some stubborn paint left on the bristles, rinse the brush in mineral spirits and follow up with a mild soap and cold water rinse;

  • After Cleaning, immediately remove excess solvent or water by using a mechanical spinner, or by placing the handle between the palms of your hands and spinning. (Removing the water not only allows the bristles to dry faster, but it will make the handle and the glue that holds the bristles last much longer. It will also prevent the brush from getting moldy;

  • Simply store your brush in the Paint Brush Cover to help retain it’s shape and protect it from damage.

When Cleaning after using Oil Based Paints

  • Closely follow the manufacturer’s instructions to select the proper cleaning solvent (Mineral Spirits or Paint Thiner for paint and varnish, Denatured Alcohol for shellac, etc.);

  • Pour the solvent into a container and dip the brush into the solvent ;

  • Work thinner through the brush bristles, dipping up and down in the container several times;

  • Spin the brush into a waste area to remove excess thinner and then repeat process with a clean container and clean thinner;

  • Once the paint is removed, either spin dry the brush or wipe it dry on a newspaper or rag;

  • Simply store the brush in the Paint Brush Cover to help retain it’s shape and protect it from damage.