How to Clean Paint Brushes?

You need to clean your paintbrushes after use. Otherwise, you create an unnecessary hassle for yourself because you are going to need clean paintbrushes for your next paint job. Even worse, leaving paint on your paintbrushes can contribute to damage and deterioration, meaning you will need to replace them sooner rather than later.

What Do You Need to Clean Your Paint Brushes?

Fortunately, you don’t need much to clean your paintbrushes. Generally speaking, you should be able to get it done with just a bucket full of water, some kind of rag, and some kind of cleanser that is appropriate for the paint. Besides those, you might also consider a brush keeper, a 5-in-1 painters’ tool, and other tools for increased convenience.

How Do You Clean Your Paint Brushes?

Here are the steps for cleaning your paintbrushes:

Start by removing as much paint from your paintbrushes as possible. This is where the rag proves useful. If you want to avoid wasting paint, consider scraping your paintbrushes against the rim of your paint cans.

Put your paintbrushes in whatever cleanser is suitable for the paint in question. Mineral spirits are good for oil-based paints. In contrast, denatured alcohol is good for shellac. If you are using water-based paints, you should be fine by just using the classic soap and warm water combo. Sometimes, you might have to scrap off particularly stubborn gobs of paint, which is where the 5-in-1 painters’ tool comes in.

Once you have removed most of the paint, you should rinse your paintbrushes. Use your hands to remove any remaining paint and cleanser before shaking off as much water as possible.

Put your paintbrushes somewhere to dry properly. Brush keepers can work. Alternatively, just hang them upside down. Make sure to store dry paintbrushes in a secure location for future use.