Methods to remove paint stains from brushes

1. Start by giving them a few vigorous shakes. Then squeeze them in a bunch of paper towels or a clean cloth towel.
2. Store the brushes properly to prevent damage to the bristles. If you’re planning to use them again the next day, wrap them in aluminum foil or plastic wrap to keep them fresh.
3. For longer-term storage, many pros keep their brushes in resealable plastic bags. Or you can invest in plastic paintbrush protectors.

How to Clean Dried Out Paint Brushes

In this video, Ask This Old House painter Mauro Henrique explains that while paintbrushes need to be cleaned after every use, all is not necessarily lost if the paint dries on a brush.

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Project details

Skill

1 out of 5 Easy

Cost

Under $20

Estimated Time

Around 1 hour

Expert painter Mauro Henrique shows host Kevin O’Connor how to bring an old paintbrush back to life. Kevin explains that a “friend” let their wet paintbrush sit too long, allowing it to harden and become unusable. Mauro explains the importance of cleaning a paintbrush after every use before showing Kevin some methods of removing the dried paint from the bristles with a chemical brush cleaner.

After donning some safety gear, Mauro shows Kevin how to soak the brush in the chemical solution and explains how to tell when it’s ready. The two then remove the paint using a soft-bristled brush and careful strokes before rinsing the brush with clean water. Finally, Mauro straightens out the bristles to get them ready for the next paint project.

How to Clean a Dried Paintbrush

1. Place the brush in an empty, clean paint bucket. If the bucket has a magnet, place the ferrule (the metal part) of the brush against it to hold it in place.
2. Put on rubber gloves and pour the brush cleaner into the bucket, filling to just above the height of the dried paint.
3. Allow the brush cleaner to soak into the paintbrush and dried paint for 20 to 30 minutes.
4. After allowing the brush to soak, use the soft-bristled brush to loosen and remove the paint. Brush from the ferrule toward the tip of the brush. Continue brushing until all of the chunks of paint are loose. If necessary, soak the brush again.
5. With all of the paint removed, use fresh, clean water to rinse the brush. Place the 2×4 in the bucket and use it as a work surface to brush against as you rinse the paintbrush. Use a clean brush to rinse the paint from the bristles. Continue until the water running from the paintbrush is clear.
6. With the tip inside the rim of the bucket, spin the handle of the brush between your palms to remove excess water.
7. Use the comb brush to straighten the bristles and ensure the paintbrush is ready for the next project.

Is there a way to preserve the brush without washing it out twice? Mauro recommends allotting enough time to complete an entire painting project before starting. However, this is not always possible. One quick trick is to take a plastic bag and place the brush inside of it. Then, squeeze all the air out of the bag and zip it shut. You can also do a grocery bag, squeeze the air out, and seal it up with painter’s tape.

This technique should only be done if you have to walk away from the job for a few hours. After a full day, it won’t work.

1. Choose your cleaning agent based on paint type

For water-based paints, like latex and acrylic, which most projects these days call for, plain water will do the trick. “We also like to use a little drop of dish soap to help with ease of cleaning brushes,” says Shannon Duvall of HD Painting and Stain, based in Belleville, Illinois, and member ambassador of the Painting Contractors Association. Here’s how to get cleaning:

Jay Aguirre

1. Fill a small bucket or tray with soapy water. For best results, use warm water.
2. Press the brushes into the bottom of the container in a rapid back-and-forth motion. That will work the water into the heel of the brush, all the way to the ferrule, where the bristles connect to the handle.
3. Replace the water two or three times, continuing to press and work the brushes back and forth, until most of the paint is removed.
4. Squeeze the bristles by hand. Then, rinse the brushes thoroughly at the sink, again using warm water.

Jay Aguirre

For oil-based paints — whose hard, durable finish is suited to furniture, stair banisters and other high-touch surfaces — you’ll need to use a chemical cleaner, like mineral spirits, paint thinner or turpentine.

1. Fill a small cup or jar about halfway with chemical cleaner. Submerge the bristles for 30 seconds.
2. Remove the brush, and wipe the bristles against a hard, clean surface.
3. Repeat the process until the paint is gone. Then rinse at the sink in warm water.

Caution: When using chemical cleaners, make sure you’re in a well-ventilated area, since solvent fumes are toxic.

2. Do a deeper clean

No matter how aggressively you clean your brushes in water or solvent, some paint is liable to remain. If you waited too long to clean the brushes and the paint has started to harden, this will certainly be the case.

1. Use a wire brush — the same kind used for surface prep — to remove any dried-on paint.
2. Deploy long, gentle strokes,like brushing your hair, so as not tug too many bristles loose from the ferrule.

3. Dry and store the brushes

Once your brushes are clean and ready for the next project, it’s important to dry them out as much as possible.

1. Start by giving them a few vigorous shakes. Then squeeze them in a bunch of paper towels or a clean cloth towel.
2. Store the brushes properly to prevent damage to the bristles. If you’re planning to use them again the next day, wrap them in aluminum foil or plastic wrap to keep them fresh.
3. For longer-term storage, many pros keep their brushes in resealable plastic bags. Or you can invest in plastic paintbrush protectors.

Jay Aguirre