Tips for cleaning paint brush stains

Key Takeaways

Tips for cleaning paint brush stains

When it comes to that fantastically staining phthalo blue I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the cleaning powers of a good bath of cooking oil (I’ve used sunflower and olive so far – just what I happened to have that were on the verge of getting tossed as no longer nice for food purposes) – with intermittent massaging of oil into the bristles – followed by vigorous lathering of dishwashing liquid. But I think the fact is that phthalo blues and greens are so staining that a certain amount of discoloration is inevitable with time. (Hmm, writing this made me think that maybe I should take my oil+Fairy method to some stained acrylic- and watercolor- brushes too. )

June 1, 2014 at 6:51 am #1206159
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Do not use Hog Bristle brushes to paint with Phthalo. Use synthetic, orange colored, brushes. They are not prone to Phthalo absorbency.

June 1, 2014 at 7:20 am #1206163
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Do not use Hog Bristle brushes to paint with Phthalo. Use [B]synthetic, orange colored, brushes. They are not prone to Phthalo absorbency[/B].

Hah, I say. Hah! [Later note: Hmm, might you be talking about Nylon brushes as opposed to Taklon? There’s load of Taklon varieties on the market at many different price points (and very different properties), but all I’ve tried have been like sponges for phthalos. Haven’t tried many Nylon brushes since the few I have tried have had a “feel” that didn’t appeal to me.] Though this might be true for phthalo in oil perhaps. It is so absolutely not true for phthalo in acrylic or water colour IME. In fact it was actually just such orange not-too-expensive synthetic brushes phthalo-stained by acrylics and WC that I was thinking about above. The ones that pleasantly surprised me by becoming much cleaner after treatment with oil+dishwashing liquid were actually mostly also synthetics (one or two hog in the mix), but of a much higher quality. Or maybe, just maybe, the thing that did the trick for my phthalo-stained brushes was actually the oil paint? Let me explain:
I had these much beloved synthetic brushes that were a bit stained from acrylics/WC. And a few hate-y cheap hog bristles with the same problem. No amount of water-detergent-soap cleaning would get rid of the stain.
I used them with oils (yes, also some phthalo-colours in the mix).
When I thoroughly cleaned them with my improvised cooking oil + dishwashing procedure they came out of it much less stained than before using them with oil colours. Which was a great surprise to me. Maybe it was my oil paint that drew out the phthalo-stains? Or maybe just the thorough soaking in cooking oil? Or… maybe the fact that the phthalo-staining was *old* (2 weeks to several years) was the magical thing? Anyway, for the OP: some staining is normal and unavoidable. If you clean the brush thoroughly *with your hands* (with oil and/or soap) until you can see no trace of colour coming off, you can be pretty certain that no unwanted colour will come off the brush when you next use it for painting.

How to Clean Your Paint Brushes

Marion Boddy-Evans is a professional quilter, artist, and writer with 15 years’ experience specializing in quilting and painting. She is a commissioned artist at the Isle of Skye Art Studio located in Scotland, where she also teaches workshops.

Updated on 10/31/19

Your brushes are an important investment. By cleaning them thoroughly and properly at the end of a painting session, they will work better and last longer. It is well worth spending the little bit of time necessary to take good care of them.

There are general guidelines to cleaning brushes but also some particulars regarding the specific medium you are using.

General Guidelines

1. Wipe off any excess paint using a cloth or soft tissue. Gently squeezing the bristles from the ferrule edge outwards with your fingers, or with a cloth, will help remove paint from the brush. Be careful to avoid pulling on the bristles, though.
2. Rinse the brush in turpentine or oil if you’ve been using oils, or lukewarm water if you’ve been using a water-based medium. Never use hot water as it can expand the ferrule, causing the hairs to fall out.
3. Wipe the brush on the cloth again to remove the last of the excess paint.
4. Wash gently using a little bit of mild soap (or a gentle dishwashing liquid). Dab the brush gently onto the piece of soap, then work up a lather in a small container or the palm of your hand if you’re not using any toxic pigments or solvents.
5. Rinse and repeat until there’s no trace of any color coming out. Over time a brush may become stained, but don’t stop rinsing until you’re sure there’s no paint left.
6. Never use a lot of pressure to force paint out of a brush. Be patient and rinse it several times
7. Rinse once more in clean, lukewarm water to remove any traces of soap. Shake off the water.
8. Use your fingers to gently shape the brush head into its correct shape.
9. If necessary, wrap the bristles in a piece of tissue or toilet paper while the brush is still wet. When the paper dries it will contract, pulling the bristles into shape.
10. Leave brush to dry at room temperature. Ensure that it is not resting on its head so it does not dry misshapen and ruin the brush. Let the brush dry flat or standing on the back of the handle. Make sure not to crowd the brushes together.
11. If you’re worried about the toxicity of the paint you’re using, or it is staining your skin, wear gloves while painting and cleaning your brushes. You might also try the Bob Ross Painter’s Glove lotion for oil paints. (Buy from Amazon).

1. Always use separate brushes for oil painting and water-based medium; after all, oil repels water. It is not recommended to use a brush for acrylic that you have already used for oil.
2. Also use separate brushes for varnish, gesso, and masking fluid. Masking fluid is particularly hard on brushes so use cheap synthetic brushes when applying it.
3. Acrylic paint takes extra attention because it dries so quickly. You don’t want to leave your brushes out of the water for long with paint on them because the paint will dry on the bristles, and once acrylic paint is dry it is water resistant. However, you also don’t want to leave a brush standing too long in water for it will ruin the brush. It is best to use a shallow tray to keep the bristles wet when you’re not using the brush while painting, letting the handles rest on the rim of the tray; this will help keep the lacquer paint on the handle from getting wet and eventually flaking off.
4. Acrylic brushes should always be dampened before loading them with acrylic paint. This will help keep the paint from sticking to dry bristles and creating a clump of hardened paint.
5. There are synthetic bristle brushes available for acrylic painting that are made to withstand the demands of acrylic paints. These also clean up more easily than natural hair brushes. The synthetic Princeton Catalyst Polytip Brushes (Buy from Amazon) are good for both medium-bodied and heavy acrylic and oil paints.
6. If working in oil and your brush is made from natural bristle, you can soften it by dipping it in clean oil (the one you use as a medium) after you have cleaned it.
7. Never leave any brush standing for too long with the bristles touching the bottom of the container, particularly soft-haired brushes.
8. Make sure to clean out all the paint near the ferrule of the brush. The bristles will splay out if the paint hardens here.
9. After the final rinse and shake dry, smooth out the brush and shape the hairs with your fingers and thumb.
10. Make sure brushes are dry when storing them in a covered box. They can develop mildew if stored in an air-tight container.
11. Mothballs can help protect natural hair bristles from moths when storing.

When to Replace a Paint Brush

When you know how to wash paint brushes the right way, replacing them should be the last thing on your mind. But there does come a time when you will need to buy new ones.

Replace your paint brush if:

• The bristles are shedding: Molting bristles means that the paint brush is near the end of its life. Time for a new brush. Don’t worry; it will make your artwork so much better.
• The brush has lost its point: Round brushes and rigger brushes meet at a point. If the brush no longer has this defined point, it’s time to update it. Don’t throw the brush away, though. You can keep it and use it without the tip for different parts of your painting. You could also cut the very end off and use the brush for stippling or dry brushing.
• Bristles are misshapen: It’s important to comb your bristles out and reshape them after cleaning to ensure they don’t get stuck in a wonky way. But if your bristles won’t go back into their original shape no matter what you do, then it might be time for new brushes.
• Your painting is jagged: If you can’t paint a smooth, accurate line with the paint brush any longer, it’s time for a new one.
• Too difficult to clean: If you followed our cleaning method and it doesn’t work, then it might be that the paint brush is beyond cleaning help.
• Broken handle: If the handle is broken or splintered, you should replace the brush.

Just because you can’t use the brush for its initial purpose, doesn’t mean you need to be wasteful and throw it away. You can use the brush for other uses, such as dry brushing, textured painting, cleaning, and more.

FAQs

Can a Paint Brush Last For Life?

Probably not for life, but with the proper care, they should last several years.

Is It OK to Clean Paint Brushes In the Sink?

If you’re using latex paint and you have a public sewer system (rather than a septic system), it’s fine to clean paint brushes in the sink.

However, if you have a septic system, washing your brushes in the sink can send hazardous chemicals into your drains. This can cause contamination, hazards, and blockages, leading to expensive repairs.

Can You Use a Wire Brush to Clean a Paint Brush?

We recommend against it. The wire material can damage the fine bristles on the brush. Use a soft-bristled brush to clean paint brushes instead, similar to those with which you’d wash your dishes.

Can I Use a Paint Brush Right After Washing It?

Using your paintbrush before it’s thoroughly dried can dilute latex paint or repel oil-based paint. This will affect your project. So we recommend waiting until the brush is dry.

How Do You Store Paint Brushes Between Coats?

If you’re coming back to the brush within the same day as you wait a few hours for the coat to dry, wrap the brush in plastic wrap. Make a tight seal by wrapping masking tape around the plastic wrap. Keep the brushes out of sunlight and away from hot spots in the home.

What is the Best Paint Brush Cleaner?

Knowing which is the best brush cleaner is tricky because it depends on the paint type. Water-based paints are easy to clean with soapy water, but you will need a solvent-based cleaner for oil paints.

Can You Wash Paint Brushes in the Dishwasher?

You cannot wash paintbrushes in a dishwasher. It will ruin the bristles and damage the wooden handles.

We Painted You a Picture

Now that we’ve painted you a picture of exactly how to clean paint brushes, you can ensure your brushes last for years to come. When you invest in paint brushes, the last thing you want is to waste that money by ruining your paint brushes.

To recap, the most important tip is to wash your paint brushes right away. Make sure you use the correct solvent according to what type of paint you used. And never wash oil-based paint off in a sink; always use a basin instead.

Whatever project you work on next will look 1,000 times better with these invaluable tips!