Cleaning paint brushes?

[Chaznsc]

I notice when I clean my brushes in thinner, the bristles are usually stiff later on when they dry. Is there a method you use to prevent this? And secondly, is there a way to recycle thinner? (Its pricey)

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Are they natural bristle or synthetic? Are you soaking them in the thinner? That can damage the bristles. A painter once told me to have two sets of brushes (synthetic), one for oil based and one for water based. He said cleaning is easier when you don't switch back and forth. I tried it, and it did make a difference.

Tommy

 

[Chaznsc]

Are they natural bristle or synthetic? Are you soaking them in the thinner? That can damage the bristles. A painted once told me to have two sets of brushes (synthetic), one for oil based and one for water based. He said cleaning is easier when you don't switch back and forth. I tried it, and it did make a difference.

Tommy

I believe they are synthetic. I give them a good thrashing in the thinner, then wipe them. And I’m not purchasing really high end brushes, but not throw always either.

 

[rjn2649]

I gave up on cleaning brushes...PITA, and they never seem to really get clean.
Harbor freight brushes are surprisingly good, I do clean them in thinner and wrap them in foil and then a baggie if my project is going to take a few days.
Once you clean something in thinner, let the thinner sit for a couple days after the paint settles SLOWLY pour the clean stuff off the top.

 

[MikeF2316]

After you clean them with thinner, wash them in dish soap and water, then rinse thoroughly. They'll be nice and soft for next time.

P.S. I learned this in grade 7 shop class.

 

[Chaznsc]

After you clean them with thinner, wash them in dish soap and water, then rinse thoroughly. They'll be nice and soft for next time.

P.S. I learned this in grade 7 shop class.

I had shop class too, but we skipped that lesson! Thank you.

 

[Tejay]

Buy a spinner and clean them thoroughly with thinner or soap and water , brush them out with a wire brush after. ( spin them out in a bucket or garbage can) I keep brushes for years this way

 

[sqznby]

I run a comb through them while rinsing and try to get all the moisture out of them after rinsing them thoroughly.

 

[Chaznsc]

Great tips, thanks to all of you.

 

[rjn2649]

HMMM...Maybe I should re-think my brush philosophy ? Never thought of soap and water after thinner.

 

[Augus7us]

I picked up this handy little tackle box looking guy that has clips for 6 or so brushes and you can fill the bottom of the tackle box with thinner or water and let them soak.

No pro painters on here? I'd assume they have a trick for this. I have a buddy that paints, I'll have to ask him next time I see him.

 

[lilredex]

Add a splash or two of ATF or other light oil to your final rinse. I do that with my spray guns too. Or, work in some waterless hand cleaner (GOJO) into the brush with your fingers, that way you can flush with water or paint solvent depending upon your next type of paint.

To reuse solvent/paint thinner, simply pour into a wide mouth jar of your choice, and let it stand for days, weeks, months and it clears itself. All the paint solids fall to the bottom and forms a "blanket" that you can shake out into the garbage, after pouring off the good stuff. I find the reused solvent works even better second time around.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

After soap and water wash, rinse and wipe with baby oil.

 

[Simplytodd]

Oil based paints use thinner. Put a little in a cofffe can squish the bristles around in it till it’s good and soaked. Then use a wire brush like one used to clean weld slag off of a weld. Brush with the bristles to get the paint that’s has start to set up. Rinse and repeat. Third time around the thinner should be pretty clean. Wipe on a paper towel or cloth to sail some of the thinner up before placing back into the brush holder. The total amount of thinner is probably less than a cup doing this. I have been using the same Purdy brush for 4 years now. I would still be using my 8 year old Purdy if my wife hadn’t gotten ahold of it.

Recycling thinner is possible build a bucket with a spigot or pour off the top carefully. Given enough time the paint particles will settle out of the thinner.

 

[yeldogt]

I never throw out mineral spirits or turpentine. Have a few large pickle jars to let the used thinner sit .. everything will settle to the bottom. I use this recycled thinner to clean my brushes -- pour some in a coffee can .. clean the brush. dump ... repeat. I do this a few times with no worry about waste because I know it will get recycled again .. the final cleaning is a little fresh from the can. With my really good brushes .. my final is with turpentine. Wrap in paper. I prefer the odorless mineral spirits to many of the products labeled "paint thinner" today. If you clean well -- they will be soft when they dry. You still need to shape them a tad.


While the blended brushes (natural and Syn) are actually decent ... there is nothing better than a good pure bristle brush when painting with oils ... buy good ones and treat them well. In many cases the finer oil brushes work better with the newer water based oil paints (BM advanced). I like them with some of the high end latex as well (F&B)

You should always avoid getting paint into the heal of the brush .. and when you see some build up drying take a rag with proper solvent and wipe off.

 

[Davefr]

Here are some tips:

1. Prime the brush first. Dip it fully into the solvent. (ie water for water based paint or thinner for oil based paints) and then spin off the excess.
2. Only dip half the bristle length into the paint can. Never dip the entire brush in paint. You want to keep the top of the bristles paint free.
3. When you clean the brush swish it in 2-3 cycles of fresh solvent. For the final rinse use lacquer thinner. (even for water based paint brushes). Spin it dry.
4. Never store a brush in solvent long term..
5. For natural brushes, massage in a drop or two of mineral oil after it's 100% clean.

Use good quality paint brushes. They're expensive so take care of them.

 

[Justin James]

As a residential painter for 35 years here is what I do with brushes used in solvent based materials. First I only use natural bristle brushes for oil based paints. When done cleaning spray WD 40 on the clean bristles, pay special attention to the heel, and put the brush back in the sleeve it came with. If you do this your brush will be nice and soft the next time you need it. HTH.

 

[quattro_sinko]

As a residential painter for 35 years here is what I do with brushes used in solvent based materials. First I only use natural bristle brushes for oil based paints. When done cleaning spray WD 40 on the clean bristles, pay special attention to the heel, and put the brush back in the sleeve it came with. If you do this your brush will be nice and soft the next time you need it. HTH.

Although I try to do as little painting as possible, on small jobs (bathroom or kitchen remodel, as opposed to a whole house, etc.) I will often paint as getting my subs scheduled for small jobs can get to be a hassle.

I'll try WD-40 next time. Thanks for the tip. (Edit:for oils/solvent based)


BTW, I recently switched over to Purdy Pro-Extra brushes (edit:for latex). They seem to up my cutting and finesse with a brush considerably.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I sold pant for 6 years during high school and college.

Synthetic bristles are for latex paint. Natural bristles work best for oil based paints.

You have to use enough thinner to fully cover the bristles and work it in well to loosen all the remaining paint. Drain, then fill again over the full bristle length. THEN a final wash with Dawn dishwashing liquid, thorough drying and wrap in paper towel to shape the bristles again.

 

[Sawdustmaker]

After you clean them with thinner, wash them in dish soap and water, then rinse thoroughly. They'll be nice and soft for next time.

P.S. I learned this in grade 7 shop class.

^^This! Dawn dishsoap works really well. Also, invest in a brush spinner (Dunn-Edwards has a good one) to help dry them after washing, then back in the cover and hang to finish drying.

 

[AreYaSerious]

Bob Ross says beat the devil out of it

However my process thinner, rinse dish soap and hot water, and rinse then beat the devil out of it like Bob Ross, and should be good.

 

[yeldogt]

Soap will strip the hairs and dry them out -- that's why I do the final wash with a little turpentine on the really good brushes.

I guess if you use a particular paint and don't have issues spraying Wd40 -- I would be concerned about compatibility .. especially with the new water/ oil finish paints.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I gave up on cleaning brushes...PITA, and they never seem to really get clean.

This. Half decent brushes are like $2 nowadays (Zero, Harbor Freight, etc.). Plus even the good name brand ones never work the same after being cleaned in my opinion. And I painted daily (semi-unprofessional) in college.

 

[Locker537]

Most of my painting has been with latex paints. I always cleaned the brushes immediately after use with Dawn dish soap and warm water. I use toothbrushes and nylon bristle brushes to "comb" the paint brushes. Spin dry and hang them.

 

[HenryAZ]

Putting them back in the sleeve is a good idea. I accomplish the same thing by wrapping a paper towel around the bristles for storage. I wrap the only tight enough so they are back to the sleeve size.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Here are some tips:

2. Only dip half the bristle length into the paint can. Never dip the entire brush in paint. You want to keep the top of the bristles paint free.

For "rookies" wrap about 1"-2" of tape around the top of the bristle overlapping slightly on to the ferrule.

4. Never store a brush in solvent long term..

Rig up some method of allowing brushes to sit in the solvent with the bristles about 1" off the bottom !

Use good quality paint brushes. They're expensive so take care of them.

Good quality paint brushes come with reusable "wrapper" so do NOT rip them off.

Purdy and Wooster make the best brushes and rollers.