How to Clean Paint Brushes
Hey, hey there Graphics Fairy peeps! In case we haven’t met, I’m Jessica from Mom 4 Real, and I hang out here once a month to share a cleaning trick or household tip with you! This month, I want to talk about how to clean paint brushes!
I know a lot of you love to paint your rooms or furniture, and so do I. The part I dread the most about painting is getting my paintbrushes clean. I have thrown so many ruined paint brushes away…it’s shameful I tell ya! Well, no more! I have researched and found 4 different ways to clean your Latex paint brushes, and I can’t wait to share them with you! At the end, I’ll tell you what is the best way to clean your paint brushes out of these 4 methods, and I would love for you to leave a comment telling me what methods you have tried!
I always prefer to use products that I already have at home, rather than to go out and purchase some type of specific brush cleaner products. I wanted to find some methods that would clean off the latex paint, or acrylic paints, without solvents, thinners, or other harsh chemicals as I don’t like the fumes from those things. I’m sure you probably don’t like them either! Keep in mind these methods will NOT work for oil paints.
Cleaning Paint Brushes with Vinegar
Distilled White Vinegar Method. I love cleaning with vinegar, so this is the first method I tried. You simply add as much distilled vinegar in a glass jar as needed to cover the Nylon bristles of your paint brush. (DO NOT SOAK THE HANDLE) Let your paint brush soak for about 5 minutes. Take your brush out and rinse well. This method worked great for getting my brush clean, but it did not remove the dried on paint.
Paint Brush Cleaning with Murphy Oil Soap
Murphy Oil Soap Method. Mix 1 part Murphy’s Oil Soap and 1 part warm water to a jar or cup and let your bristles soak for 30 minutes. You need some patience for this method! Rinse well with warm water. This method is great, especially if you accidentally leave your brush lying out with dried paint on it all night long…ermmm…not me of course!
Cleaning Brushes with Dish Liquid
Dish Liquid. Mix a few drops of dish soap with warm water. Let your brush soak in the soapy water for about 10 minutes. This method is great for making sure your get all of the excess paint off of your brush after rinsing…you know, just to be sure it’s all out. I wouldn’t recommend this method for deep cleaning though.
What to use to Clean Paint Brushes- BEST!
Fabric Softener Method. Mix 2 tbsp. of fabric softener with 1 cup of warm water. Soak your paint brush for 10 minutes in the solution. Rinse with warm water. Surprisingly, this cleaner method worked the best. The fabric softener does just what it says and softens the dried on paint as well as loosening the paint in the middle of the brush. Just be sure to rinse really well! And dry with a paper towel before storing away.
I hope you find this How to Clean Paint Brushes post useful for your next paint project. I love that I found some methods that are great for cleaning my paint brushes after regular use, and also some methods for cleaning my brushes after I accidentally leave them lying around! How about you? Do you have any methods that work for you?
You might also like my post 10 Tips for Cleaning with Baking Soda HERE.
I love sharing cleaning tips and tricks…For more of these types of tips come find me on my blog at Mom 4 Real
I can’t wait to come back and share some more household tips with you!
Jessica
Wendy York says
I had to laugh out loud when I saw this pop up just now as I sat down to take a rest after … cleaning an old paint brush! 😆. Thanks for the tips! Can’t wait to try these next time 😁
Karen Watson says
Hi Wendy, sorry we didn’t get the timing better on this one for you! 🤣
Thomas Roberge says
Another way to make cleaning acrylic paint off of your paint brushes it to mix a little rubbing alcohol into your time water. The rubbing alcohol loosens the binding molecules of the paint and thus makes it easier to rince off and rubbing alcohol can be used to thin your paint if needed.
graphicsfairy says
Thanks so much for the great tips Thomas 🙂
Ernst says
You did not mention if it is about water or oil based paint, I think these methods are about water based paint brushes.
Cleaning with soft or green soap for water based works well for me and it doesn’t hurt the skin of your hands like fabric softener does.
Oil based paint is another story. I read a tip about using aceton and olive oil. Haven’t tried that yet, but will soon.
graphicsfairy says
Thanks Ernst, let us know if you do!!
Jacinta Cole says
Is this just for water-based paints or will it also work on oil paint/varnish please?
dawn conner says
hi, this is mainly for house paint type brushes, but, good advice for all larger brushes.after you’ve tried all the above cleaning methods, one at a time, I would hope, try using a wire brush to ‘comb’ the paint out. it also helps get all the bristles going in the same direction. when you’ve cleaned the brush up and washed all the cleaner out of it, put the handle between your palms w/ bristles pointing downward, and rub them together, causing the brush to twirl really quickly. this gets more water out. THEN role it up tightly in a sheet of newspaper and fold the top own closely to the top of the bristles. this keeps it from getting all splayed out and frizzy. its the way pros keep their brushes in good condition and safely stored. good brushes are meant to be used for many years and can be quite expensive. we live in a time when too many things are considered disposable. never forget the ‘re-use’ part of the ‘reduce, re-use, recycle’. we don’t HAVE to throw everything out and get a new one every time.
Mickey says
When I can’t finish an entire paint project all one time, I put my brush, with the paint still on it, in a plastic bag and put it in the freezer. Doesn’t take long to get back to room temp. When I am all done, I rinse the brush with hot water then spray it with window cleaner and keep rinsing.
Cathy Gagliardo says
Great tips! I try to clean my brushes as soon as I use them, but then I am retired and have all the time in the world to clean them. Just one question? Does your husband get upset when you clean your brushes in the sink in the bathroom or the kitchen? My husband says it’s really bad to do this so I have to go outside and rinse them with the outside faucet. Just wondering where you clean yours. Thanks!!
Audran Michèle says
Your husband is right !
Lynn says
Great tips Jessica!! I am not one to leave my brushes laying out overnight…nope not me :::walks away slowly with my head hung low::: So guilty!!
Hastypearl says
ha! I wouldn’t have ever thought about the fabric softener suggestion! I will try it. With my water based paint, I just keep a jar of water nearby and Always drop my brush in after use. It even will remove glue that stays on a brush overnight….which I manage to forget a lot! Great posting 🙂 Laura
Shannon @ Fox Hollow Cottage says
I’m usually so, so careful. I love my Purdy’s I tell ya. I did accidentally leave paint on my very oldest, very favorite, perfectly broke in 1.5 inch angled brush though. And I threw it out. I wish I had seen this… sniff sniff. Pinning to save in case of emergency and spread the word! LOL ~Shannon