Posted under:
Art SuppliesSUPPLIES
- Clean and soft cloths
- Containers
Overview
Paintbrushes are often expensive, so they'll turn into an investment if you paint frequently. Cleaning your brushes properly is the best thing you can do to keep them in good condition. Old ones need especially good care while cleaning--their bristles are more likely to fall out or get damaged during the process.
Step 1
Use a cloth to gently wipe off the paint. Do this by wrapping the cloth around the bristles and wiping in a straight movement so they don't get damaged.
Step 2
Rinse off the brush according to the medium you used. For example, if you used a water-based paint, rinse the brush in warm water. Rinse it with turpentine or linseed oil after using oil paint. Then, give the brush another wipe with a cloth.
Step 3
Dampen a bar of gentle soap and rub the brush against it. Then, lather it up by swishing it around in a container full of the same rinse you used in Step 2. Do this until color stops bleeding from the brush. You may need to lather and rinse a few times.
Step 4
Rinse the brush one more time in warm water, and then use a cloth to gently blot it away in the same motion as Step 1 suggested. This will also keep the bristles straight.
Step 5
Let the brush air dry. Store it in a cup or holder with the handle on the bottom so no weight is on the bristles---you don't want them to dry in an odd shape.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
- WARNING : To prevent damage to brush bristles, only use warm water--never hot.
