What's a good cleaner to use for paint brushes, when using acrylic paint?

Answer 1

Acrylics are water based so the 11 people before me are correct - soap and water.

However, I have had dramatically good results by getting the brush into the water SOON. I found an article once that described a small coffee can arrangement that has been fabulous over the years.

Get a small handful of aquarium rocks (or clean pea gravel) and dump it into the bottom of your can such that the gravel is about 3/4" deep. Get a spring at your local hardware store and stretch it across the top. Squirt a little liquid dish soap into the can and fill the can half way with water.

The gravel allows the acrylic particles to go somewhere lower the the bristles and the spring becomes the brush holder. In use, the brush's bristles should not touch bottom (and bend, etc). Fit the brush into the spring so that the brush is suspended with the bristles in the water.

The brush should go into the water immediately after you finish with that use, color, etc. The can will keep them alive until you can do your cleanup at the end of your session. In the final cleanup, use soap and running water, spreading the bristles vigorously to get the dried particles out (but with the can, you shouldn't have many).

Fan the bristles several times to remove the remaining moisture. Check each brush carefully for remaining paint, lightly towel them and shape the bristles Clean out your can (strain the rocks) and set your brushes in the spring to dry them vertically (bristles down) for the first day. Standing them with bristles "up" allows moisture to settle in between the bristles and shortens the life of the brush.

Depending on what sort of brushes you have, I'd advise against the paint remover unless you're painting houses with $2 brushes. Some of the other chemistry noted in the other responses is worth saving for those events where a brush gets over-looked, paint dries on it and you're in ":salvage" mode.

Answer 2

I used to use just soap and water and it's really the best way, but I've reacently been using odorless paint thinner. It works really well and doesn't damage your brushes. Just make sure you hang your brushes upside down for drying and make sure all the paint is out. Don't get the paint thinner on clothes or anything you don't mind ruining. Remember to get odorless because the other really stinks. You only need a little and don't mix with water.
This should make the process alot smoother. I get mine from Hobby Lobby.
Good Luck

Answer 3

Liquid dish soap does a great job for me. But every once in awhile I like to really clean my brushes with isopropyl alcohol. It's amazing to see the paint that will come out of what I thought was a "clean" brush with the alcohol! Some people like to use hand sanitizer; it does the same thing as the alcohol but it's a bit milder on your brushes. Others swear by Murphy's Oil soap. Some us a bar of Ivory soap to swipe their brush across. There are many ways, and I think I've tried them all, but have found dish soap and alcohol to be the most effective!

Answer 4

My daughter always uses washing up liquid and warm water and if she wants the brushes soft she places them inside a plastic sandwich bag to stop them going hard after as she hates hard brushes.She has also used a bit of fabric softner for the more harsher paints.

Answer 5

same as what the other guys are saying-

warm water and soap, you dont need paint stripper, cuz acrylics arent oil-based.

or you can just leave them to soak on warm soapy water for a bit then take them out and leave to dry naturally- i tend to wipe some excess water tho.

hope that helps ya'

Answer 6

Warm soapy water, making sure you clean them before they dry. I let mine sit in a jar with a little fabric conditioner for about 5 to 10 mins and then dry off with kitchen roll. Keep them upright in a glass or jar until completely dry. They'll last for years, properly looked after.

Answer 7

Paint stripper, the same stuff you use to take the finish off furniture. Try home hardware or any store you buy paint from.

Answer 8

water and soap and dry not to let the paint dry on the brushes as its harder to clean

Answer 9

soap and water, or washing powder and water - if the paint has already dried on though, then you'd be too late!

Answer 10

Sugar soap and warm water!