How to clean paintbrushes?

Question

Do you have any tips for cleaning paintbrushes? I am doing home decorating and using oil or spirit based paint and using too much time, and too much white spirit, cleaning brushes. I have tried using cheap brushes and throwing them after use, but they just don't do the job properly. I am currently using so much spirit that it would be just as easy to throw the good brushes away and keep replacing them. What can I do? Thanks.

Answer 1

forget what you have read here this is how to clean brushes, first buy quality brushes they apply the paint better and last longer (Ive had brushes last years) Hamilton or Wooster brushes are the best. cleaning ,soak your brush in a jar of white spirit, turps is crap, after 5 Min's rinse under the tap put washing up liquid on the bristles and work to a lather then using a wire brush start at the base of the bristles and push the wire brush forwards as if you were combing your hair do this under a hot tap,repeat the process again and your brush will be as good as new

Answer 2

Save an old coffee can and fill it with about 3 inches of paint cleaner. Use a piece of wire or an old wire coat hanger and make a 'bar' that will lay over the top of the can. Using other small pieces of flexible wire tie your paintbrushes to the wire 'bar' so that the bristles are submerged in the cleaner but not touching the bottom of the coffee can. Leave the brushes soak like this overnight. The cleaner will loosen the paint and the paint will settle at the bottom of the can. Next day use another bowl or can filled with a few inches of cleaner and rinse the brushes out. If you let the paint cleaner sit overnight the sediment will settle to the bottom and you can pour off the clean paint thinner to use it again. I am guessing that you are going through so much because you are working over a sink or drain and just pouring it on the brushes instead of working in a can or container and reusing the thinner.

Answer 3

u only need 2 get a old container big enough 2 put the bristles of the brushes in and a little bit of white spirit and then some hot water u should nt need that much spirit hope this helps

Answer 4

grab yourself a jar of roughly 500 ml volume; add to this a mixture of water and turpentine, pop the brush into this solution and either clean their and then or leave to soak for while. Using this method means you’ll use less white spirit too.

A tip for reducing the amount of paint you get on the handle is to cover it in Vaseline or just put tape around it and remove the tape once you have finished painting.

Answer 5

If you soak them first in turps- then wash them under the tap using fairy liquid or and other washing up liquid, this will clean your brushes, Just add the liquid to the brushes and rub in with your fingers using hot water then rinse well.Saves a lot of money and time

Answer 6

if you are using them regular,like 2---3 times a week just stand them in a tin or jar etc just so the bristles are covered with clean water,and they will keep ok. just flick the water off to use again. good luck.

Answer 7

if you are using them every day dont bother with cleaning.load them up with paint and wrap them in clingfilm.they will be ready to use the next day.this works for both oil and water based paints. after you are finished throw them away

Answer 8

In the DIY store you can buy a good brush cleaner which will clean them

Answer 9

try diluting the spirit with hot water, thats what i do. i mean like 3 parts water to every part spirit, and only put enough to cover the bristles.

Answer 10

I hope you're not putting the white spirit down the drain?