Oola

Life to Your Tastes

  • Life in Flavor
  • Everyday Life
  • Life at Home
  • Social Life
  • Family Life
  • Life in Flavor
  • Everyday Life
  • Life at Home
  • Social Life
  • Family Life
  • Everyday Life

    How To Clean A Dirty Paintbrush and Keep It Clean

    by Tamara Gane
    August 7, 2018

    Pixabay / evondue

    Whether you’re painting your house, a piece of furniture or a masterpiece you plan to hang on your wall, chances are you’re using a paintbrush. And all paintbrushes have one thing in common. –they get dirty and need to be cleaned.

    If you clean your paintbrush after every use it will last you for project after project. If you don’t, you’ll have to keep throwing them in the trash and driving back to the hardware store to restock your supply. Luckily, cleaning your paintbrush is easy and you don’t have to buy an expensive cleaner from the store.

    This article will teach you how to clean your paintbrushes quickly and easily so you can use them time after time to create beautiful projects.

    Multiple buckets of colorful paint.

    Pixabay / Free-Photos

    How To Clean Water Or Latex-Based Paint

    A paintbrush sits atop a bucket of white paint.

    Photo provided by Pexels

    1. Remove excess paint

    Don’t work any harder than necessary. It will be far easier to clean your paintbrush if you remove the excess paint first by simply running your paintbrush against the rim of the interior of the can. If your paintbrush is still saturated, blot it against cardboard or newspaper to remove as much as possible.

    #

    2. Mix DIY paint cleaner in a 5-gallon bucket

    Using these simple ingredients, create your own paint cleaner!

    • 1/2 cup fabric softener
    • 1 gallon Water

    This recipe can be altered according to your needs. Follow the formula to make more (or less) water-based paintbrush cleaner as needed.

    (tip: Many sites online suggest making a DIY paint cleaner using dish soap or laundry soap. Steer clear of this method. Detergents can actually coat your bristles and gum them up over time.)

    3. Dip paintbrushes into the solution. Swish around till all traces of paint have been removed.

    4. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.

    5. Shake off excess water.

    6. Blot dry when finished.

    How To Clean Oil-Based Paints And Varnishes

    A paint brush applies varnish to a fence.

    Photo provided by Pexels

    1. Remove excess paint.

    2. Read the label of your paint/varnish can.

    (Verify which type of solvent the manufacturer recommends.)

    3. Follow the same steps as above.

    (Simply substitute the recommended solvent for the fabric softener.)

    How To Clean A Dry Paint Brush

    Paintbrushes caked with dried paint.

    Unsplash / RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist

    Life happens. Once in a while circumstances occur where you’re unable to attend to the task of cleaning your paintbrush right away. If this is the case the paint will harden onto the bristles but in some cases, it may still be possible to salvage the paintbrush. Believe it or not, the most effective way to remove dried, hardened paint from a paintbrush is by enlisting the aid of your stove top.

    1. Fill an old pot with white distilled vinegar

    (There’s no exact amount to suggest here, it depends on the shape of the pot and the size of your paintbrush. Just be sure to use enough vinegar to submerge your paintbrush into the liquid.)

    2. Bring your pot to a boil.

    3. Turn down the heat to low. Let simmer for five minutes.

    4. Transfer the pot from the burner to allow it to cool down long enough to render the paintbrushes safe to touch.

    5. Rinse the paintbrush in lukewarm water.

    6. Repeat if necessary.

    Small paintbrushes wet with red and yellow paint.

    Unsplash / Anna Kolosyuk

    Cleaning your paintbrushes is easy once you know how and reusing them will save you time, money, and energy down the road. So, go on, paint that room! Create that masterpiece! Your trusty paintbrushes will be there by your side. Ready to help you out like a faithful, old friend, time and time again.

    Share This Article

      Primary Sidebar

      Most Popular

      Unhappy black couple sitting on bed after having argument
      Social LifeEye-Opening Moments Folks Realized Their Parents Were Horrible People
      Amelia Vazquez
      Social LifePeople Who Are Questioning If They Are Overreacting In These Messed-Up Situations
      Amelia Vazquez
      Social LifeMost Ludicrous Reasons Employees Were Fired
      Amelia Vazquez
      Our mission is to help you live your life to your tastes by empowering you with the most useful information, inspiration, guides, and reviews to help life taste sweeter.
      • Life in Flavor
      • Everyday Life
      • Life at Home
      • Social Life
      • Family Life
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of Use
      Do Not Sell My Personal Information Change Consent