Save
The
Paintbrush
Save
The
Paintbrush
Learning to maintain your paintbrushes is an invaluable skill for any painter. This easy-to-practice cleaning procedure will extend the life of your paint brushes, reducing waste and increasing the efficiency of your production budget.
What You'll Need
Water
Used to rinse and flush out paint from the bristles.
Dish Soap
Helps break down and remove leftover paint during rinsing.
Brush Stripper
Loosens and removes dried or stubborn paint from the brush.
Steel Comb
Detangles bristles and pulls out dried paint or debris.
Murphys Oil Soap
Conditions and softens the bristles to keep them in good shape.
Pre-Rinse
Goal: Remove the majority of the wet paint and debris.
While running the bristles under water, gently massage the bristles of the brush against your palm in a circular motion. The bristles should bend and arch slightly. Do this until the majority of the paint is washed out of the bristles.
Cleaning With Dish Soap
Goal: Clean out any remaining paint and debris.
Apply a dime-sized amount of dish soap to your working palm. Massage the bristles against your palm to distribute the soap throughout the bristles. Once you have lathered the soap throughout the brush, comb through the bristles with a metal comb to dislodge any dried paint or debris. After combing, place the brush bristles against a firm surface (such as the bottom or edge of the sink) and use the wire brush to brush out any dried paint that may be coating the bristles or Ferrule. Make sure to check and brush all four sides of the paintbrush. Once you have thoroughly cleaned the bristles, rinse the soap out under running water. Repeat this process as necessary to remove the paint from the bristles.
Conditioning With Murphy's Oil Soap
Goal: Clean out any remaining paint and debris while moisturizing the bristles.
Apply a dime-sized amount of Murphy's Oil Soap to your working palm. Massage the bristles against your palm to distribute the soap throughout the bristles.
Final Rinse
Goal: Rinse out any remaining paint and debris. The water should run clear when the paintbrush is put under the faucet at the end of the cleaning process.
Gently massage the bristles against your palm while holding it under the running faucet. Continue massaging the bristles until all paint has been dislodged and the water runs clear.
Drying and Storage
Goal: Ensure bristles dry properly for future use.
Gently squeeze the water from the paint brush, working from the ferrule down to the end of the brush. You can also use a whipping motion to throw out any remaining water. The bristles will be disturbed by this process, so after the majority of the water is removed, use your fingers to smooth out the bristles back into an orderly form. Ensure proper drying by hang-drying paint brushes or placing them at an angle on an elevated surface so that the ferrule is higher than the bristles. This will encourage the water to flow away from the ferrule.
Not a fan of the written word?
Watch our cleaning tutorial instead!
Learn how to properly clean, condition, and store your paintbrush so it lasts longer, performs better, and stays out of the trash. Quick, easy, and essential for every artist.
Tip #1
When painting, avoid loading the bristles with paint beyond halfway up the bristles. Once you have finished using the brush, If paint does manage to get up into the top area of the bristles (ferrule), follow the cleaning instructions laid out in our guide to properly clean the brush.
Tip #2
If you are using a heavy texture with inclusions such as sawdust or Styrofoam pieces, use the metal comb to scrape the debris into a trashcan before you begin the washing process.
Tip #3
If you’re not done using a paintbrush but need to wait for the paint to dry, wrap your brush in a damp rag or plastic (such as grocery bags, produce bags, or plastic packaging). This will prevent the paint from drying and clogging up the bristles.
Tip #4
Avoid leaving your paintbrush in water for more than 12 hours. Prolonged exposure to water can break down the adhesive holding in the bristles within the ferrule and lead to rusting.
Tip #5
Don't waste your good brushes on projects that need heavy textures, stippling, or harsh chemicals. Use your chip brushes or older brushes instead!
How to Clean a Paintbrush
Download our printable 11x17 Clean Your Paintbrush poster and K–12 activity worksheets designed to help students learn the parts of a paintbrush and how to care for their tools.
Perfect for classrooms, art studios, and backstage spaces.
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Clean Your Paintbrush
A bold, easy-to-follow visual guide to proper paintbrush care. This 11x17 poster walks students and artists through each step of cleaning, conditioning, and storing a brush to extend its life and reduce waste. Perfect for hanging in classrooms, studios, and backstage workspaces.
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