Tips for cleaning brushes (eco-friendly)

Waterbased Paint brushes

1. Remove as much paint as you can from the brush. By removing the excess paint, you are making it easier for the cleaning solution and water to deep clean the brush.
2. Wrapping and storing- if you are finished for the day but are continuing to paint again tomorrow. Wrap your brushes in cling film or a plastic bag, removing as much air as possible. This will keep your brushes wet for a couple of days. Allowing you to pick up where you left off.
3. Combing – combing the bristles allows you to remove excess unwanted paint. Using hot water can help with allowing the comb to glide easily through.
4. Water – using water with a splash of washing up liquid can remove latex paint extremely easily. Filling a bucket with warm water and some washing up liquid is more eco-friendly than running water. This allows the barrier from the paint and the brushes to break down. This won’t work on oil-based paints.

Oil based Paint brushes

1. Set two containers on the protected surface, and fill each half full with paint thinner, and fill a third with warm soapy water.
2. Use the wire paint comb to scrape excess paint off the brush and into the paint can.
3. Put all your brushes into the first container and soak for a few minutes. Swirl them around to work out the paint.
4. Remove the brushes and place them on the paper towel or rag. Use gentle pressure to press the bristles into the paper towels, taking off any white spirits.
5. The repeat the steps again, using the second container with white spirits, to rinse the brush again, the brush should start to become cleaner.
6. With each successive container more paint should come off the brushes.
   Repeat and Remove the brushes and place them on the paper towel or rag. Use gentle pressure to press the bristles into the paper towels, taking off any white spirits.
7. Put the brushes into the third container with warm soapy water and soak for three minutes. Swish them around once or twice. The liquid should be clean.
8. Dab dry the brush in a rag or paper towel, and run a combing tool through the bristles and then hang the brush upright to dry, ready to be used again.
9. If you bristles dry out use a small amount of linseed oil in your palm of your hand to rub into the bristles to bring them back to life, repeat if necessary.