How To Clean A Paintbrush

Proper cleaning and storage of a paintbrush is vital for increasing its shelf life. The brush won’t produce satisfactory results, if it is not cleaned thoroughly after every use. There are different methods of cleaning a paintbrush, one of the simplest being the use of lukewarm water and mild soap. This is the easiest method to wipe off the excess paint sticking to the brush. While cleaning the brush, make sure to work on the bristles in a gentle manner, because they tend to come off the brush, if much force is applied. Go through the following lines and know more tips on how to clean a paintbrush.

Cleaning Your Paintbrushes

Squeeze the bristles of the brush outwards gently, using fingers, to remove the excess paint sticking to them.
If you have been using oil-based paint, rinse the brush with a rag dipped in turpentine. Rinse the brush with lukewarm water, in case you have been using water-based paint. If there is still some paint left, wipe the brush with a clean, dry cloth.
Wash the paintbrush, using a cleaner. A mild soap is suitable for cleaning it. Keep a piece of soap in one hand and the paintbrush in the other. Apply soap into the bristles, by brushing the paintbrush on it.
Rinse the brush well. Repeat the above step, until you find that no trace of paint is coming out of the brush.
In order to remove the traces of soap, rinse the paintbrush in lukewarm water. Blot out the excess water and dry the brush at room temperature.
Shape the brush head into its original shape using your fingers. Let it dry and then store it.

Maintenance Tips

Do not use detergent to clean a paintbrush, as the harsh chemical will deteriorate the quality of the bristles.
Using the right brush is extremely important. Always keep separate brushes for using oil-based and water-based paints. Also, use bigger brushes to paint broader and bigger areas and smaller brushes for the small-sized ones.
Use lukewarm water to clean the paintbrush.
You can also reshape the synthetic paintbrushes, by soaking them in hot water. While doing this, make sure that the water is not boiling.
Make sure that you do not soak the paintbrush in a thinner or solvent. The follicles of the brush absorb the liquid and swell, when it soaks. This will make the follicles lose their resilience after the brush dries.
Do not make the brush stand up or be stored while standing on its tip. This will result in the malformation of the tip and it will cease to give even finishes.
Make sure that you do not dip your brushes to remove their ferrules. This will end up in dried paint or stain, which cannot be easily removed from the top of the bristles.
Take care not to overload the brush, as it will allow excess amount of finish to enter the ferrule, in turn making the paint brush difficult to clean.

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