How to Clean a Paintbrush

Cleaning your paintbrushes properly after using them will keep the bristles in great shape for your next project. There are a lot of ways to clean them, although some kinds of paint will require different approaches than others. Clean your brushes thoroughly after each painting session to keep them usable for a long time.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using Solvent

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Try to remove as much paint as possible. Getting rid of the excess paint makes the job of cleaning your brush a lot easier! You can do this by wiping your brush on the edge of the paint can as you are finishing up, and then wipe the brush on a rag or paper towel to remove even more paint.^{[1]XResearch source}
2
Rinse the brush in the appropriate solvent. It's okay to use the dirty solvent from your painting session. Pour it into a bowl or bucket and gently run your brush back and forth through it. Wipe the brush along the sides and bottom of the container. If you have a paint comb, then you can also use this while the brush is in the solvent.^{[2]XResearch source} Here are your solvent choices:^{[3]XResearch source}
- Use mineral spirits for most oil-based paints.
- Use water for water-based paints like acrylic, watercolor, latex, and also most white glues and wood glues. If the paint is caked on, it may help to break it up with a wire brush, but keep in mind that this can damage your brush.^{[4]XExpert SourcePatrick Coye
  Painting SpecialistExpert Interview. 22 July 2020.}
- Use denatured alcohol for shellac.
- Check the product's label if you're not sure what kind of paint you have. It will contain instructions for what solvent to use.
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3
Use multiple cans of solvent to clean stubborn oil paint. First, dip the brush into a can of paint thinner or the solvent of your choice. Swirl the brush around and try to get as much of the paint off the brush as possible. Then, repeat this in a second can of solvent, then a third. By the time you're finished swirling the brush in the third can of paint thinner, most of the paint should be gone.^{[5]XExpert SourcePatrick Coye
Painting SpecialistExpert Interview. 22 July 2020.}
- Try spinning the brush if there's any paint remaining.^{[6]XExpert SourcePatrick Coye
  Painting SpecialistExpert Interview. 22 July 2020.}
After you finish cleaning the brush in the solvent, remove the brush, rinse it under running water, and then add some dish soap to the bristles. Work the soap into the bristles and then rinse the brush until you have removed all of the soap. After you finish, wipe the brush with a clean rag or paper towel again.
Rinse the bristles one more time. You may want to rub the bristles of the brush between your fingers as you rinse, but be very gentle with sable brushes. You can use a paint comb to do this.
When the brush is clean, get rid of excess water. Reshape the bristles to the correct form, then store the brush upright in a container so that the bristles are not deformed when dry.
7
Store the brush in its original container. Once you've gotten as much water out of the brush as possible, place the brush back in its case. This will help preserve the shape of your brush, since the bristles will be neat and contained.^{[7]XExpert SourcePatrick Coye
Painting SpecialistExpert Interview. 22 July 2020.}
- Be sure to dry the brush as much as possible before you store it, since storing a wet brush could lead to mold and mildew growth.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using Fabric Softener

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Run the brush over a paper towel or a cloth to get rid of as much paint as possible.
Use warm (but not hot) water. This solution will help loosen the paint from the brush, making it slip right off.^{[8]XResearch source}
Swish it around for several seconds, until you see the paint coming off. Swish for a few more seconds.
Squeeze excess water from the bristles using a paper towel or rag. You can also twist the brush back and forth in your hands or tap it against your shoe.^{[9]XResearch source}
Let the bristles dry completely before storing your brush.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using Vinegar (for Paint-Hardened Brushes)

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After an hour, check to see if you can bend the bristles back. If you can't, put it back in and keep soaking it for another hour.^{[10]XResearch source}
If there's still hardened paint in your bristles after 2 hours of soaking, try boiling. You want the vinegar to completely cover the brush's bristles.
Let it simmer for a few minutes with the paintbrush in it.^{[11]XResearch source}
It will be very hot to the touch at first, so be careful. You may want to use a pot holder or tongs to remove it.
You can use your finger or an old comb. Place it at the base of the bristles and pull through to comb out the loosened paint. Keep doing this until the hard globs of paint have all come loose.
When the paint is loose, rinse the brush in running water to wash it all away.
You may need to do another vinegar boiling session and comb the brush again to get it back into shape.^{[12]XResearch source}
Place it upright in a jar and reshape the bristles. After it's completely dry, store it away.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Using Liquid Dish Soap (for Oils)

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Do this into a paper towel or rag.
About a quarter-sized amount of dish soap will work. Turn on your faucet and wait for the water to warm up.
While warm water is running, into your palm, swoosh the brush into the soap. Rinse and repeat until the soap no longer shows any signs of paint. This will require about three goes at least.^{[13]XResearch source}
4
Reshape your brush. Let it dry thoroughly before using again with oil paint. Lay it down so no water is trapped in the brush head causing loosening of bristles and/or chipped, warped handles.
- This is optional, but you can also clean with mineral spirits every few months, for a deeper clean.

Expert Q&A

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Question
How do you clean dried paint brushes without vinegar?
Patrick Coye
Painting Specialist
Patrick Coye is the owner and operator of Patrick’s Painting & Home Improvement in Alexandria, Virginia. With over 15 years of experience in residential construction, Patrick specializes in painting, wallpaper removal/installation, drywall, staining decks and fences, and kitchen cabinetry painting. To date, Patrick and his team have painted over 2,000 houses and stained over 800 decks. Patrick's Company won a "Top Job" award from the American Painting contractor magazine in 2020.
Patrick Coye
Painting Specialist
Expert Answer
Use water for water-based paints like acrylic, watercolor, latex, and also most white glues and wood glues. If the paint is caked on, it may help to break it up with a wire brush, but keep in mind that this can damage your brush.
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Question
How do I clean a brush used to apply paint stripper?
Mark Spelman
Construction Professional
Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.
Mark Spelman
Construction Professional
Expert Answer
You are going to need mineral spirits or paint thinner to clean a brush that was used to apply paint stripper.
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Question
What's the best way to clean oil paint out of a paintbrush?
Patrick Coye
Painting Specialist
Patrick Coye is the owner and operator of Patrick’s Painting & Home Improvement in Alexandria, Virginia. With over 15 years of experience in residential construction, Patrick specializes in painting, wallpaper removal/installation, drywall, staining decks and fences, and kitchen cabinetry painting. To date, Patrick and his team have painted over 2,000 houses and stained over 800 decks. Patrick's Company won a "Top Job" award from the American Painting contractor magazine in 2020.
Patrick Coye
Painting Specialist
Expert Answer
Set up 3 cans of paint thinner next to each other. Swirl the brush in the first can and try to remove as much of the paint as you possibly can. Then, repeat the process in the second and third cans. Spin the brush to get any residual paint that might be left, then rinse the brush with water.
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Tips

If you paint with artists' oils every day, you may find daily cleaning too time-consuming. Try wrapping your brushes in plastic wrap or storing them in a resealable plastic bag. Leaving your brushes in solvent continuously will greatly shorten their useful life.
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Once the bristles dry, place them back into their original case (if you still have it) or wrap a rubber band around them. This trains the bristles, making the brush easier to control on the next job.
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Do not leave a brush on its bristles or sitting in water. Instead, wrap a paper towel around the bristles, fold the end under, and lay it flat to dry.
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Warnings

Don't forget to wash your hands after cleaning your brushes.
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Even if you use turpentine for your oil-painting mediums, you should use mineral spirits for the solvent. It's much less toxic.
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