How to Clean Oil Paint Off Paintbrushes

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Keep your paintbrushes looking like new with these cleaning tips.

Step 1: Prep with paint thinner
The first step to cleaning oil paint off of a brush begins before you’ve even started painting. Dip your dry brush into paint thinner, carefully shake off the excess, and then proceed to paint.

Step 2: Don’t let it dry out
Whenever you take a break, wrap the paintbrush in a clean rag that’s been soaked in paint thinner. Keep the wrapped brush out of the sun.

Step 3: Swish with paint thinner
When you’re ready to quit for the day, fill a container to the halfway point with paint thinner, and swish the brush around for about 30 seconds.

Tip
Don’t soak the brush; the solvent will weaken the bristles.

Step 4: Comb
Run a paintbrush comb through the brush.

Step 5: Swish again
Fill another container with fresh paint thinner, and swish the brush around once again.

Step 6: Rinse
Fill a third container with warm water, add a few squirts of dishwashing liquid, and gently move the brush back and forth in the soapy water, taking care not to hit the bottom.

Step 7: Drip dry
Hang the brush by its handle to dry.

Tip
If you failed to follow these steps and you have a brush with hardened bristles, revive it by soaking it in hot vinegar.

Step 8: Dispose of paint thinner
Dispose of the used paint thinner properly.

Did You Know?
Sixty-three percent of Americans have more than two cans of paint stored in a basement or garage for touch-ups.

[wirag]

You forgot to beat the devil out of it.

[worcesterexchange]

Pour the used thinner into a jar.
It should clear after a couple of days and you can pour off the clear thinner and use it agin.
This way you can save at least half or more of the amount you use.

[linkinparkify]

Oil painted for the first time two days ago... you should've seen the look on my face when the stuff didn't rinse out like water color. .-.

[samankhanArt]

Who is gonna tell him i don’t have that much paint thinner

[prodigalretrod]

1:30 Step 8: I'll just put that in this box here. Out of sight, out of mind. Seriously though, that's a crazy amount of paint thinner / turpentine / kerosene to use every single time you paint, you can get a lot more mileage out of it than just one use.

[cmz]

I use mineral spirits then soap and water

[sbb]

What do you do with the two jars full of dirty paint thinner?

[patbassman]

How do you clean a brush that wont clean with thinners or dish soap ?

[TheDudeway]

Pfff...buy new brushes seems a good idea for me. Peace

[manusharma]

Can use paint thinner for cleaning brushes after use texture white on canvus ???

[T-Huss]

Kerosene is a lot cheaper than paint thinner and works just as well.

[fallacyification]

all that just to clean a freaking brush?! not worth it..

[T-Huss]

Don't EVER put an oil brush in Water EVER!!! The bristles shoot out and ruin the brush

[duanemadeit]

That has got to be the weakest “swish” I’ve ever seen in my life. Cut down the thinner by over half and get a better container. Get that brush in there like you mean it. Shake it off in a trash can. Put some cojones into it 😂
Also, you’re wasting your money!! You can save almost all that thinner to re-use!

[percyprescott]

god dude it like 6 bucks for 75 ml that a lot

[alanrobertson]

If cleaning a 1 quid brush with 5 quids worth of thinner, just buy another brush

[kekw]

Wouldn't mind spending my money on paint thinner, only costs $5 here

[linkinparkify]

@Crisologowilx13 Ack. That took like, 20 minutes. >.<

[Aliillustrations]

artists dont brush their own hair little o a paint brush -.-

[methheadredneck]

To Save You Some Time Basically Paint Thinner Is Your Best Friend