The Holy Grail of Paint Brush Cleaning!!!

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[Bill.Pearson]

I learned long ago to wet the brush with water before painting. Dry it with a cloth. The bristles in the center of the brush and up near the ferrule stay wet and the paint that gets up there doesn't dry as easily. Easier cleanup.

[tomjeffries]

When I'm done I wrap the brush in newspaper as you do with the plastic wrap. It will shape the bristles while allowing them to dry. My father taught me that. I'm 70.

[baz]

I prefer the ol’ Bob Ross ‘ beat the devil out of it ‘ technique

[isitoppositeday]

Full time painter here and this is good advice. One thing to note is that if you wrap oil, alcohol, or basically any solvent based paints in plastic they will only last a day or two, it's as if the paint off gases through the plastic. I would apply this to some water based primers too. But if you wrap most water based brushes/rollers in poly they can last days, weeks, and even months. Typically we use masking poly to wrap brushes/rollers as it's thicker but the kitchen wrap is a good tip.
Noticed someone saying it's good to dampen your brush before painting and I would generally agree. Also if in hot, dry or windy conditions keep a spray bottle with water, or solvent on hand and moisten/move your paint as needed. If your put it down for more than a few minutes cover it with something. A little effort into taking care of your paint will go a very long way, as will straining it.

[HammerOn-bugx]

An additional step for the storage between coats. After wrapping it in plastic wrap, put it in the freezer. That stops the curing process.

And don't worry, as soon as one puts the brush back into paint, it warms up and is ready to use.

I do like the vinegar trick! Thank you.

[USAFCRAIG]

I like to use a bit of dish soap for the initial cleaning of a wet brush. It helps to carry away the remaining paint in the brush.

[johncuellar]

Learned what a brush comb was a few year ago and have changed many lives sharing my learning. The brush hangy-stick thing is great. Thank you for all you do.

[denisia]

Thanks just found this n will use the corner of the sink trick soon. My mom was a house painter for 30yrs n we always had paint brushes n rollers in our freezer wrapped in cellophane.

[erepsekahs]

I have been painting, both for myself and professionally for 52 years, (yes I am old). I have some lovely, expensive natural bristle brushes I bought at least 30 years ago, and this man's advice mimics exactly what I would tell you. Follow it. Don't use any short-cuts, and your $50.00 brushes, (they will be $100.00) will still be good in 30 years from now....your kids will love them. I promise you.

[LUckybones]

Good tips. I’m a professional painter myself, and I approve. My brushes last for years.

[BYOTools]

That vinegar tip was a great one. Didn’t know that and will definitely be using it in the future thanks and keep up the great work.

[mccallfineart]

Love your concern about cleaning brushes. Something I do is after thoroughly rinsing out the brush, I raise my foot and flick the brush against the front of the shoe to get out the water. Turn the brush and flick it again. The residual paint lands on the sole or the ground. Then, I spray down the brush with WD-40 and work it in. One old painter I knew years ago said he used maple syrup for latex brushes??? Never tried that one. Store it vertically in its original cover from the store and when you need it again, I rinse out the WD-40 with min spirts or alcohol. I have some brushes I have used this way for now 45 years and they just get better and better. Another thing is to never mix oil base brushes with latex brushes. Now for the final bonus question: how do you get rid of "split-tail" brushes"?

[diannecarter]

I’ve been washing my paint brushes for years, and I learned new things from this video. Solid information. Thank you!

[mooker]

Great stuff, I especially liked the vinegar tip. One trick I learned from a woodworking instructor is to not load a dry brush with paint, get it wet first. By doing so you get water up into the feral and the paint won't wick up so much. I hope that makes sense. You can also do the same thing with oil based paints and varnishes, but I can't remember what product you use. Mineral oil maybe ... I should look that one up. Anyways, great tips! Ciao.

[Mrs.TJTaylor]

For continued use, I wrap my wet paint brushes as described, but then I put them in the frig overnight.

[RPmusic]

Again THANK YOU SO MUCH!!, i keep saying it, youre teaching a new generation some really important things, thank you for that man! My number one channel bro

[hangdogit]

For water-based paint, cleaning a brush is easy. I just flush the brush as soon as I’m done painting — first “with the grain, ” leaving the bristles straight and intact.

Much paint flushes away. But some remains in the bristles, toward the handle and on the inside area. For that I aim the hose right at the bottom of the bristles, pointed upward toward the handle.

This removes the inside paint but leaves the bristles bedraggled. Rather than let it dry like that, I again straighten the bristles by flushing them downward from handle, leaving brush clean and straight but wet.

I then shake the brush rapidly, thrusting water off it, downward.

Easier to show on Utoob than explain.

[abeaulieu]

Instead of Saran Wrap I use Glad's Press N Seal. I find it works really well to seal the air out and no need for a rubber band. Works for both brushes and rollers.

[janetthornton]

I use Amorall wheel and tire cleaner to clean brushes I used for latex paint. Soak old brushes in it too to rejuvenate bristles.

[dennisgardner]

Thanks for the saran wrap tip, very useful. Concerning cleaning, once my brush is clean I vigorously shake it out as you do but then slap the bristles on an edge of the wash tub like Bob Ross always did on the edge of his easel when he dried his brushes. This gets most of the moisture out of the brush. Then I put the moist brush back in its wrapper from the store. The wrapper keeps the bristles in form and nice and tight which is especially good for angles brushes. The bristles are slightly stuck together for the next use but a few slaps on an edge softens them up for use.