You need to clean brushes when you're done using them.A small amount of soap and water is all it takes to clean most brushes.Other paintbrushes, like the ones you use to paint a piece of furniture, may need a paint thinner.
Step 1: If you can, clean your brushes once a week.
There are a lot of germs.They have a lot of skin and oil on their face.Your best bet is to clean them weekly, which will help keep the germs off your face and increase the life of your brushes.Make sure you use the brushes near your eyes at least every other week if you can't clean them that often.You don't want germs near your eyes.
Step 2: Run the bristles under water.
Turn the tap on and let the water run over the brush heads.You may weaken the glue if you go above the metal clasp that holds the head on.
Step 3: You can put a drop of soap on your hand.
You can use any cleanser for makeup brushes.The dishwashing soap helps to degrease the brush.You don't need much in the palm of your hand.To keep the bristles from drying out, mix olive oil into the soap.
Step 4: Rub the brush against the soap.
Get the brush soaped up by running the bristles across your hand.You can cause the brush to lose its shape if you Rub it around in the soap, but don't be too rough.Set it aside and brush one at a time.If you have a lot of brushes, you might need to add more soap.If soap and water is rubbed into the base of the brush head, it will weaken the glue holding it in place.
Step 5: Put the brush under the water again.
Remove the soap from the bristles.Let the water run over the brush heads for at least 30 seconds to make sure all the soap is out.
Step 6: The water should be strained out using your fingers.
The bristles meet the brush handle at the tip of the bristles.You may pull bristles out of the process if you pull too hard.You can use a clean towel to get rid of the water.Use your fingers to wrap the towel around the brush head and squeeze out the water.As you move on to the next one, put the clean brush on the towel.
Step 7: Put the bristles back in place.
If your brush heads look a little different after being washed, use your fingers to shape them.They will stay that way if you let them dry.
Step 8: The brushes should be placed on a clean towel.
The bristles can dry in this position.They should be left there overnight so they dry out completely.Don't let the brush heads dry on a towel, as that can allow too much water to stay in the bristles, and cause mildew.Water can get into the base that holds the bristles and break the glue if the brushes are hung vertically.
Step 9: As much paint as you can squeeze out.
Run the paint in your brush across the object you're painting.As you come out of the can, push the brush into the inside wall of it.The rest of the paint will be squeezed out by that.
Step 10: You should choose the best solvent for the job.
You use solvent to remove paint.The back of the can tells you what to do.You'll need to use a different solvent for oil-based paints.You'll end up with a mess if you pick the wrong solvent.You can use soap and water for latex paints.Mineral spirits or turpentine can be found at a home improvement store.Water and fabric softener is a homemade paint solvent that you can try on a variety of paints.Add 1 gallon of water to the mix.You can buy a solvent that revives the brush after soaking it for 24 hours.
Step 11: The paintbrush should be moved around in the solvent.
The solvent can be swirled around with the brush.The brush should be pressed against the side of the container.If you have to, rub the bristles with your fingers.The paintbrush should be soaked in the solvent for 10 minutes.Remove the solvent from the container.Use a hair comb to break apart paint.Before you use your comb again, make sure to clean it.
Step 12: You can wash the solvent off with soap and water.
If you use a solvent like paint thinner or mineral spirits, put the brush in a bucket of water with a capful of detergent.After about a minute, rinse the brush with cool water.You should wear a glove if you need to clean off the bristles.If you're using a natural-bristle brush, make sure you don't leave it in the water for more than a minute as it can absorb water and destroy the bristles.Don't rinse paint thinner in the drain.Let it solidify in the jar and then throw it away in a hazardous waste station.
Step 13: Wrap the paintbrush in water to help it retain its shape.
If you have one, shake it off with a paintbrush spinner.Shake out as much water as you can and squeeze it with an old towel if you don't.Wrap the paintbrush in a piece of thick paper and secure it with twine or yarn.The brush can be wrapped to retain its shape.
Step 14: The extra paint should be squeezed out with newspapers.
Wrap a small piece of newspaper around the bristles of the brush and press the paper together against them.As you press the paper together, pull the bristles through the newspaper.You can use a clean area to move the paintbrush through the newspaper.
Step 15: The brush should be put in a container of paint thinner.
To get the thinner in and the paint out, Rub the brush around the container.Move the paintbrush through the newspaper to remove more paint.Most arts and craft stores have paint thinner.You might need to do this a few times.If you are using acrylic paint, skip this step.
Step 16: Rub the brush with soap.
You can use a lot of different things.Rub the brush into your hand with soap and work it into the bristles.The soap can be rubbed into the bristles with your fingertips.If the soap is stained with paint, you may need to rinse it off.Keep working if you add fresh soap.If the paint is stuck in the bristles, try using an ammonia-based glass cleaner.It is possible to bring your brush back to its original condition with some brush soaps.
Step 17: Put the soap in the water.
Use your fingers to rinse out the bristles after you run the brush under the tap.Wait until the water runs clear of soap and paint.Make sure the bristles are clean all the way up to the metal.
Step 18: The paintbrush should be dry between the newspapers.
First, get rid of any excess water.Pull the bristles through the newspaper.If you want to finish drying the brush, do this a few times on different areas of the newspaper.Store brushes with the bristles in the air.Store brushes in a horizontal position.