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Dried Paint On Your Brush? Try These Easy Cleaning Tips


The result after cleaning dried up water based paint from my paint brush

Have you heard the tip about putting your paint brush into a plastic re-closable bag so you don't have to clean it between uses?

I always do this when working on a project that takes several days and I'm using the same paint color. Well that works great as long as your bag doesn't have a hole in it! Yes I did that.



What To Do About Dried Paint On Your Paint Brushes

We've all done it! Found our favorite paint brush stiff with dried paint... My brush had dried paint covering the entire bottom half of the bristles. Well I wasn't about to give it up. Good quality brushes are not cheap and I wasn't willing to just throw my brush away.


Here's What I Used

  • Plastic container filled with water

  • Fabric softener

  • Plastic comb

  • Mild soap


Step-by-Step Cleaning Process

  1. This process works for cleaning water based paint.

  2. Put about 1/4 cup of fabric softener in a container with about 2 cups of room temperature.water. Do not use hot water. It can soften the glue that holds the bristles in place.

  3. Soak the brush in the water and fabric softener. I left it soaking overnight.

  4. If the paint is not coming off you can comb through the brush starting at the tips of the bristles and working your way up just like combing snarls out of your hair.

  5. Rinse thoroughly then clean with a mild soap.

  6. Lay your brush flat to dry. If you dry it with the bristles up it can also soften the glue that holds the bristles in place.

Another method is to use Rubbing Alcohol

  1. Place enough rubbing alcohol in a plastic cup to cover the bristles.

  2. Let it soak for 1 1/2 to 3 hours then rinse it off.

  3. Because rubbing alcohol tends to dry out paint brushes, you’ll want to soak it for an hour in fabric softener after rinsing off the alcohol.

  4. Then clean it with a mild soap


Understanding the Importance of Brush Care

A tough and sturdy brush is one of the best investments in your painting project that you can make. Good quality brushes can be usee – and re-used! – for many years when properly cared for. MudPaint natural bristle brushes are made with ox ear hair. Using fabric softener on a regular basis can help keep them soft.







 
 
 

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