how to clean paint brushes for reuse, Digi Mart USA News: Painters often finish a project with brushes still coated in paint, but professionals say that cleaning them is worth the effort because well-kept brushes can last for years. For most interior paints, warm water, dish soap and a wire brush are usually enough to restore a brush.
For water-based paints such as latex and acrylic, the advice is to rinse out as much excess paint as possible under warm water, letting it run down the sink. If paint remains, scrub with a little dish soap, work a wire brush into the bristles to remove paint caught between them, and rinse until the brush is clean.
Professionals also recommend spinning the brush between both hands to remove water from between the bristles. Doing this over a basin or sink helps prevent splashing.
Oil-based paints and dried buildup require an extra step. According to the publisher’s article, the brush can be soaked in paint thinner for a few minutes to loosen the residue.
An alternative mentioned is soaking the bristles in Murphy’s Oil Soap for 24 hours, gently mashing the brush in the solution periodically. The brush should then be rinsed with water and spun dry before storage.
For storage, pros suggest keeping dry brushes in their original cover or wrapping them in newspaper to help the bristles keep their shape. Brushes with a hanging hole can be hung by the handle, while laying them flat in a cool, dry area is also suitable.
