Tips for cleaning and storing brushes
1 of 2Photo 1: Wash the brush
Move the paintbrush around in
a bucket of water to wash out
the paint, then run it under water.
2 of 2Photo 2: Comb the bristles
Use a wire brush to
remove the paint
from the bristles.
It's wise to invest in high quality paintbrushes, and then clean them properly to make them last. To ensure you get a lifetime of use out of your paintbrushes, clean each
one immediately after using it, before the paint has a chance to dry.
Start by wiping the brush on newspaper to remove excess paint. Then stick
the brush into a bucket of warm water (Photo 1). Move the brush around to
remove as much paint as possible. Next, hold the brush under running water.
Run a wire brush (or a kitchen fork) down the bristles to remove dried paint,
especially near the handle (Photo 2). When the water running off the bristles
turns clear, the brush is clean.
Let each paintbrush air dry, then wrap it with the cardboard cover it came
in or heavy paper (like grocery bag paper). To keep the bristles straight,
hang the brushes from a nail or hook, or store them flat.
