Keep your brushes clean and reusable with proper cleaning.
To keep paintbrushes in top form, they should be cleaned immediately after use. But paintbrushes left unclean and dried still can be restored to useable condition. Take the time to recall what kind of paint was last used so you will be able to choose the best method to soften the bristles; latex paint is water-based and easier to clean than oil paint, which is much more stubborn to remove.
Instructions
Clean Dried Latex Paint
1. Fill a glass jar or metal pail with warm, soapy water.
2. Thread a coat hanger wire through the hole in the handle of the paintbrush.
3. Lay the coat hanger wire across the mouth of the jar or pail so the paintbrush is suspended in the water. The liquid should cover the brush bristles while the coat hanger prevents the bristles from touching the bottom of the jar. This prevents further damage to the bristles, which will curl against the bottom.
4. Leave the hardened brush to soak for at least 30 minutes.
5. Transfer the brush and jar to a sink. Put on disposable gloves. Remove the brush from the soapy water. Run the brush under warm water and clean out the paint by spreading the bristles apart with your gloved fingers.
6. Comb out the excess paint over the sink using a wire paint comb.
7. Rinse the brush under the tap. Shake out excess water.
8. Hang the brush up to dry.
Clean Dried Oil Paint
9. Place drop cloths or newspapers on your work surface. Wear a smock to protect your clothing and place a pair of goggles over your eyes; put on disposable latex gloves.
10. Place three metal containers on your protected work area. Fill each container halfway with paint thinner.
11. Place the hardened paintbrush bristle-side down in the first container of paint thinner. Allow the brush to soak for at least 30 minutes.
12. Lay down several layers of clean paper towel on the work surface near the containers of paint thinner.
13. Move the brush around in the paint thinner to further loosen the paint. Remove the brush from the thinner and blot out the thinner by pressing the bristles against the paper towel.
14. Place the brush in the second container of paint thinner. Move the brush around to move remaining paint. Remove the brush and again blot out the paint thinner onto the paper towel.
15. Place the brush in the last container. Leave the brush in this container for three to five minutes to soak. Remove the brush from the thinner and squeeze the bristles with your gloved hand to expel excess thinner back into the container.
16. Dry the brush with paper towel and hang to store.
17.Dispose of the paint thinner according to local regulations for throwing away hazardous waste.
Related posts
Acrylic paint can harden on paint brushes, and requires soaking to remove the paint.Acrylic paint is water-based, and it washes away from a paint brush easily with soap and water -- if it's cleane...
Outdoor shutters can be a handsome way to decorate the outside of window fixtures. However, like any surface exposed to the outdoors, these shutters will get dirty, and paint will start to fade. C...
A spray painter makes painting larger areas much easier and faster. If properly cleaned and maintained, a paint sprayer can be used over and over again without replacing any parts. Failing to prop...
A T-shirt can be silk screened with an image.A silk screen is a fabric screen with a stencil on it. When various types of ink or paint are pushed through the silk screen, a copy of the stencil is...
Clean a Gloss Interior Paint TrimPainted trim in your house accumulates a film of dust, like any other interior surface, even if it's in a rarely-used room. If you have a busy home, trim can get q...
