When the feverish inspiration of art takes hold, it can be hard to spare a moment for cleaning. After all, who wants to worry about menial tasks when they could be admiring their artistic achievements?

However, cleaning your paintbrushes is a critical and therapeutic step in the process of creating art. It’s all part of the work. Cleaning brushes after each use allows you to:

● Upkeep them for a longer functional life; as bristles dry and stiffen with paint, they become susceptible to damage.
● Prevent colour bleeding the next time you paint
● Facilitate clean brush strokes; a brush caked with old paint will leave unintentional streaks
● Prevent damage to the handle, especially in cases (we’ve all been there) where you neglect your brushes in a wash can or bucket

To help you tidy your workstation and prolong the longevity of your tools, this article explores best practices around brush cleanliness. In the sections below, you will also find recommendations for specific products, which you can easily find at a well-stocked art supply store like Above Ground Art Supplies.

Start by Wiping Away Excess Paint

You don’t want to fight an uphill battle with your brush cleaning. That said, whether using acrylics or oil paints, start by wiping away excess paint. This might mean leaving it all on the canvas. But more likely, you will wipe the bristles onto a blank zone of your palette until no brush strokes remain, or use a lint-free rag to wipe away excess. Act fast before the paint has a chance to dry!

Cleaning Acrylics

Cleaning acrylics is relatively straightforward compared to oil because acrylics are water-based paints. In most cases, all you need is some warm water and a non-abrasive, low-vapor detergent.

Begin by rinsing your brush clean with water. Wash cans and buckets tailored explicitly to the artist's studio are available; however, for a more streamlined process, consider investing in a quick-washing device like the Masterson Fresh Water Rinse Well, which quickly rids (most of) the paint from your bristles.

Next, reach for a dedicated brush soap like Marvelous Marianne’s Savvy Soap Hand and Brush Cleaner, which does a terrific job with acrylics.

Cleaning Oil Paints

Some artists swear by turpentine or other harsh solvents to clean oil paints. These certainly do the trick; however, their harshness will degrade natural bristles over time, making them brittle and prone to breakage. If it’s all you have on hand right now, by all means, use it as a stopgap measure.

For a more viable long-term solution, invest in some dedicated cleaning products for oil paints. The Marvelous Marianne’s soap mentioned above advertises its suitability for oil paintings. Some other fantastic oil paint cleaners include Jack Richeson Linseed Studio Soap, Winsor & Newton Brush Cleaner & Restorer, and Tri-Art Linseed Soap. Several of these products use linseed oil or some other oil, which helps hydrate the brushes for continued lushness and ease of use.

Reshaping and Storing

Once clean, shape the brushes to their intended shape (e.g., flatten your flat brushes, fan your fan brushes, etc.). In this video, the artist uses The Masters’ Brush Cleaner and Preserver to help shape the bristles.

Next, store your brushes horizontally. If you store brushes with the bristles on top, gravity can draw some of the excess paint left behind into the ferrule (that metal ring binding the bristles with the handle). You do not want paint in the ferrule, as it can damage the bristle connection. If you notice paint in the ferrule – whether due to storage or because you dipped the brush a tad overzealously in your palette – meticulously clean it with a quality brush soap.

Following these instructions, you should maximize the lifespan of your brushes and ensure smooth strokes in your next painting session.