best way to clean paint brushes

disney_cjd

Getafix wrote: »

I'm liking the look of these devices. I never buy cheap brushes as I spend more time picking the bristles out of the paint than I do painting.

aye, me too. awesome kit

Plasticman

I re-use brushes for emulsion etc, but if I'm decorating a room I gloss everything in the same day and the brush goes in the bin afterwards. I don't use the cheapest brushes (B&Q value range etc) but use a relatively low cost brush. I find I get a better quality finish with a new (cheap) brush than with a badly cleaned one!

brownbake

Emulsion and water based paints will wash out in warm soapy water then squeeze most of the water out and wrap in a decent kitchen roll round bristles and then fit a rubber band.

For oil / solvent based paint I find dedicated brush cleaner - which is usually a purple colour is much more effective than white spirit.

We are lucky as we have a local discount store which sells lots of decent decorating products at a fraction of the big DIY stores. But then your local pound shop may have some. Possibly Wilkinsons may do it cheaper.

It may be more expensive in the short time but you use a lot less and with white spirit you will need a few changes.

maypole

N9eav wrote: »

Unless you are buying really expensive brushes then I agree with the others, buy the cheaper ones and bin them. If you really want to clean them then this idea I have used works well if you have a garage or some shed.

Get 3 containers about 6 inches by 4. In the bottom of each put some fine wire mesh so that the mesh is resting about 1 inch from the bottom of each can. Fill with white spirit and number 1-3. Wipe as much paint off your brush as you can in some paper. Then Wipe the brush in can 1 several times on the wire mesh, then can 2 and finally 3 by which time it should be clean. The wire mesh in each can means the paint residue sits on the bottom leaving your spirit cleaner for next time. Without the mesh you just stir up the old paint each time. Naturally always use in the same order. After several uses you can tip can 1 away, pour 2 into 1 and 3 into 2 and re fill 3....Confused?

Doesn't work with rollers, bin them.

I used to do this but with a jars and not with the mesh, but same idea, the white spirit goes alot further when you do this instead of throwing it away each time.

sodamnfunky

plumb1 wrote: »

Only worth cleaning brush,s if the bristles are made from Australian Bush Bady Tails:D
Painters hardly ever clean their brush,s,they just stick-em in a paint kettle with water,ready for next time,and they pay £5 plus for a brush.

Never clean mine out unless I am changing colour, mine stay in my brushmate, which is one of the best inventions ever for painters.

arunadasi

Bumping this up as Ihave a relevant question.
What to do with old white spirits, all white from paint and mot reusable? I need an environmentlaly friendly way of chucking it out.

latecomer

take it your local recycling centre as they should have a collection point for it?

imaginarynumber

I have never understood the buy cheap brushes and bin them mentality.

You can't get a decent finish with a cheap brush, you also have to contend with hairs falling out.

I too tend to keep my oil based brushes in my BrushMate for as long as possible.

When I do need to clean them I leave then in white spirits for a day or two and then remove as much as of the spirits as possible, by flicking the brush (I never spin them- that makes them lose their shape).

I then leave them in the only decent brush cleaner for a week or so- Dulux Trade Brush Cleaner and Renovator (only available in 2.5l and only from Dulux Decorator Centres).

The down side with the cleaner is that is has an slight amonia smell. The fact that you can only buy it from one place is a pain.

Then I rinse them in cold water and flick them again to remove the water.

Finally I let them dry outdoors over night.

A decent quality synthetic brush such as Purdy or Wooster will retain its shape so there is no need for foil or rubber bands.

Skinner58

You can't get a decent finish with a cheap brush, you also have to contend with hairs falling out.

All new brushes should be rinsed in soapy water before using - to remove loose hairs that could fall out and stick to the painted surface. To keep the shape of brush hairs one can simply wrap the bristles with a strip of rag.

My method; after removing surplus paint with rag or newspaper, wash brushes used for oil-based paints with white spirit, then water and cheap washing up liquid. For water-based paints use just the water and cheap washing up liquid. Be sure to clean by the brush stock, where bristle joins handle - this is where much paint often collects.

phill99

Skinner58 wrote: »

All new brushes should be rinsed in soapy water before using - to remove loose hairs that could fall out and stick to the painted surface. To keep the shape of brush hairs one can simply wrap the bristles with a strip of rag.

My method; after removing surplus paint with rag or newspaper, wash brushes used for oil-based paints with white spirit, then water and cheap washing up liquid. For water-based paints use just the water and cheap washing up liquid. Be sure to clean by the brush stock, where bristle joins handle - this is where much paint often collects.

And please enlighten us all: Why on earth are you commenting on a 6 years old post? What goes on inside your head?