How to clean paint brushes?

The brush quality during a painting session can make the difference between an acceptable and an optimal result. Whether you work with acrylics, oils, or inks, keeping your brush clean and in good condition is essential for achieving sharp detail and smooth blending, so it is also essential to know how to clean paint brushes.

Unfortunately, many hobbyists neglect the care of these tools, either out of laziness or lack of knowledge. This causes the bristles to fray and break, and dry paint to accumulate, ultimately making it necessary to replace them frequently, when they could last much longer in the artist's modeling tool set. Furthermore, investing in high-quality tools, such as Kolinsky brushes, can be very expensive, so keeping them in top condition should be a priority.

In this article, we will explain how to clean paint brushes with specific products from Green Stuff World, as well as with other products that we all have at home for emergencies, although it is not recommended as the main procedure.

Main types of paintbrushes

GSW paintbrush cleaning and repair products are compatible with all paintbrushes on the market, so it doesn't matter which ones you use. However, some should be taken special care of because of their delicacy so that they don't lose quality prematurely:

• Synthetic brushes. Their bristles are made of synthetic fibers, they are more affordable and easy to maintain, but they can retain paint as well as natural hair brushes. Their bristles are compatible with products that are a little more aggressive than natural hair paintbrushes.

• Natural hair. They tend to be high-end, like those made from Kolinsky paintbrushes, made from the hair of animals such as mink, pigs, squirrels, badgers, oxen, or ponies; they offer excellent paint retention and have a fine, precise tip. To maintain their quality and extend their lifespan as much as possible, they require regular care, using specific products.

• Flat and round. Flat paintbrushes are perfect for the base layer, while round paintbrushes (especially sizes 1 and 2) are suitable for fine details. Although it may seem that round paintbrushes need more care than flat paintbrushes because of the shape of their tips, it is advisable to treat both with the same care, as a flat-tipped paintbrush in poor condition will create marks and provide a poor finish.

• Dry brushes. They are mainly used to highlight textures. They tend to wear out faster due to their rough application technique, however, proper care will make them last much longer and the technique will give better results.

How to clean paint brushes with Green Stuff World products?

At Green Stuff World we have two essential products for keeping any of your paintbrushes in top condition, totally respectful of their bristles:

•Brush Soap. Perfect for cleaning painting residue from the bristles.

•Brush Repair Gel. Its function is to take care of the paintbrush bristles, keeping the tip sharp and preventing frizzing and opening.

Although there are specific products for cleaning and caring for these tools, before using them it is essential to clean them in the most traditional way: rinse them in water to remove as much color as possible. To do this, you can put them in a glass of water or use the Brush Rinser for greater effectiveness. Then use our products for a deep and optimal cleaning.

Cleaning paint brushes step by step

Once your paintbrushes have been rinsed and excess water removed, follow these steps to restore the tips to the condition they were in before you started painting:

1. Place a small amount of brush soap in one of the holes in the paint palette, on top of an absorbent paper or a sponge, and impregnate the tip.

2. Move the paintbrush in the direction of the hair while you sharpen it. You can also do it by hand, but the cleaning will be deeper using paper or, especially, a sponge.

3. Once the cleaning is finished, remove the soap residue.

Although we have resolved the question “how to clean paint brushes?”, it should be borne in mind that a brush tends to open up as it dries. Avoiding this is as simple as using repair gel. To apply it, place a little product on a surface, such as a palette or paper, and cover the paintbrush bristles with the gel. Sharpen the hair with a fold of the hand, with the fingers, or with the paper in the direction of the brush. Once impregnated and sharpened, leave to dry on the tip. This will harden it and protect it from opening up once dry or losing its shape when touched.

It is important to note that, before using it again, it is necessary to moisten it and remove the remains of the repair gel to leave the tip loose and ready to color again. Make sure it is completely free of product as if it comes into contact with the paints, they could lose their hold.

How to clean paint brushes with non-specific products?

For those who have an emergency and need to clean a brush but don't have the time to buy specific products for the job, You can use home methods, but we recommend the previous method whenever possible for its great effectiveness and respect for the bristles.

For this type of home brush cleaning you will need, at the very least, bar soap. In any case, it is important that you never use harsh chemicals such as acetone, isopropyl alcohol, or bleach for this purpose, as they can dry out the bristles and cause them to break. In addition, homemade methods are not recommended for any natural brush, as their bristles are more sensitive and require premium care.

Cleaning paint brushes with homemade products

An easy way to clean paintbrushes with homemade products is to use bar soap. The classic fels naptha soap in the USA, or green soap in the UK, can replace brush soap occasionally thanks to its natural formula free of harsh chemicals. Use it in the same way as the specific paintbrush soap. Also, if you need a substitute for the tip restorer, a product that can work is hair wax, which you can also smear on the bristles and leave to dry until the next use. However, we remind you again that the repair gel is much more efficient for this purpose.

How often should I clean my paintbrushes?

To prolong the life of your painting tools, use soap and repair gel after each painting session. It is also important not to let the paint dry on the bristles, as this causes them to form crusts, which can cause them to break, in the case of natural hair, or split, in the case of synthetic hair.

It is also recommended, in addition to rinsing the brush, to use soap when changing colors, because, even if it seems clean, the colors tend to get into the joint between the hair and the ferrule, releasing the color during painting. For the same reason, it is essential to always clean any paintbrush well before storing it, as a crust on the ferrule would damage the hair.

Now that you know how to clean paint brushes, apply these tips and don't waste their potential. If you want more tips or to learn more techniques for your miniatures, take a look at the rest of the articles on our blog and stay tuned for more news!