How to Clean and Store Paint Brushes

Before you start

Match the cleaner to the paint, because the two systems are different. Water-based latex and acrylic clean up with warm water and mild soap. Oil-based paints, alkyds, and varnish need a solvent, usually mineral spirits or the thinner named on the can. Using water on an oil brush leaves the paint in the filament, and using solvent on a latex brush is unnecessary and harsh on some synthetic filament.

Clean the brush the same day you use it. Paint dries fastest where the filament meets the ferrule, and once it hardens there the brush splays and will never cut the same line. A brush that sits overnight is already on the way out.

Tools and materials

• Warm water and mild soap, such as dish soap, for latex.
• Mineral spirits or the thinner named on the can, for oil.
• A brush comb or an old fork to work paint out of the filament.
• A clean rag or paper towels.
• The original brush sleeve or a piece of wax paper for storage.

You do not need a dedicated brush-cleaning tool for most jobs. A comb and a rag do the work, and the money is better spent on a good brush than on a cleaner gadget. See our paint brushes hub for which brush is worth that money.

Surface preparation

Protect the area before you start. Work over a sink or a bucket, and keep solvent away from open flame and out of reach of children. If you are cleaning with mineral spirits, do it in a well-ventilated space and dispose of the used solvent through your local household hazardous waste program, not down the drain.

Step-by-step method

1. Scrape off the excess

   Press the filament against the inside of the can and scrape off as much paint as you can. Less paint in the brush means less work in the rinse.

2. Rinse or soak for latex

   Run warm water through the filament, working from the ferrule toward the tips, until the water runs mostly clear.

3. Work in the soap

   Put a small amount of mild soap in the palm of your hand and work it through the filament in circles, then rinse again. Repeat until no color remains.

4. Use solvent for oil

   For oil-based paint, swish the brush in mineral spirits in a container, then work the solvent through the filament and press it out on the container wall. Finish with soap and warm water.

5. Comb and reshape

   Comb the filament from the ferrule to the tips to remove any remaining paint, then squeeze out the water and reshape the head with your fingers.

Quality checks

Run your fingers through the filament after cleaning. It should feel soft and spring back, with no sticky or stiff patches near the ferrule. Hold the brush up to the light: clean filament shows no dried paint at the base. If you find a patch that will not come out, the brush was allowed to dry and is already compromised.

Common mistakes

• Leaving the brush to dry overnight. The paint hardens at the ferrule and ruins the shape.
• Scrubbing the tips against the sink. This bends and splits the flagged filament backward.
• Storing the brush standing on its tips. The weight curls the filament out of shape.
• Using the wrong cleaner. Water on an oil brush leaves paint behind; harsh solvent on some synthetics softens the filament.
• Wrapping a wet brush tight. Moisture trapped in the filament breeds mildew and dulls the finish next use.

Cleanup

Rinse the sink and wipe down the area. Squeeze the brush one more time to remove water, then lay it flat or hang it with the filament down to dry overnight. Once dry, return it to its original sleeve or wrap the head in wax paper, which keeps the filament straight and dust-free.

Next project step

A clean, well-stored brush is ready for the next coat without a soaking step. If you are planning the next job, see our best paint brushes guide to pick the right brush, and our surface preparation guide to get the surface ready. If a brush is already leaving marks, our why paint brushes leave marks guide walks through the fix.

FAQs

PaintReviews buys the products it tests at retail. Manufacturer-supplied samples are labeled and tested under the same protocol. Some links may be affiliate links that support testing; they never change rankings. See our commercial disclosure policy.