Cleaning Brushes

Quite a while ago, when I first started painting, I bought these nice kolinsky sable brushes. As I used them, the paint built up in the area just in front of the ferrule which is the metal part that holds the hairs in place. After a short while, the paint built up and caused my brushes to splay or harden so that they wouldn’t work anymore. I ended up throwing those brushes out. So much for lasting me years.

Eventually, after many years of not cleaning my brushes properly, I learned a new method of cleaning my brushes.

I have a brush tank which is a plastic jar. Inside, I have a wire mesh to brush my brushes against, and I have it filled with Gamblin Gamsol. Gamsol is an odorless mineral spirits solvent.

I wipe as much paint off my brushes as I can, and then I brush the hairs against the wire mesh in the brush tank. I try to get as much paint as possible off my brush by using the tank, and wiping it on a towel.

When I have the brushes as clean as possible using the brush tank, I take them to the kitchen sink. Then, I use a small amount of Dawn dish soap in the palm of my hand. Clear dish soap is best. Using the dish soap, I swirl the brush in my hand trying to get any more paint out. If you use clear soap it is easier to see the paint coming out. I espescially try to get any paint that might be near the ferrule. Next, I rinse the brushes with warm water. Remember, hot water may loosen up the glue holding the hairs in the ferrule. Later, I let my brushes dry.

This is my method of cleaning my brushes, and it has kept them usable for a long time.