How to Clean Paint Brushes with Natural Fibers

Fine art brushes are expensive so it is important to take good care of them to make them last. Many brushes are made from natural hairs, such as boar hair and sable. These brushes can become brittle and useless if mistreated. Here is how to avoid wasting a good brush.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A bar of brush soap (this can be bought at art stores or online)
• Warm water
• A clean towel

1. Use brush soap. Natural fibers in brushes contain oil that keeps them springy and supple. Regular soap washes away this oil when you clean brushes, which is why it is best to use soap especially made for brushes.

2. Lather the soap in your hands with warm, not hot, water.

3. Gently lather the brushes with the soap on your hands. Make sure to only rub the fibers away from the handle of the brush.

4. Make sure to get all of the paint inside of the brush's fibers.

5. Rinse, then pat the fibers dry on a clean towel.

6. Put the brushes handle down inside a cup or brush holder so that you don't kink the fibers.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not put the bristle end down in a container to dry after you clean brushes. This will splay the bristles.

Resources

• How to Take Care of and Protect Brushes

[robertsloan2]

on 1/9/2008 This is a good article. I would add one more thing -- shape and/or point the brush with your fingers after washing. It may help to fasten a loop on the end of the brush handle so that you can hang your brushes hairs down the way the Chinese do, that way while they drip dry they don't lose their shape.

[Blackbear]

on 12/9/2007 Well done.