How to Clean Paintbrushes

Cleaning latex paint from paint brushes can be a big chore, and good brushes are not cheap. Here's some tips to clean them well so they will last longer.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hot Water
• Dish Soap
• Small Plastic Bucket
• Painters Comb

1. Rinse the brush well under very hot water.

2. Add hot water and dish soap to a small plastic bucket. Drop the brush in and allow it to soak for about ten minutes.

3. 
    

   Hold the brush under running hot water while your 'comb' it with the spiky side of a painters comb. Flip it over and comb it from both sides.

4. Now comb the paintbrush with the wire brush side of the painters comb. Rotate the brush in your hand as you do this.

5. Lay brush out on a clean towel to dry overnight.

6. After the brush has dried fully, hold it over a trash can and comb it with both sides of the painters comb again. Now that the brush is dry some of that stubborn paint that wouldn't come off when it was wet will flake off.

Tips & Warnings

• Switching brushes before they get really gunky is the best plan to get the maximum use from your brushes and get the best paint coverage.
• Don't use paint thinner to try to clean latex paint from brushes. It won't work well at all.

Resources

• Home Improvement and Repair Books
• Painters Comb

[betterbody]

on 11/2/2009 Very good details for cleaning paintbrushes. It get expensive throwing brushes away. 5 *s and a recommend.