How to Remove Dry Paint From a Brush
The quality of a paint job depends on the quality and condition of the paintbrushes used. If the bristles of the paintbrush are hard and encrusted with dry paint, the paint job will be poor. It is important to care for and maintain paintbrushes properly to get the most out of them. Oil-based and water-based (latex and acrylic) paints will dry onto brushes if not removed immediately after use. Use a few common items found at most hardware and home improvement stores to remove dried paint from a brush.
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Things You'll Need
- Turpentine
- Bucket
- Paper towels
- Soft cloth
- Liquid dish washing soap
- Brown paper
- Tape
Instructions
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Pour turpentine into a bucket so that it reaches a few inches high. Dip the paintbrush into the turpentine. Let the chemicals of the turpentine work into the dried paint. The brush will become more pliable as the pain loosens.
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2
Clean the turpentine from the brush with warm water and liquid dish washing soap. Use a quality shampoo instead of soap on natural-bristle brushes. Rinse the paintbrush with warm water.
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Dry the brush using a paper towel or soft cloth. Pat the brush to get any remaining turpentine, water, soap or shampoo out.
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Place the brush back into the original packaging to maintain its shape. If you do not have the original packaging, wrap the brush in brown paper and tape to hold its shape. The brown paper is a thick paper, similar to the feel of a paper grocery bag, and will help keep the shape of the brush.
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Tips & Warnings
When storing, hang the brush by its handle or place it flat to preserve the brush's shape.
