How to Remove Dried Latex Paint From Bristles

Most paintbrushes will come clean, regardless of age.

Latex paint and easy cleanup often appear in the same sentence. If you tackle latex paint while it is still wet, cleanup is easy. Once the paint has dried, the challenge begins. Safe household products should be the first line of attack for cleaning paintbrush bristles. Latex brushes may have bristles of polyester or nylon or a blend of polyester and nylon. Save your paintbrush and the environment with safe methods of cleaning the dried latex paint.

Things You'll Need

• Clean pail or paint can
• Soap or heavy-duty detergent
• Rubbing alcohol

Instructions

1. Place hot water and soap or heavy-duty detergent in a clean pail or paint can. The can needs to be large enough to dip the brush and get your hand in it.

2. Immerse the brush in the hot soapy water to the ferrule or top of the bristles.

3. Hold the brush with one hand and manipulate the bristles with the other to work the hot soapy water to the inside of the bristles.

4. Empty the water when it gets cloudy and repeat the process. Work with the brush until you believe it is clean.

5. Suspend the brush in clean, hot, soapy water and leave it for four hours.

6. Return to see if the water is cloudy. If so, empty the water and repeat the process.

7. Allow the brush to dry. If paint remains, clean with alcohol.

8. Pour rubbing alcohol in a container large enough to dip the brush only to the ferrule. Alcohol may adversely affect the area above the ferrule by damaging the wood or the adhesive, so do not dip to the neck of the brush.

9. Work the alcohol into the dry brush until the remaining paint loosens.

10. Remove the brush from any remaining alcohol and allow it to dry. The alcohol will evaporate or you may choose to dispose of it.

Tips & Warnings

• Commercial products will also remove latex paint.

• Brushes will mold if not allowed to dry properly. Wrap your brush in a paper towel and store it so the bristles keep the original shape.

References

• Ohio State University Extension Service: Quick 'n Easy Stain Removal
• Ask the Builder: Cleaning Paint Brushes
• Purdy Professional Painting Tools: Most Common Painting Questions
• Paint Splashes: How to Clean Your Paint Brushes the Right Way
• Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Selection, Use, and Care of Brushes
• Goof Off: How to Remove Latex Paint

Resources

• Creative Homemaking: How to Remove Paint From Your Clothing