How to Clean Paintbrushes With TSP

Paintbrushes are investments that last longer when properly maintained.

Improper cleaning of paintbrushes is a common method of destroying them. Paint dries and hardens within paintbrushes, causing their bristles to stiffen and weaken. Blasting water up into the brushes' bristles eventually causes paintbrushes to rust and the bristles to fall out. Cleaning paintbrushes with trisodium phosphate after each use restores their softness and preserves their lifespan. Trisodium phosphate is a versatile, all-purpose cleaner that dissolves even the hardest paint in paintbrushes, making them usable again. Promptly clean paintbrushes with trisodium phosphate, however, for optimum results.

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Rag
Rubber gloves
Plastic bucket
Stirring utensil
1 lb. trisodium phosphate
Comb
Clean towel

Instructions

- 1
  
  Dampen a rag with water. Wipe the excess paint off the brush using the rag.
- 2
  
  Put on rubber gloves before contact with the trisodium phosphate. TSP is a heavy-duty cleaner, so protection is necessary.
- 3
  
  Add 1 gallon of warm water to a plastic bucket. Mix 1 lb. of TSP into the warm water.
- 4
  
  Immerse the paintbrush's bristles in the TSP solution. Soak the bristles in TSP solution for one minute to soften the paint.
- 5
  
  Remove the paintbrush from the TSP solution. Glide a comb through the brush's bristles to extract the softened paint. Always comb toward the bristles' tips.
- 6
  
  Continue dipping the paintbrush's bristles in the TSP solution and combing them until they contain no more paint. Use the exact dipping and combing techniques as previously.
- 7
  
  Rinse the bucket with water. Refill the bucket with water.
- 8
  
  Dip the paintbrush's bristles in the water repeatedly to rinse out the TSP solution. Thoroughly rinse the paintbrush's bristles.
- 9
  
  Shake the paintbrush to extract excess water. Lay the paintbrush flat on a clean towel to air-dry.