How to Properly Clean and Store Your Paint Brushes for Long-Term Use

Are you an artist, a homeowner, or a home painter who wants a painting job done with a smooth finish?  Well, this blog is for you, for your paint brushes to last and still ensure better results in your next projects.  

Your paint brushes are your tools to apply paint, varnish, or other coatings to surfaces.  Each paintbrush has a handle made from wood or plastic and it has natural or synthetic bristles held together by a metal ferrule.  They are available in various sizes and shapes and each of them is intended for a specific job like fine detail work, broad strokes, or edging.  Now, how to properly clean and store them for long-term use?  

Cleaning Your Paint Brushes

Remove excess paint.  Before washing them, wipe the brush against the edge of the paint can or use a cloth or paper towel to remove as much excess paint as possible.  Do not let paint dry on your brushes because this can permanently damage the bristles.

Use the right cleaning solution.  It is easier to remove acrylic paint, just rinse the paint brushes with water immediately after use to prevent them from drying on the bristles.  For water-based paint, you have to rinse brushes with warm water and mild soap but for oil-based ones, use mineral spirits or paint thinner in a well-ventilated space.

Wash gently.   Cleaning your Monarch paint brushes gently will prolong their lives.  Just swirl the brush in the cleaning mixture and use your fingers or a brush comb to gently remove paint from the bristles.  

Rinse and reshape.  Rinsing must be done thoroughly until the water runs clear.  Do it in warm water or another container of clean solvent for oil-based paints.   Gently reshape the bristles with your fingers.

Dry properly.  Avoid drying brushes upright because water can seep into the ferrule which can weaken the glue over time.  After shaking off excess water from the brush, just lay it flat on a clean towel to air dry. 

Storing Your Paint Brushes

Store brushes in a dry area.  A cool, dry, and away from direct sunlight or extreme temperatures is the best storage space for your paint brushes to avoid drying out or warping of bristles.

Hang or lay brushes flat.  You may store the paint brushes with bristles facing up, hanging them, or laying them flat, just make sure they are fully dry and the bristles are positioned in a way that they can maintain their shape.  

Use protective covers.  When you buy paint brushes, do not throw their protective sleeves, use them after every drying period.  You can also wrap the bristles with wax paper as an alternative.  You can also regularly condition natural bristles with linseed oil to keep them supple.

Avoid storing in airtight containers.  Mold and mildew can appear in your brushes if there’s moisture buildup in their airtight storage.  It happens because no air flows in its container, so, to avoid this, be sure you also allow air to flow inside their storage. 

You can keep your paint brushes in excellent condition, just follow these tips, and expect a continuous supply of your reliable and effective paint brushes for many more years.