How to Clean Oil Painting Brushes - THE BEST WAY
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 พ.ค. 2024
- How is the best way to get your oil painting brushes 100% clean? How can you restore old beat up brushes with paint dried in them so they are like new again? How can you clean your brushes without solvents? Or change your cleaning routine so that it doesn't feel like a chore? Or make it so you never forget to clean your brushes again? This video is for you.
Video topics with timestamps:
Me accidentally leaving in a bad piece of audio: 1:13
Approach #1 to keeping your brushes clean as you paint: 2:20
Approach #2 to clean your brushes after your session: 5:08
How to restore brushes that you may have thought were unsalvageable 7:35
How to condition brushes that are feeling stripped down by solvents 8:15
Reshaping brushes whose bristles have gotten shaggy and splayed 9:28
Brush dip and how you can clean your brushes without solvents 12:00
Check out Mark Carder's brush dip video here for more details about that product and how to use it: • how to use Geneva Brus...
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The number one thing I see people not doing is how they introduce soap or some other anti oil based cleanser into their bristles. Omit water from the equation when introducing soaps. Work the soap into the bristles, use pure soap just like you would thinner, work out the oil from the bristles re-applying more soap into the brush and wiping it out with a paper towel until the bristle are free of pigment, then wet the brush with water only to remove the soap. Recondition after. This simple thing made the cleaning process so much more thorough with out any added trouble.
I found the best way is not to clean them at all with water/soap/ solvent/etc. I have two containers of sunflower oil (just what you buy at the store). The first container has about 500 mls of oil (1/2 US quart) in a plastic container so the depth is about 2 inches and a wire mesh that sits about about 1.5 inches above the bottom of the container . The second container is a painter roller tray (or similar) with enough sunflower oil to cover the bristles of the brushes. So, wipe the brush with a baby wipe that has oil in it (they are bought that way), taking out as much paints as you can. Dip the brush in the first container with the sunflower oil and wire mesh and run the bristles (gently) into the mesh (the space between the mesh is about 1/4 inch - you can buy these at the paint store as house painter use them for cleaning their brushes - they are very cheap) in a circular motion to get the paint out of the brush and then wipe that off and store in in the paint roller container with clean sunflower oil. Before using the brush, wipe out the sunflower oil. If you are concerned about any sunflower oil left in the brush (I've never had an issue) you can dip it in linseed or walnut oil (whichever your regular paints use as the oil base) and then wipe it off. I do not bother because there is so little sunflower left in the brush after it is wiped, it is not an issue at all. You will have to periodically change the oil when it gets really dirty.
This is a normal (open) roller tray or is it something that has a cover??
@@adamsartist496Just an ordinary open paint roller tray.
I work with a Painter (the kind that paints your home) and she recommended me to try and clean my brushes with water hair conditioner after use. I find it to work very well and havn't experienced any complications yet. The brushes almost feels as new after cleaning.
Hi Chelsea...loved the Murphy's soap tip...can't wait until tomorrow morning to see how my beat up brushes are after an overnight bath. I did this to keep them suspended in the soap without the bristles resting on the bottom of the jar: secure all brushes in a bundle with a rubber band or ball bungee and a spring clamp to rest on the to0 of the jar. Just make sure all the brisle ends are at the same position when bundling them together
Good video Chelsea. I have several comments to make.
After reading the recommendations done in Virgil Elliott's Traditional Oil Painting book and Facebook group, and weighing all the real options I have, I have made my decision. What I do now is:
- To clean a brush within a painting session, I remove the excess paint with paper towels when possible (I usually work with more than one brush the same size). If I need to switch colours or value range, then I dip the brush in a small container with linseed oil, and then wipe it with a paper towel. This is repeated until most of the paint is removed and the old colour won't interfere with the new.
- At the end of the painting session I clean all the brushes I used with solvent. Only at the end of the session I open up my buckets (spice jars with a rubber barrier that closes tightly) with solvent, W&N Sansodor for cleaning my Ivory brushes (known issue of Rosemary's Ivory line), and Gamsol for everything else. Buckets are provided with a wire right under the solvent level to facilitate cleaning. I close the bucket as soon as cleaning is done, to minimize as much as possible my own exposure to the solvents. Brushes are then hung bristles down in the typical spiral wire brush drying thing.
- Every once in a while I clean brushes with dishwasher (Dawn, only because they don't export Murphy's Oil Soap to my country) and water, followed by vigorously shaking them downwards to remove excess water (this is good exercise for the arms, LOL) and then letting them to dry overnight in the wire spiral. I try to avoid this as much as I can with my natural hair brushes, especially the hog bristle guys, but there are times when that is unavoidable. I try to clean my natural hair guys only with apolar stuff, namely linseed oil and Gamsol. Natural hair, especially hog bristle, does not like water.
Mr. Elliott has mentioned many times in the group that clove oil won't let the other oils (linseed, safflower) dry in the painting and may cause trouble in the future of the painting, so pretty much all of Mark Carder's products should be avoided. Except the big easel, of course, that kicks ass. But if you need to dip your brushes in something, linseed oil works just fine. I used for a long time "The Master's Brush Cleaner and Preserver", until I realized that all of my brushes were shortening quickly, without knowing why, and then I learnt that it is because The Master's has crystals that are abrasive (shown in a microscope photo in the Traditional Oil Painting group). So The Master's is super effective at cleaning brushes, but it destroys them while at it. I say The Master's belongs in the garbage.
This is so helpful, Ariel! I hope everyone else comes and reads your comment because this is beautifully thorough! I also totally believe you on the Master's Brush Cleaner -- I never got the feeling it was conditioning my brushes, but was more beating them up. I hope you can get Murphy's in Chile at some point because it is just... remarkably gentle on the bristles. I love how they feel after they've been conditioned with it. :)
@@ChelseaLang Thanks for that Chelsea!... I think I'll make my own video about the subject :) so far I had done only timelapses but I can do a tutorial about that as well
Sansodor and Gamsol are brand names of OMS from two different companies. How would you say they differ from each other? I assume they are almost the same thing, at least when looking at the ingredient lists.
Damn...I just bought one of those huge studio tubs Master's soap. 🥲
Also, I can attest to clove oil's noxious effects on oil paint, I used to pop my glass palette on the fridge inside an hermetical pyrex with a tiny bit of clove oil on a cotton ball. You know, to "keep my mixes wet"
It sure prevents it from drying up. Like, forever! 😅 if you leave it long enough the clove oil makes the paint stay wet, permanently...
@@j_shelby_damnwird we all have 😔
This was so helpful. I’m looking to make the switch from acrylics to oils and this really helped answer my cleaning questions.
Thank you for this video, Chelsea! Had no idea about Murphy's Oil and its use for cleaning brushes. Also, I really enjoy and appreciate your tutorials! They're so useful and simple to learn from.
At most hardware or box home improvement stores you can find sets of inexpensive nylon and brass-bristled cleaning brushes. These brushes are small, usually no more than 1/4” inch wide by 1” inch long and are great for cleaning the old paint near the ferrule. Thanks for your video.
Chelsea, you rock. You have helped me so much!
I have to say I love watching you cleaning your palette at the end every time haha Quite satisfying to watch somehow
Haha I'm so glad! I feel like it could get so repetitive, so that comes as a big relief. 😂 Thank you!
I wish this was taught when I was in art school. Thank you so much for making this video! It's really helpful! 🙏🙏🐱🐱
I use “helping hands” to hold the brushes. It’s meant to soldering wires but it’s perfect for this task as well
This is the best video I have seen for cleaning artist brushes and palette! I am already doing some of your carefully outlined steps but not correctly. First thing I will do is use Viva paper towels to remove fresh oil paint from my brushes after an painting session, and before the paint starts to harden. Second step will be to change to Murphy’s Oil Soap for cleaning my oil brushes. I have used baby wipes for years!!! The way I clean my palette is about the same, i.e. scraping off the oil paint then using baby wipes to make my wooden palettes extra clean. Love your clear and concise videos!
Thanks for the very informative video. An extra tip is, I understand the blue shop towel rolls used by automotive machanics are a better option than paper towels as they don't release fibers which could end up on your painting.
Another option is using cloth instead of paper towels. I cut up old T-shirts and used them and discard once they are no longer clean enough to use.
Also…I have found that after cleaning with Murphy’s …I blow dry my brushes. It makes them brand new. If you can can be patient enough…you can actually shape the bristles back into shape with the blow dryer!
I don't know of a tool specifically for cleaning the gunk out of bristles, but you could try a pet flea comb. The tines are very close together so it's a fine comb and it's the only thing I can think of that would do the job. I keep my brushes pretty clean so haven't had this problem. Murphy's Oil soap is great!
I'm also interested in some way to suspend brushes. You can use a housepainter's tray that's on a slant from Home Depot or whatever to soak brushes so their ends don't get splayed and there's less of a problem with soaps or solvents seeping under the ferrules, into the wood, and causing them to loosen.
Thanks for the video!
Great video, Chelsea...I've been using murphy's oil but mixing it with water all these years!! now I know better.!! THANK YOU!
The murphy's oil was really useful, thanks for the tip. Just doubled my brush number with this tip
great video! I'm just like but I don't paint much but starting to get into cleaning my brushes, what a job. A brush for scraping old paint is moustache brush or brush foe electric razor will work and to hang your brushes in jar is using small clamps with piece of wood hang it over jar.
Perfect timing. My Rosemary Brushes arrived today! (and I'm using the Geneva Brush Dip... LOVE.)
Yayyy! Enjoy those brushes!!!! And I'm glad the video had good timing -- I have a feeling this should give you everything you need. :)
@@ChelseaLangIt is not as daunting as I thought it "should" be. (I sometimes have to make things more difficult than they really are.)
Those brass "toothbrushes" that they sell at hardware stores for cleaning crud off of metal. There great for cleaning out brush fibers close to the ferrule.
Excellent video, thank you!!
Extreme measures for brush cleaning include using a liquid brush conditioner on hardened paint in the bristles, then lightly brush from pharaoh out to the end of the Brussels with a lightweight, fake pumice stone that picks up the paint. Alternately rinse away the residue with water. For larger brushes, there is a tool that looks like a comb, but it is made with long, thin, nail, like metal, similar to the teeth in a comb. I have also seen brushes with warrior bristles to brush out paint after it has been softened in conditioner or oil. after using extreme measures, I brush mind at least be good for some thing, but not for its original purpose.
😊
When mine need some TLC I saturate the bristles in Murphys. just tuck them gently into a sandwich bag overnight. Seems to do the trick.
Brass Suede brushes work well for getting paint out of brushes. Very fine bristles.
Maybe try using a head lice comb for cleaning old paint from between those bristles?
I use clothes pins and small lid mason jars to soak my brushes!
great idea on using wooden clothes pins, i use them as chip clips on my potato chip bags etc.
Very helpful and informative 👌🏻👌🏻😍
Thanks a lot 😊I'm so glad you think so!
I use a palette knife to scrape the excess paint out of my brushes both as I paint and at the end of a painting session before cleaning with solvent. If you don't bear down too hard it doesn't hurt the brush and saves on paint too! To get excess paint residue out of a 'clean' brush, I fill a small bowl 1/3 with oil and use a toothbrush to work it out while submerged. If it's really stubborn, you can use a variable speed Dremel tool with a coarse wire brush bit (not submerged or it will spray everywhere - lol). Once every few months I'll take the natural bristle brushes I use most and treat them to a 'spa day' . . . soak in Murphy's Oil Soap . . . rinse . . . suds up with shampoo and finally some conditioner. Silky soft with the bounce retained. Next experiment? Using a set of crevasse detailing vacuum nozzles and a wet/dry vacuum to pull that pesky residue out for good!!!
This is so helpful! I have always dreaded washing brushes with soap and they never came out well with my method. Where do you source your bulk baby wipes?
So informative as always! For your big brush that the paint won't come out of - your 'trouble' brush - try a fine long wire brush that is typically used to brush goats or sheep for show. If you know somebody in 4H, they can point you in the right direction. You just wiggle it through and brush out. Hope that helps! ;-)
Oooooo! Thank you Shawn!!!! I'm going to look this up *right* *now*! 😍
@@ChelseaLang How did the carding brush work out?
Thanks for the video. I highly recommend ECO HOUSE Natural Citrus thinner. It smells lovely, works well and is not toxic.
thank you
I also leave to the end- though I do give a brush a wipe before I put it aside until the end.
My system is a two tank one, but the first is safflower oil. I use this to get much of the paint out and then use the solvent (Zest-It in my case) to make sure. Small to large as you said.
I used to then take them to the sink and wash with Fairy liquid (I assume Dove or something would be the US equivalent) to make sure but I discovered that most of the time that was just unnecessary. Now I do this when a brush won't come clean or with all my brushes once in a while (today was that once, coincidentally.)
On the rare occasion that I have had a brush with dried on paint, I have used the Fairy liquid in much the same way you use the Murphy's, I use a peg to hold the brush in place. Or two pegs for larger brushes. This has always worked, so far.
Note: the use of Fairy liquid rather than Murphy's is not a preference; I am quite sure that Murphy's is superior. Unfortunately I keep forgetting to order it and I already have the ordinary dish detergent.
For reshaping: I use a method with almost boiling water. Boil the kettle put a little in a cup and let cool for a half minute. Then hold the brush so that the bristles are in the water- but not right up to the ferule as you don't want to melt any glue. Keep it there for about another 30 seconds, wiggle it about if you want. Then take it out again give it a shake and then reshape with fingers.
This is not recommended unless absolutely necessary because a) you can burn yourself if you're as clumsy as I am and b) it isn't great for the natural oils in the bristles (though conditioning with a brush conditioner will fix that.) Fortunately I have only ever had to do this with a couple of brushes and they were very, very old.
Nothing is better than baby wipes. Gods above, they are useful. Clean your palette after scraping: baby wipes! Cleaning handle: baby wipes! Cleaning hands: baby wipes! Paint on your clothes? BABY WIPES (if you're really quick.)
Haha I wholeheartedly agree on the baby wipes! So useful, right!?
I hadn't heard of the boiling water trick but will keep that in my back pocket -- I wonder how it compares to using the Murphy's. I'd totally just bit the bullet and order Murphy's though -- I've used dish soap before and Murphy's is definitely a cut above. So, so useful and something I always keep around even if I never hope to have to use it.
I'd be very curious to see the peg setup for brush soaking -- I can't quite picture it but want to try it.
@@ChelseaLang The peg set up is literally a container that is narrower than a peg, the peg grips the brush and its ends prevent the brush from falling in. A wider jar (or bigger brush) is the same but with another peg gripping the first peg.
The boiling water thing is, as I said, not great for the natural bristles. Probably a last resort for old brushes. I picked it up from a watercolour channel a few years ago.
Great video, thank you. What type of palette is that/ what is the material?
I am at the stage you used to be about neglecting brushes. I don't want to have a big production. I simply want to walk by the painting, and if I see something it needs, pick up the brush, do a few strokes and put it back in the toxic thinner I use, and get on with what I was doing. However what I do now is wipe the brush, swish it out, wipe dry, and put Vaseline on it while shaping the brush. Probably in a few years the paint will peel off my paintings. But I think its okay if I swish and wipe the Vaseline out before using. As far as suspending the brushes in a solution without the bristles touching, I would drill a small hole in the handle and use a stretched out paper clip to hold the brush up on the rim of the jar. I used to paint billboards when I was young ( old as hell now, they just print them) . We used a brush called a 'fitch'. It had stiff bristles and resembled a slanted artist brush. Also Landnickel made a brush that was very expensive but it was soft and a pure pleasure to work with. There used to be a powdered brush cleaner at Sherwin Williams paint store that you would add water to and soak. The brush would be like brand new. They, of course, outlawed the product. It would make the bristles on the fitch become soft and be like the expensive Landnickel brush. Soak it too long and it would dissolve the bristles. By the way, my problem is after I clean the brush, I look up and see something else the painting needs. So the big cleaning production kills my interest. I also just get the cheap bag of brushes at Micheal's. Six bucks for about five brushes. Not bad for painting small details. I will try the Murphy's soap as I have some.
Thank you for sharing this, James! I nearly laughed out loud when you said 'of course they outlawed it.' The way it goes when it goes to paints... I think you have the right attitude about your paintings though. Too often I think people are afraid to even pick out a canvas unless they know everything is perfectly archival. I think there is something rather zen about accepting that things could happen to the paintings, or they could be fine. Sort of like the monks who labor for months create the elaborate pieces of art with sand and then immediately dust them away once they're complete. Not that we want the paintings to be impermanent, of course, but just... better that we keep painting. Keep making. That's the special thing. :)
House painters use trisodium phosphate some space still have it and they have a substitute of that cleans out oil paint they've been using it forever
a flea brush for cats will do the trick and some wooden cloths pins keep the brushes from reaching the bottom.
Thanks for sharing tips on brush cleaning. Can you please let me know if your palette is glass which is greyed out. ? Any advice would be nice. Thank you.
Have you tried Marvelous Maryanne brush and hand cleaner. Works perfectly
Your voice is awesome.
I have found an amazing bar soap that I can use with water. It’s not made for artists but rather it’s a natural milk hand soap. It’s truest amazing. But I think I may have to try gamsol. I’m very interested to compare.
I wrap an elastic band around my brushes the same distance from the end of the bristles and then poke a cocktail stick through so they're suspended in brush cleaner. only works if you've got a smaller number of brushes though and if they don't vary significantly in size.
Suggest better use the fine steel or brass wire brush removal solvent off the bristle or restored bristle reshaping typing soaps
I've used a file cleaning brush before to help clean between bristles.
At a pet store get a flea& tick removing comb. Mine has a fine tooth and a wider comb on the other side. I is it to comb through after the murphy’s. And I used it to get a million burrs off my puppy this past week.
Thank your for a very informative video. I am curious to know your opinion of Rosemary Co. oil paint brushes. I am looking for a new brand to try. I have used Master series (sable) Dick Blick oil painting brushes for years and really like them, but wish to expand my horizons. Thank you!
Wait it helped a lot!!✌🏻✌🏻
I love that palette with magnetic lid. Is that something you made custom or where can I purchase?
I really hope this isn't a dumb question: do you not rinse off the Murphy's oil soap after having suspended the brushes in it? Also, is it bad to leave brushes in your turp container (gamsol tub) when not in use? Like I'll superficially pull out the excess paint from a brush I'm done with then leave it in the cleaning Gamsol tank until I'm done and then clean them all with Murphy's (which I rinse out...). Am I ruining my brushes (Rosemary and Co forever, btw!).
How often do you change out the gamsol and how do you dispose of the dirty??
Always learning from you,thank you. I use my solvent to clean my brushes to begin with usually non smelling terps and then I wash them one by one in the palm of my hand with dish soap and warm water. Then I rinse them and shape them and let them dry. I always clean all the brushes I used during a session.
while I paint I leave the used brushes in the terps 2/3 terps 1/3 linseed oil and I wipe them while I paint. However, I have not yet found a way to keep my left over paint supple after a session. I put the palette in the fridge but after two days I find they have formed a film on the top and that is not so supple. I will try your way if I can find the Gemsol and the Murphy's oil soap? Thank you again for all the help you provide for us the noobies.
Thank you for saying so, Demetra! I am humbled.
Reading over your process, you may want to try 1) a milder solvent since turp has very strong fumes (even if odorless) and should only be used indoors with excellent ventilation and 2) I would avoid anything that puts solvent and paint in contact with your skin. Of course a lot of paints nowadays are manufactured to be technically safe for skin contact, but it seems to be better safe than sorry, especially since it can be hard to get everything off of your skin and we do so much with our hands including eating and unconsciously touching our face almost constantly. If you do want to use that method of cleaning in your palm though I'd definitely have a dedicated pair of dishwashing gloves and use those instead. :)
I hope the unsolicited advice is helpful, and alright to give. But I'd be very curious to hear if you try something like safflower oil or Murphy's, as i suspect they'd save you a good bit of time and actually leave your brushes in nicer condition. :)
To keep paints fresh I store my palette in an air tight container (I use a paint saver box, but any air tight container should do). Also in the container is a small sea sponge that I wet with pure clove oil and put it in a tin palette cup with clip & lid (clove oil will melt plastic). Keeps paints fresh... you don't have to put them in the fridge. I clip the palette cup to the palette so I it doesn't move around in the box and use the cup lid when the paints are not in use so the clove oil does not evaporate. Also, instead of using the palm of your hand to clean brushes, Daily Painter Carol Marine uses an over-sized rubber tennis ball you can get at the pet store.... cut it in half and use that instead of your palm.
Should say I use the cup lid when the paint ARE in use
Yes! This makes sense and I'd definitely recommend avoiding cleaning brushes with your bare hands. I think the tennis ball trick is great! :) I tend to go through enough paint that I don't worry about closing my paints up, but I know that it's a go-to for a lot of people.
@@ChelseaLang Thank you for taking the time and any advice from you is valued and much sought after. However, where I live in Athens Greece, it will be almost impossible to find Safflower oil and or Murphy's specially now with the partial lockdown most artists shops are closed or with a very limited gama of products. I found them both and more on Amazon but I don't think they will be able to ship them overseas. I have a trip to Germany coming up in July so maybe I can source them there. Thank you again, I do use gloves as you say our hands take quite a beating without adding to it. Stay safe and keep inspiring us.
Hello, what palette you use for your oil paints I’m curious?
I found this very helpful. I noticed you did not use water after you had the brush in Murphy's Soap. How do you not get soap residue staying on the brush? I have some paint removed from my brush handles. Any suggestions as to how to repair this?
I pull as much soap out as I can with a paper towel, and usually start painting with them as soon as they are done soaking, so the solvent removes the residue. :) As far as repairing brush handles, I haven't tried -- if paint started chipping off my handles I'd either ignore it or retire that brush once the bristles themselves are no longer useful to me.
I'm confused, do you not need to wash out the Murphy's Oil soap residue? Wouldn't that compromise the oil painting?
I've used 1/2 of a tennis ball, take a brush filled with a cleaner like Murphy's Oil, add a bit of water and really scrub the brush into the tennis ball. It will suds up and now rinse it in water
This was so helpful. One thing I’d love to know is how to safely throw away the oily rags and paper towels? I heard they can catch on fire if left in a trash can. Do you dry them or soak them in water? Thanks.
I throw all my paper towels in a plastic bag and at the end of my workday I pour enough water into it to saturate the paper towels when I squeeze it all together. Then just tie off the bag and throw it in the trash.
I have a suggestion: don't pull on your bristles. That ruins brushes, especially over time. ☺️
I have been advised to use an old tooth brush to comb out gunk in a paint brush.
Wash them with normal hard soap and lukewarm water right after finishing painting. I use mostly painting knife (I have two but use one most of the time), brushes only for soft edges or initial washes. Biodiesel works fine to clean them as well, but still need to wash with water and soap after. I don’t like the gunk building up on brushes, I am quite anal about it lol.
Do you rinse the Murphys Oil Soap out of the brush?
I have let my brushes soak in rubbing alcohol when they have 'the dried gunk' overnight. It works really well. Then just condition afterwards with masters brush cleaner.
I've thought about using acetone on that 'problem brush' that I talked about, but with that I definitely wouldn't leave it. You may want to try the Murphy's though -- can't beat the price and it is much gentler on your brushes. :)
What kind of paint pallet are you using
I use a firm toothbrush with whatever brush cleaner to get the soap in the bristles and after it’s lose.
Good idea, thank you! I feel like this particular brush my be too dense/stiff for another brush to get in there, but it's certainly worth a try!
I use a wire brush from the hardware store that housepainter’s use to clean their brushes. It’s big but it works…
For suspending brushes; clothespins.
Masters brush cleaner soap works very well 😀
I'm glad it works for you. :) I used it for a long time.
Murphy’s oil soup looks like “ ordinary Brown soup”? - Do you have a link to it?
Amazon has a spring oil painters brush cleaner
I actually use baby oil to clean my brushes, then a a wiped clean with a rag. Works ok
Chelsea, look into a "carding brush" to clean that stubborn brush!
GOLD! This was what I was hoping to find. Thank you SO much Dian! :D
Do you have a link or brand please?
Carlsons guide to landscape painting...1929, he used kerosene, go figure, but interesting point. Kerosene is solvent with enough oil to keep bristles conditioned. We wont talk about the obvious reasons why not to use it, we know so much better now. The murphys oil soap goes by same principle, cleaner and oil conditioner. Kudos on that one. Finally use small wire brush to go through bristles after breaking down dried paint.
Are you leaving that paint on your pallet over night? I usually put my paint in the freezer over night.
Oil paint brushes can be cleaned the next day if you don't feel like cleaning the same. I make sure I have a lot of brushes and clean them all at the end.
Have you tried a lice comb?
How do you get rid of the dirty Gamsol in a responsible manner? Pouring it out in the drain may be tempting to many, but all these toxic chemicals that are needed for oil painting are very damaging to the water environment. So what do you do? This is actually the reason why I paint in almost every other media but oil. Another reason is that I can't tolerate the fumes. Gamsol, turpentine etc. are organic solvents, so the fumes dissolve the brain actually.
Search for a household hazardous waste facility in your area. They're usually, in US, provided by county or city services. Then just go ahead and take your materials there in a can and dump them, and it's very easy to do, often just a drivethru
saw another artist use BABY OIL, dip, then beat against a rack over garbage..back in dip and wipe, beat and dip/wipe.
I use engine degreaser.
Years ago when head li ce were in schools, they had tiny baby combs with tiny close teeth to comb nits from your head. Long long aho. Try to find one. Good luck
On Amazon. Loads of them. And guess what lice are still here.
I think once a brush gets gunked to the point that it might have to be retired, go to the hardware store and get some brush cleaner. It's noxious stuff, but it dissolves paint. Afterwards, maybe a little Murphy's to recondition it. (Use the brush cleaner outside)
just like you
I use paint thinner first
Let them soak in Murphy oil over night and they will be like new again no matter how bad they.were,
Get a Tupperware plastic container and soak them in cooking oil whilst working on a painting then just wipe them to start painting
ultrasonic cleaner maybe?
Nope