TIP - A similar brush cleaning TIP for us who use oil paints (on top of dried acrylic paint) as a finishing glaze to highlight colors and add depth and dimension to the painting is this - laundry detergent liquid and other times Murphy's Oil Soap. Because oil paints dry slower than acrylics but are denser than acrylics, I soak my oil paint brushes in laundry detergent which is a stronger cleaning solution than kitchen soap liquids. I do the same soaking, wiping, rinsing in luke-warm water, and wiping dry steps you demonstrated in your excellent video, And I have not (yet?) lost either a dried acrylic or stiff oil paint brush. Happy painting!
Love your videos and your artwork! One brush cleaning tip I've used for over 50 years is to use a fine wire brush when I'm cleaning my brushes after use. First I rinse in water or solvent (depending on which type of paint) and then use the wire brush to get the thickened paint that stays at the top of the bristles near the metal ferrule. Then I rinse again in dish soap then water for acrylics or solvent for oil two more times. I have brushes that are over 30 years old and still very usable. Thanks, again. Chris Soniat
Acetone dissolves plastic. Acrylic paint is plastic. Soak the hairs only. You don't want acetone on the finish of the handle. Pour just enough into a metal can to cover the hairs, but not go above the ferrule. Leave the can outside for a few hours. Go check to see how it's working every hour after that. When the acetone has dissolved most of the acrylic emulsion, then dish soap works much faster and more completely. This works best on natural hair. Good synthetic brushes can also handle acetone. Cheap synthetic hair can't. Although, some cheap brushes are actually improved by this treatment in the sense that, the acetone very mildly eats away at the fibers, leaving a gentle "tooth." That makes the brush hold more water, and hence, more paint. That's a good thing for large wash brushes. I learned this trick 40 years ago from my professor, Maurice Papier. It works like a charm! I usually take care of my brushes. On some rare occasions that someone or something demands immediate attention (a crying kid, medical emergency or kitchen fire) I've been known to forget my good brush-cleaning habits. When that happens, this method has saved me a lot of money and hassle. ...Hope that helps others. 😃
I use Murphy's Oil soap and it does an excellent job and is not as abrasive as our dish soaps in the US. no oil is not left in the brush...it merely rinses out easily with warm water.
Hello Painter Friends🎨 Have you ever ruined a good paint brush because you forgot to clean it after painting and then the acrylic paint was all dried up and the bristles were stiff and useless? 🖌🖌 This happened to me last week and I wanted to share what I did to save te brushes in case this ever happens to you. I know there are other ways to clean brushes using chemicals but I wanted to share a safe alternative using common household items. Thanks for watching 💫💫💫
Looks like hand sanitizer is the big winner. Will have to give it a try. Also, what can you do for a brush that was left in the water too long and now the hairs are all bent (curled). Anything?
I’ve tried pressing them between heavy books and for round brushes I’ve used rubber bands to try and get the shape back… but sorry to say that I haven’t really been very successful..
I have an ancient one-serving bottle of vodka that I have used for decades. We got a dozen bottles as a prize at a business party and taking one for my small brushes was perfect! If a brush got stiff when painting, I soaked it in the vodka - alcohol - and it loosened it up. The floating debris kept any curious teenager out of it... rolling my eyes......
Watching from the U.S., you just saved my brushes! Thank you!
Murphy's Oil Soap is the bst for cleaning brushed used for acrylic and oils.
TIP - A similar brush cleaning TIP for us who use oil paints (on top of dried acrylic paint) as a finishing glaze to highlight colors and add depth and dimension to the painting is this - laundry detergent liquid and other times Murphy's Oil Soap.
Because oil paints dry slower than acrylics but are denser than acrylics, I soak my oil paint brushes in laundry detergent which is a stronger cleaning solution than kitchen soap liquids.
I do the same soaking, wiping, rinsing in luke-warm water, and wiping dry steps you demonstrated in your excellent video, And I have not (yet?) lost either a dried acrylic or stiff oil paint brush.
Happy painting!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge here - much appreciated! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Love your videos and your artwork! One brush cleaning tip I've used for over 50 years is to use a fine wire brush when I'm cleaning my brushes after use. First I rinse in water or solvent (depending on which type of paint) and then use the wire brush to get the thickened paint that stays at the top of the bristles near the metal ferrule. Then I rinse again in dish soap then water for acrylics or solvent for oil two more times. I have brushes that are over 30 years old and still very usable.
Thanks, again.
Chris Soniat
That is such a great tip, thank you for sharing. I’ll definitely try it out 👌
Acetone dissolves plastic. Acrylic paint is plastic. Soak the hairs only. You don't want acetone on the finish of the handle. Pour just enough into a metal can to cover the hairs, but not go above the ferrule. Leave the can outside for a few hours. Go check to see how it's working every hour after that. When the acetone has dissolved most of the acrylic emulsion, then dish soap works much faster and more completely.
This works best on natural hair. Good synthetic brushes can also handle acetone. Cheap synthetic hair can't.
Although, some cheap brushes are actually improved by this treatment in the sense that, the acetone very mildly eats away at the fibers, leaving a gentle "tooth." That makes the brush hold more water, and hence, more paint. That's a good thing for large wash brushes.
I learned this trick 40 years ago from my professor, Maurice Papier. It works like a charm!
I usually take care of my brushes. On some rare occasions that someone or something demands immediate attention (a crying kid, medical emergency or kitchen fire) I've been known to forget my good brush-cleaning habits. When that happens, this method has saved me a lot of money and hassle. ...Hope that helps others. 😃
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your tips and advice - much appreciated! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you so much for this! I have several brushes that need help! One got stuck together with gloss medium 😬
Thank u so much for the acetone tip, just saved 5 of my brushes ❤
I use Murphy's Oil soap and it does an excellent job and is not as abrasive as our dish soaps in the US. no oil is not left in the brush...it merely rinses out easily with warm water.
I’m w you. Murphy is by far the best And easiest.
Thank you so much for this video. I saved 5 of my brushes by doing this and now trying to make it a habit to use this cleaning method!
Great tip 👍. It happens to every painter from time to time, so you made the world a little bit better 😉
Murphy’s has always saved my brushes! I never tried dish soap. Maybe next time I will.
Just what I have been needing very good and very thorough thank you very much
Great advice. I used this to remove built up acrylic floor polish
Thanks Marie, I use the liquid for oil brushes, but never tried this for acrylic
After the soap try a bit of olive oil to recondition the bristles/hair. Even better for synthetics is brush soap!
Thank you for a very good video👍
I use 409 cleaning solution and that works well too :) Thanks for sharing!
Hello Painter Friends🎨 Have you ever ruined a good paint brush because you forgot to clean it after painting and then the acrylic paint was all dried up and the bristles were stiff and useless? 🖌🖌 This happened to me last week and I wanted to share what I did to save te brushes in case this ever happens to you. I know there are other ways to clean brushes using chemicals but I wanted to share a safe alternative using common household items.
Thanks for watching 💫💫💫
Murphy’s Oil Soap works well too! Thanks for your information. I live in Canada.
Great tip’ Marie Louise, as it happens from time to time!
Looks like hand sanitizer is the big winner. Will have to give it a try. Also, what can you do for a brush that was left in the water too long and now the hairs are all bent (curled). Anything?
I’ve tried pressing them between heavy books and for round brushes I’ve used rubber bands to try and get the shape back… but sorry to say that I haven’t really been very successful..
you can also use hand sanitizer to clean up your brushes as it alcohol in it eats away acrylic paints
Great I’m going to try that for sure, thanks so much!
Wow !! Thanks for sharing 🙏❤️
I m from India what i can use to save my brushes
Super merci
i use hand sanitizer it works pour out the size of a quarter smoosh brush around and rince :)
I have an ancient one-serving bottle of vodka that I have used for decades. We got a dozen bottles as a prize at a business party and taking one for my small brushes was perfect! If a brush got stiff when painting, I soaked it in the vodka - alcohol - and it loosened it up. The floating debris kept any curious teenager out of it... rolling my eyes......
Haha I have a teenager in the house and I’m sure it’d stop him also 😆 BTW great tip, thanks so much for sharing 🎨
Have you tried denatured alcohol? It is supposed to dissolve acrylic paint.
Murphy Oil Soap overnight.
Alcohol hand sanitizer is very effective and quick.
I m going to give that a try, thanks for sharing!
Backing soda does a better cleaning!
This happens to me all the time. My bad habit…