The Correct Way to Clean Acrylic Paint Brushes

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Learn from art experts on the best ways to maintain your brushes
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Acrylic paints are so fun to use, and after a paint session, you might be thinking, “Do I really have to clean my brushes?” Yes—yes, you do! Cleaning acrylic paintbrushes right after painting is very important. Not only does it help to preserve and maintain the bristles of your brushes, but it also prevents unwanted paint colors from returning during your next project. But how do you properly clean them? We spoke to painting specialist Patrick Coye to teach you how to clean acrylic paintbrushes to ensure they last a long time.

Cleaning Acrylic Paintbrushes: Quick Steps

  1. Remove excess paint from your brush on a rag or paper towel.
  2. Place the brush bristles under lukewarm water.
  3. Massage gentle hand soap or artist’s soap into the bristles.
  4. Rinse with lukewarm water until the water runs clear.
  5. Pat dry on a cloth or towel and lay flat to dry.
Section 1 of 6:

Cleaning Your Acrylic Paintbrushes

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Clean Acrylic Paint Brushes
    Coye recommends lowering your brush into a cup of water and swirling the bristles around the bottom for a few seconds. [1] Avoid submerging the brush for a long period of time; just swish the brush around to dislodge any paint. [2]
    • If you use a cup of water to rinse brushes between colors, you can use this or clean water.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Clean Acrylic Paint Brushes
    Brush the bristles of the paintbrush over a paper towel or rag until the brush stops making marks. Doing this helps remove paint before washing the brush. [3]
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Clean Acrylic Paint Brushes
    Turn on the hot and cold faucets until the water is lukewarm. Then, hold your brush under the stream of water for 5 to 10 seconds to rinse it. Scrub gently, rotating the brush and pinching the bristles so the water hits all sides. [4]
    • Always hold the brush bristle side down when cleaning it. This way, water won’t travel up the bristles into the brush handle. [5]
    • The water pressure helps dislodge paint that you may not have been able to clean just from wiping the brush.
    • Coye suggests using a brush comb during this step to help get every chunk of paint off of the bristles. [6]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Clean Acrylic Paint Brushes
    Turn off the water, then put about a teaspoon of gentle hand soap or artist’s soap onto the bristles. Use your fingers to massage the soap into the brush. [7]
    • If you are washing a big brush, make sure you are massaging the soap into the inner and outer bristles.
    • It's important to work the soap into the place where the bristles meet the ring around the stem of the brush, which is called the ferrule . [8] Neglecting to clean the area of bristles around the ferrule can cause the bristles to harden, altering the shape of the brush.
  5. Place the brush under lukewarm water. Use your fingers to gently massage the soap out of the bristles. Continue rinsing and massaging until the water from the brush runs clear and soap-free. [9]
    • Make sure “[the bristles] aren’t opening up like a tree,” advises Coye. Keep the bristles down to preserve the brush’s shape. [10]
    • If your paintbrush is extra dirty, repeat the wash cycle. Massage in more soap, and rinse thoroughly until the water runs clear.
    • Swirl the brush in your palm to help remove excess paint and soap suds. The swirling motion mimics how you used your brush when painting.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Clean Acrylic Paint Brushes
    It's not good for paintbrushes to be wet for extended periods of time. After washing your brush, wrap the bristles in a paper towel or a clean rag, then gently squeeze to release any excess water. [11]
    • Lay your brushes out to dry horizontally. Storing them vertically on their bristles can bend the bristles out of shape.
    • Mold the brush back into its original shape while pressing it dry to help preserve the bristles. [12]
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Section 2 of 6:

Can you get dry acrylic paint out of a paintbrush?

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  1. Yes, you can remove dried paint from a brush, but it may take a little extra work. Soap and water alone won’t get dry paint off a paintbrush (which is why it’s important to always wash your brush right away). The key is to break down the dried paint and soften the brush’s bristles . Rather than throwing a brush away, many artists will use these products and methods to remove dried-on paint: [13]
    • Murphy’s Oil Soap: Let the bristles rest in the oil for 1 to 2 days, then wash as normal.
    • Hand sanitizer: Swirl the bristles in hand sanitizer, massaging gently before washing as usual.
    • Window cleaner: Spray the bristles with the cleaner, massage gently, and then wash.
    • Isopropyl alcohol or nail polish remover: Dip the bristles in the chemical, then rinse and wash as usual.
    • Vinegar: Heat vinegar on the stove, remove from heat once boiling, and carefully pour over brush in an aluminum baking pan. Let sit for at least 10 minutes before washing. [14]
Section 3 of 6:

Do you have to use an acrylic brush cleaner?

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  1. No, you don’t have to use an acrylic brush or artist’s cleaner. While it’s not necessary to use a special brush cleaner, it can lengthen the life of your brush. These cleaners are specifically designed to wash away acrylic paint and be used on paintbrush bristles. Not only do they clean and degrease brush bristles, but they also condition them. [15]
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Section 4 of 6:

Tools to Clean Paintbrushes

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  1. Brush tubs and mats can help you clean your paintbrushes. While cleaning a paintbrush is relatively easy, there are a few tools out there that can help the process, especially if you don’t like getting your hands dirty. Here are the best artist tools you can use to clean your brushes: [16]
    • Brush tubs or basins are designed to hold your paint water and wash your brush all at once. These small buckets typically have 2 sides: one for dirty water and one for clean water. They also feature ridges and grooves to help knock paint off bristles.
    • Brush mats can be used in or out of the sink. They have bumps, ridges, and grooves that can help gently pry paint off of brushes.
    • Brush washers are similar to brush tubs, but many even have a clean water reserve and automatic water swirler. Some also have a special place to hold your brushes while they dry.
Section 5 of 6:

How to Keep Paintbrushes Healthy

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Clean Acrylic Paint Brushes
    Several habits can make cleaning your brush easier and protect the bristles from damage. One of the most important things to remember is to not let paint dry on the bristles. Dipping your paintbrush into water after each use is a great way to prevent the paint on the bristles from hardening. [17]
    • If you are using multiple brushes when painting and are taking long breaks between each brush, remember to dip the brushes back into the paint occasionally to keep them from drying out.
  2. While it’s important to keep the bristles of a brush wet, soaking a paintbrush can be damaging. Avoid leaving your brush in water when you’re not using it. Instead, swirl the bristles in the water (to remove excess paint), then set down on a paper towel or rag. [18]
    • Always lay your paintbrushes horizontally when you’re not using them. This allows excess water to drip off the bristles naturally.
    • Leaving a paintbrush in water can bend the bristles and spread them out, affecting the brush’s shape.
  3. The more you clean your paintbrushes, the better! Cleaning your brushes often prevents paint from drying on the bristles, which in turn helps extend the life of the brush. [19]
    • As a general rule, clean your paintbrush between every new color and after every use.
  4. When painting, you may be tempted to dip the bristles of the brush completely in the paint so the entire head of the brush is submerged. However, doing this can get paint around the ferrule of the brush, making it extremely difficult to clean. Over time, this can damage the brush and splay the bristles.. [20]
    • Instead of dipping the brush in the paint up to the ferrule, dip only up to ¾ of the bristles.
    • Remember, the ferrule is where the bristles and the brush handle meet. [21]
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Section 6 of 6:

FAQs

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  1. 1
    What happens if you don’t clean your paintbrush? If you don’t clean your paintbrushes, the bristles can harden or become misshapen, explains Coye. [22] The best way to ensure your paintbrushes last a long time is to wash them regularly. [23]
  2. 2
    How do you store paintbrushes? Always store your paintbrushes horizontally when wet. After cleaning your paintbrushes, make sure you lay them out to dry horizontally, not upside down or right-side up (this could damage your brushes). [24]
    • When a paintbrush is dry, store it with the bristles up in a carrying case or brush holder to prolong the brush’s life.
  3. 3
    How do you get rid of acrylic wastewater? Safely dispose of acrylic wastewater by diluting or separating the water. There are many ways to dispose of acrylic paint water in a way that won’t clog your drains: [25]
    • Place a drain screen (or coffee filter) over your sink drain. This separates the solids of paint from the water.
    • Dilute the paint water with more clean water, and then drain.
    • Pour your paint water into a 5-gallon bucket with 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) of clumping cat litter .
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Can I use tester's lacquer thinner with a brush cleaner to clean an acrylic brush?
    Mark Spelman
    Construction Professional
    Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.
    Mark Spelman
    Construction Professional
    Expert Answer
    Yes, using a lacquer thinner along in conjunction with a brush cleaner should work fine.
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    Not Helpful 7 Helpful 9
  • Question
    Can you clean brushes that have dried paint on them?
    Mark Spelman
    Construction Professional
    Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.
    Mark Spelman
    Construction Professional
    Expert Answer
    No, if paint has already dried the brush cannot be used anymore and should be discarded.
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  • Question
    How do I get dry watercolor acrylic paint off paintbrushes?
    Community Answer
    Soaking them in nail polish remover will soften the bristles and break down the dried up paint.
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      • Remember that cleaning your brushes should only take a minute or so, which is a small price to pay for keeping your brushes healthy, especially if they are high quality.
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      References

      1. ↑ Patrick Coye. Painting Specialist. Expert Interview. 22 July 2020.
      2. ↑ http://www.art-is-fun.com/how-to-clean-paintbrushes
      3. ↑ https://trembelingart.com/brush-cleaning-basics/
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/Vjx0vSx80W8?t=55
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/Vjx0vSx80W8?t=72
      6. ↑ Patrick Coye. Painting Specialist. Expert Interview. 22 July 2020.
      7. ↑ http://www.art-is-fun.com/how-to-clean-paintbrushes
      8. ↑ https://www.angelabandurka.com/blog/2017/2/12/glossary-of-terms
      9. ↑ https://willkempartschool.com/how-to-clean-an-acrylic-paintbrush/
      1. ↑ Patrick Coye. Painting Specialist. Expert Interview. 22 July 2020.
      2. ↑ http://www.art-is-fun.com/how-to-clean-paintbrushes
      3. ↑ https://willkempartschool.com/how-to-clean-an-acrylic-paintbrush/
      4. ↑ https://trembelingart.com/brush-cleaning-basics/
      5. ↑ https://todayshomeowner.com/painting/video/how-to-clean-hardened-paint-from-paintbrushes-naturally/
      6. ↑ https://willkempartschool.com/how-to-clean-an-acrylic-paintbrush/
      7. ↑ https://trembelingart.com/brush-cleaning-basics/
      8. ↑ http://www.art-is-fun.com/how-to-clean-a-paintbrush/
      9. ↑ https://etchrlab.com/blogs/news/brush-care
      10. ↑ https://etchrlab.com/blogs/news/brush-care
      11. ↑ http://www.art-is-fun.com/how-to-clean-a-paintbrush/
      12. ↑ https://www.angelabandurka.com/blog/2017/2/12/glossary-of-terms
      13. ↑ Patrick Coye. Painting Specialist. Expert Interview. 22 July 2020.
      14. ↑ https://lachri.com/stop-destroying-your-paint-brushes/
      15. ↑ https://southernadoornmentsdecor.com/how-to-care-for-paint-brushes-southern-adoornments/
      16. ↑ https://www.davidmkessler.com/blog/2020/2/26/how-to-dispose-of-acrylic-paint-water

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To clean acrylic paint brushes, hold them under lukewarm water for 5-10 seconds, scrubbing gently with your fingers. For any particularly stubborn pieces of paint, try pinching the bristles of the brush while continuing to run water over the paintbrush. After rinsing the soap off, squirt a dime-size amount of soap in the palm of your hand and swirl the bristles around in it. Rinse the brush again and massage the bristles to get the last of the soap out. For tips on how to maintain your brushes while painting, keep reading our General Contractor’s review!

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