How to Clean Oil‐Based Paint

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Whether you're painting your living room or working on a landscape to hang over the mantle, oil-based paint offers a rich, smooth look that's hard to beat. The problem with it, though, is that it's usually much more difficult to clean up that water-based paints. However, if you know the right products and procedures to use, you can make cleaning up oil paints much easier. Using products that can cut through the oil is the key, so whether you want to remove the paint from your brushes, your skin, or fabric, you need a cleansing agent that will break it down so you can rinse it away.

Things You Should Know

  • Use mineral spirits and dish soap to clean oil-based paint off paintbrushes.
  • Use oil, like coconut or olive oil, to remove oil-based paint from your skin.
  • Blot oil-based paint stains on fabric with turpentine to remove them.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Removing Oil-Based Paint from Brushes

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  1. To help thin the oil paint on your brushes, you’ll need a paint solvent. Odorless mineral spirits work well, so fill a small glass or ceramic bowl with a small amount of the liquid and place it in the sink where you plan to clean the brushes. [1]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Clean Oil‐Based Paint
    When you’re ready to clean the brush, submerge it in the bowl of mineral spirits to ensure that all of the dirty bristles are coated. Next, rub the brush back and forth against your hand to work the mineral spirits into the bristles. [3]
    • Make sure that you rub both sides of the brush over your hand to ensure that you work the minerals spirits into all of the oil-based paint stains.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Clean Oil‐Based Paint
    After you’ve worked the minerals spirits into the brush, squeeze a small amount of dishwashing liquid soap onto the bristles. Use your fingers to vigorously rub it into the brush. [4]
    • Any dishwashing liquid soap that is marketed as being able to cut through grease will work for cleaning your brushes.
    • The precise amount of dishwashing soap that you’ll need will depend on how large the brush is and how dirty they are. Aim for a 1- to 2-inch (25- to 50-mm) dollop of the liquid.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Clean Oil‐Based Paint
    Once you’ve worked the dishwashing liquid into the brush, use your fingers to carefully squeeze all of the excess liquid from the bristles. Try to remove as much of the paint, mineral spirits, and dishwashing soap residue from the brush as possible as you wring it out. [5]
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Clean Oil‐Based Paint
    After you’ve removed as much of the liquid from the brush as you can, turn the water on in the sink and let it run for 30 seconds or so until it’s hot. Run the brush under the water to rinse it clean, and squeeze it again to ensure that you remove all of the lingering residue. [6]
    • If the brush is extremely dirty or the paint stains are old, you may need to repeat all of these steps two or more times to remove all of the paint.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Clean Oil‐Based Paint
    When you’ve removed all of the paint that you can from the brush, submerge it in the mineral spirits again. Next, squirt a pea-size amount of dishwashing liquid on it and work both into the spirits and soap into the bristles with your fingers. [7]
    • After you’ve worked the cleansers into the brush this time, do not rinse them out.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Clean Oil‐Based Paint
    With the minerals spirits and dishwashing liquid still on the brush, set it down on a folded piece of paper towel. Squeeze the paper towel around the bristles to remove the any remaining liquid. Leave the brush out to air dry completely. [8]
    • Leaving the film of minerals spirits and dishwashing liquid on the brush to dry will help keep the bristles soft so it’s like new when you use it the next time.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Washing Oil-Based Paint Off Your Skin

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  1. To create a cleanser to remove the paint from your skin, add a small scoop of coconut oil and 2 to 3 drops of lemon essential oil to a bowl. Mix the ingredients well to ensure that they’re thoroughly combined. [9]
    • You can use any type of oil, such as olive oil, jojoba oil, or canola oil, to help break down the oil-based paint. Coconut oil usually work best because it is solid at room temperature so it won’t make as big a mess as you rub it into your skin.
    • The amount of coconut oil that you’ll need depends on how much paint is on your skin. Start with a small amount and add more if the paint isn’t coming off.
    • Adding the lemon essential oil is optional. However, it is believed to be an extremely effective cleanser so it may help the paint come off more easily.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Clean Oil‐Based Paint
    After you’ve mixed the coconut oil and lemon essential oil, use your fingers to apply the mixture to the areas where the paint has stained your skin. Massage the coconut oil into your skin until the paint breaks down and comes off. [10]
    • If all of the paint isn’t coming off, add a little more coconut oil to your skin to help break down the remaining paint.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Clean Oil‐Based Paint
    After you’ve removed the paint with the coconut oil, use your usual hand or body soap and water to clean the residue from your skin. Pat your skin dry, and follow up with a moisturizing lotion to keep your skin from drying out. [11]
    • If you have a lot of paint on your skin, you may need to repeat the cleaning process two or more times to remove all of it.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Getting Oil-Based Paint Stains Out Of Fabric

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  1. As soon as you notice that you’ve gotten oil-based paint on fabric, use a utility knife, plastic knife, or even a piece of sturdy cardboard to scrape it off. Next, blot the paint stain with a clean white cloth or rag to absorb any excess moisture from the paint stain. [12]
    • It’s important to use a white cloth to blot the paint stain to ensure that no dye transfer from the cloth to the fabric that you’re cleaning.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Clean Oil‐Based Paint
    After you’ve scraped off and blotted the paint from the fabric, use warm or hot water to rinse the area. You can squeeze the excess moisture from the fabric afterward, but don’t allow it to dry completely. [13]
    • Check the care instructions for the fabric that you’re cleaning. Use the hottest water appropriate to rinse the paint stain.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Clean Oil‐Based Paint
    Once you’ve rinsed the fabric, place it on a clean white towel. Use a clean white cloth to blot the area with turpentine to help lift the paint stain from the fabric. [14]
    • Turpentine may cause some fabrics to fade. Test a small, inconspicuous area of the fabric to ensure that it won’t be damaged.
    • If you don’t want to use turpentine to blot the stain, you can use minerals spirits.
    • You may need to blot the stain with turpentine several times to remove all of the paint.
  4. After you’ve blotted the stain with the turpentine, rub a small amount of dishwashing liquid over the remaining stain. Next, place the fabric is a tub or bucket filled with warm water and allow it to soak overnight. [15]
    • Use a dishwashing liquid that’s designed to cut grease.
    • You can soak the fabric in a sink if you prefer.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Clean Oil‐Based Paint
    When you’re finished soaking the fabric overnight, remove it from the tub or bucket. Use warm water to rinse the dishwashing liquid from the stain in the sink. [16]
  6. After you’ve rinsed the fabric, wash it your washing machine. Use your usual laundry detergent and the hottest water setting that’s appropriate for the fabric. When the item has finished its cycle, dry it as you normally would. [17]
    • If the stain remains after washing the item in the washing machine, treat the area with a prewash stain removing product and wash it again.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Can you dump mineral spirits down the drain after you’ve cleaned the paintbrush?
    Community Answer
    You should never put mineral spirits down the drain as they can contaminate groundwater. Contact your local landfill to see if they could take it for you, or go to a dump.
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  • Question
    Can you do the same thing with a stick that's been dipped in blue oil paint for six months?
    Christopher Friess
    Community Answer
    You can use solvent like cellulose thinner (in German it's 'Nitroverdünnung') to soak the stick. Put the organic thinner/solvent in an old glass or something so that the blue area around on your stick is in the liquid. It is quite aggressive and after a few hours or days (depending on how dry the oil paint is), you will probably be able to clean the stick. Be sure no one mistakes it for water, and warn others by drawing a skull on it or something. The solution is poisonous!
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      Tips

      • Whether you’re cleaning oil-based paint off of brushes, skin, or fabric, it’s important to treat the stains as soon as you notice them. It’s easier to remove fresh paint than it is to get off dried stains.
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      Things You’ll Need

      Cleaning Brushes

      • Non plastic dish
      • Odorless mineral spirits
      • Dishwashing liquid
      • Hot water
      • Paper towel

      Cleaning Skin

      • Coconut oil
      • Lemon essential oil
      • Hand or body soap
      • Water

      Cleaning Fabric

      • Utility knife, plastic knife, or piece of cardboard
      • White cloths
      • Warm water
      • Turpentine
      • Dishwashing liquid
      • Bucket or tub
      • Laundry detergent
      • Washing machine

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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.addicted2decorating.com/diy-basics-how-to-clean-oil-based-paint-out-of-a-brush-in-under-5-minutes.html
      2. ↑ Renée Plevy. Portrait Artist & Educator. Expert Interview. 7 May 2021.
      3. ↑ http://www.addicted2decorating.com/diy-basics-how-to-clean-oil-based-paint-out-of-a-brush-in-under-5-minutes.html
      4. ↑ http://www.addicted2decorating.com/diy-basics-how-to-clean-oil-based-paint-out-of-a-brush-in-under-5-minutes.html
      5. ↑ http://www.addicted2decorating.com/diy-basics-how-to-clean-oil-based-paint-out-of-a-brush-in-under-5-minutes.html
      6. ↑ http://www.addicted2decorating.com/diy-basics-how-to-clean-oil-based-paint-out-of-a-brush-in-under-5-minutes.html
      7. ↑ http://www.addicted2decorating.com/diy-basics-how-to-clean-oil-based-paint-out-of-a-brush-in-under-5-minutes.html
      8. ↑ http://www.addicted2decorating.com/diy-basics-how-to-clean-oil-based-paint-out-of-a-brush-in-under-5-minutes.html
      9. ↑ http://makelyhome.com/remove-oil-based-paint/
      1. ↑ http://makelyhome.com/remove-oil-based-paint/
      2. ↑ http://makelyhome.com/remove-oil-based-paint/
      3. ↑ http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a17299/stains-paint-oil-may07/
      4. ↑ http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a17299/stains-paint-oil-may07/
      5. ↑ http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a17299/stains-paint-oil-may07/
      6. ↑ http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a17299/stains-paint-oil-may07/
      7. ↑ http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a17299/stains-paint-oil-may07/
      8. ↑ http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a17299/stains-paint-oil-may07/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To clean oil-based paint off of your skin, rub an oil like coconut, canola, or olive oil all over the painted area. If you like, you can add lemon essential oil to help the paint come off more easily. Massage the oil into your skin until the paint breaks down and comes off. Wash away the oil with soap and water, then pat your skin dry and apply a moisturizer so your skin doesn’t dry out. If you want to learn how to clean brushes or fabric that have oil paint on them, keep reading!

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