Clean brushes immediately after use. Do not soak brushes in solvent or water, as this can damage the bristles.
Cleaning oil-base paints, varnishes, lacquers and shellacs from your brush
Closely follow the manufacturer's instructions to select the proper cleaning solvent (mineral spirits or paint thinner for paint and varnish, denatured alcohol for shellac, etc.) Pour the solvent into a container and dip the brush into the solvent. Work thinner through the brush bristles, dipping up and down in container several times. Spin the brush into a waste area to remove excess thinner and then repeat process with a clean container and clean thinner.
Cleaning water-base paints from your brush
Warm water and mild soap suds are the best cleaning solution for water-base paints. Prepare soapy water and pour into a clean container. Dip the brush into the mixture, working the soap through the brush bristles. Follow with a clear water rinse. Repeat the process if necessary.
Always use a clean container with clean soapy water and follow with a clear water rinse. For stubborn water-base paints, try mineral spirits or lacquer thinner, followed by warm soapy water and a clean water rinse.
PAINT DOCTOR TIP: Consider using one set of synthetic tools for oil-base products and another set for water-base products. It is much easier to clean the brushes if you don’t switch back and forth between the two types of bases.
Use a brush comb. This tool is very useful in cleaning through the center of the brush and removing any residue near the ferrule’s edge. Paint residue left in the brush will harden and "set" the bristles, which will lose their bend recovery. Once clean, use the comb to straighten the bristles or filaments to prevent "fingering". Reshape the brush to its original shape, replace in its keeper and lay flat to dry. (After hard use, it may be necessary to steam synthetic brushes or dip bristle brushes in boiling water to aid in reshaping.)
