How to clean paint brushes: latex, oil-based and dried paint

Step by step: how to clean paint brushes

Safety first. Mineral spirits and paint thinner are flammable and give off fumes: work outdoors or with windows open, away from pilot lights, heaters and smoking, and wear gloves. Rags soaked with oil-based paint or solvent can catch fire; USFA advises keeping oily rags in airtight containers away from heat. Never pour thinner or paint down a drain or onto the ground.

1. 1

   Scrape out the extra paint

   Wipe both sides of the brush on the rim of the can, then brush out the rest on newspaper or cardboard until it leaves only a faint mark. The less paint left in the bristles, the less water or solvent you need. Do this before the paint starts to skin over.

2. 2

   Check the can for the right cleaner

   The label tells you what cleans up the paint. “Soap and water cleanup” means latex or acrylic; mineral spirits or paint thinner means oil-based or alkyd. Shellac and lacquer need their own solvents, listed on the can.

3. 3

   Latex paint: wash with warm soapy water

   Run warm water through the bristles and add a few drops of dish soap. Work the soap in with your fingers from the ferrule (the metal band) to the tips, then rinse. Repeat until the water runs clear, usually two or three rounds.

4. 4

   Oil-based paint: swirl in solvent, then repeat

   Pour an inch or two of mineral spirits into a disposable container. Dip and swirl the brush, pressing the bristles against the bottom, for about a minute. Move to a second container of clean solvent and repeat until the solvent stays nearly clear, then wash with warm soapy water to remove the solvent.

5. 5

   Comb the bristles straight

   Run a brush comb from the ferrule down to the tips on both sides to pull out leftover paint and straighten the bristles. Rinse again if the comb brings up color. Paint left near the ferrule is what turns brushes stiff.

6. 6

   Spin or shake out the water

   Spin the brush in a brush spinner inside an empty bucket, or shake it hard outdoors, to throw off most of the water. Blot the bristles with a lint-free rag. Do not dry it by pressing on a hard surface, which bends the tips.

7. 7

   Dry it in its keeper

   Slide the brush back into its cardboard keeper or wrap it in paper to hold the shape, then hang it by the handle or lay it flat to dry. Never stand a wet brush on its bristles. It should be ready to use in a few hours.

8. 8

   Dispose of rinse water and solvent properly

   Let used mineral spirits sit in a sealed jar for a few days so the paint settles, then pour the clear solvent off to reuse. Let the sludge dry out and take it, with old thinner, to a household hazardous waste collection. Follow local rules for latex rinse water, and never use a storm drain.

What to clean each type of paint off with

The best way to clean paint brushes is the cleanup method on the can; water-based coatings take soap and water, and oil-based ones need a solvent. Purdy’s cleanup guide says to check the paint label for the recommended solvent and to work it through the bristles in a lined tray rather than soaking the brush.

Benjamin Moore gives the same split: hot water with a few drops of dish detergent for latex, and pressing the bristles repeatedly into a small container of thinner for oil-based paint, then reshaping the bristles before drying.

How to clean a paint brush with dried paint

Soften the paint first, then work it out; a brush with fully hardened paint deep in the ferrule may not fully recover. For latex, Purdy suggests softening dried paint with hot soapy water, then working the soap through and rinsing, repeating as needed.

• Latex: soak only the bristles (not the ferrule) in hot soapy water for 30 to 60 minutes, then comb and rinse. A commercial brush cleaner made for dried latex helps on stubborn brushes.
• Oil-based: soak the bristles in mineral spirits or a brush restorer product, following its label, then comb, rinse in solvent and wash with soap.
• Suspend the brush so the bristle tips do not rest on the bottom of the container, or they will bend permanently.
• If the bristles stay stiff after two rounds, keep the brush for rough jobs like stain or glue and buy a new one for finish work.

How to store a brush between coats without washing it

Wrap it airtight. If you are coming back to the same paint within a day, wrap the wet brush tightly in plastic wrap or a plastic bag, squeezing out the air, and keep it out of the sun. For overnight breaks, put the wrapped brush in the refrigerator, then let it warm up for 30 minutes before painting.

This works for both latex and oil-based paint, but it only buys a day or two. Wash the brush properly when you finish the job. If you painted outdoor furniture, our guide to cleaning outdoor furniture covers prep before the next coat.

Can you pour paint thinner or paint water down the drain?

Not paint thinner, ever. The EPA lists paints and solvents as household hazardous waste and says pouring them down drains, on the ground or into storm sewers is improper disposal; keep them in their original labeled containers and take them to a local collection program.

For latex rinse water, rules vary by city and septic system, so check with your local waste agency. A good habit is to wipe brushes nearly clean on paper first, which leaves very little paint in the water. Store leftover thinner and paint away from the house if you can; USFA recommends keeping paints and similar flammables in a shed.

Mistakes to avoid

• Leaving a brush standing on its bristles in water or thinner overnight, which bends them for good.
• Letting water or solvent sit in the ferrule, which loosens the glue and splays the bristles.
• Pouring mineral spirits down the sink or into a storm drain.
• Balling up solvent-soaked rags in an open trash can, where they can catch fire.
• Waiting until the end of a long day to clean brushes, after the paint has dried in the heel.