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How to Clean a Paintbrush
Proper cleaning and storage of your paintbrushes is critical for
extending their life span. A poorly maintained brush won't produce
satisfactory results and may have to be thrown out prematurely.
Unless you are planning on using the brush later that day it must
be thoroughly cleaned and stored to maintain its performance and
shape. If you are planning to use the brush with the same finish
later that day it can be stored in a container of the appropriate
solvent (read the cleanup direction on the can for more info) until
needed. You can also wrap the brush in plastic to shield the bristles
from air for shorter re-coat periods.
Cleaning the Brush
For water based finished you can clean the brush
in a sink with soap and water. Lather, rinse, and repeat ensuring that
all soap has been washed from the brush. If the finish is anything
other than water based follow these steps.
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Clean the brush in a small container with the proper solvent.
(Read the back of your finish can for more info.) Work the solvent
into the bristles with you hands (wear gloves) and use a brush
comb (available at most hardware stores) or old fork to separate
the bristles and help the solvent clean.
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Repeat step 1 with a container of clean solvent
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Twirl the brush inside a trashcan or bucket to remove any extra
solvent. TIP - Most commercial paint stores carry a paint spinner.
This tool can be used to quickly spin the brush or roller to
remove most of the solvents or water. If you do a lot of painting
or refinishing this tool is well worth the price (about
$20).
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Wash the brush with warm water and soap. Shampoo works well and
helps to replenish the oils in natural bristles. Rinse the brush
thoroughly to remove any soap remaining and spin the excess water
from the brush.
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Wrap the brush in brown paper or a heavy paper towel to help
re-form the bristles. Secure the paper with masking tape or
re-insert in original cardboard protector.
That's all there is to cleaning a paintbrush. The whole process
takes about ten minutes. Be sure to store your brushes flat or
vertically from a hook.
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