Tips About Cleaning Paint Brushes After House Painting

It is one thing to stand back and admire the fabulous paint job you have just completed in your bedroom; it is another thing to clean up the mess. Sure, picking up the tarp and wiping up spills before they dry is a cinch, but what about cleaning those pesky paint brushes? Whatever you do, please do it quickly before they become hard. Good quality paint brushes can be expensive, so it's best to take care of the ones you have.

• After using latex paint, hold paint brushes under cool running water, gently manipulating the bristles to get into the nooks and crannies, kneading out pieces of paint. For extra help, squish a little dish detergent through, continuing to manipulate and knead the bristles, ending it all with a complete cool rinse.


• After using oil paint, follow the previous step by rinsing with cool water and manipulating and kneading the bristles to get the paint out but don't use dish detergent. Pour some paint thinner in a glass jar and place the brushes inside for 30 minutes. Rinse under cool water, then mixing in a little liquid dish detergent, continuously manipulating and kneading the brushes to get out any extra paint. 


• After the final rinsing of the paint brushes, shake off excess water. Take the wooden handle between your two palms and vigorously roll the handle back and forth, until paint brush bristles begin to fill out from drying. Place them on a dry spot for a few hours, then store them in a safe place.