Paint brush cleaner

[Slowpoke]

Does any one have a formula for homemade cleaner for brushes used in waterbase paint? The box store wants $8 a qt (for all paints) but I think it would get used up pretty fast. The heel if my brushes tend to be difficult to clean even with a comb.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Garden hose.

 

[SweetFeet]

I just use ordinary liquid dish soap and hot water for cleaning water based paint.

But before I start painting, I dampen the entire bristles - making sure to then squeeze out ALL excess moisture with a cloth. (If oil based paint, I dampen brush with mineral spirits. If water based, obviously I dampen with water). Discovered by accident when I had to clean a brush just prior to painting because the paint had gotten a little too dry on there while I did some errands (though I had wrapped it up in a plastic bag). After washing it, didn't seem to wick the paint up nearly as high into the bristles...or at least the paint does not adhere to them real well because they are already damp.

 

[Stephen Newell]

If it doesn't have some paint up toward the handle that has dried, I just us a little dish liquid and wash with a garden hose of power washer. After cleaning if there is some dried paint on it I will soak with lacquer thinner to get the rest off.

 

[Dick2]

Sometimes I just hand-wash with dish soap in the sink - but most of the time I just buy cheap brushes and then throw the brush away when I am done with the paint job.

 

[beanman]

saw this at a home and garden show. to clean water based paint brushes. use a little dishwashing soap and a little fabric softener. swish the brush around in it and they come completely clean and smell good too. it works great.

 

[Slowpoke]

Verrry interesting!
I'll try it.

 

[Duner Wi]

Between washings I store my latex brush in the freezer wrapped in cling film.