Old Paint Brush. History Talk (0) Comments Share. Old Paint Brush You can find brushes like this all over the waters of Qu. Folklore says that it was part of an ancient ritual that ended by throwing these brushes into the sea. Whatever his origin-story, it is an excellent brush. It doesn’t matter if paintbrushes have been fossilized by oil- or water-based finishes of any type. You can restore any brush with a simple soaking in brush cleaner. Whether it’s caked with dried paint or varnish, a crusty paintbrush can be restored to like-new condition. Wood handle paint brushes,set of 3,wallpaper brush,artist brush,wallpaper,thick bristles,9-11' long,distressed,old paint brush,Vulcanized MyThreeSonsVintage 5 out of 5 stars (1,342). Pour enough white vinegar in an old pot to cover the bristles of your paintbrushes. Bring the vinegar to a boil over medium high heat. Remove the pot from heat and submerge the bristles of your paintbrushes in the hot vinegar. Do not submerge wooden handles.

• Restoring Old Paint Brushes
• Soften Old Paint Brushes

You pull a clean, fresh paintbrush out of the pile, and a smile stretches instantly across your face. There is simply no better feeling!

Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could keep your brushes in this good of shape for as long as possible? It may not come as a surprise, but all it takes is some regular care and maintenance.

But, while dirty brushes are the bane of every painter’s existence, they happen. Whether they are accidentally forgotten about after a long day in the studio or merely on their last leg, seasoned artists and brush makers have a few tricks up their sleeves for bringing your brushes back to life.

So, think twice before you pop that trashcan lid, and consider these twelve tips for caring for and salvaging your favorite brushes.

“Repeat the washing and rinsing process until the soap and water runs clear. Keep your water warm, but not hot, as hot water may cause any remaining paint to clot.” - Winsor & Newton

“Soaking your brushes in fabric softener periodically will help restore softness and pliability to their bristles, keeping them from becoming brittle and breaking off.” - Paint Nite

“You can use vegetable oil for cleaning a palette and dish soap and water for brushes. Just don’t let them sit in the water—it will ruin them. But, if they do lose shape, you can stick them in boiling water for a few seconds and they will reshape.” - Lori McNee, Fine Art Tips

“ Remove all excess paint with a soft rag or paper towel. Never let your brush rest on its head. There are many accessories available that will suspend your brush.” - Princeton Artist Brush Co.

“The most important thing to remember with regard to caring for your acrylic brushes is not to let the paint dry following use, as the paint is not soluble in this state and will produce a plastic-like dried texture.” - Winsor & Newton

“Soak oil paint-covered brushes for 5-10 minutes in baby oil (yes, baby oil). This gets a lot of paint and medium off before washing thoroughly with mild soap and warm water. “ - Teri Granger Martin

“The area near the ferrule is often the hardest to clean, but it's actually just as important for maintaining a brush's shape as the tip. Any paint residue that coats the bristles at their base will prevent them from coming together at the top.” - Craftsy

“If the ferrell gets gummed up, I was told that you can soak your brushes in rubbing alcohol for a couple of days and that will solve the problem.” - Carol McIntyre

“After washing with dish soap and water I finish the job as a usual rule with olive oil! You fight oil base with oil! Won't believe how much oil paint is removed from what I thought was a clean brush! The olive oil keeps the bristles soft as well!”

“Grab a glass cup and fill it about 1-2 inches deep with distilled white vinegar. Heat it in the microwave for 1-1.5 minutes then submerge your nasty paintbrushes into it… Take some dish soap (Dawn, Palmolive, etc.) and rinse off the brushes in warm soapy water.” - Crafty Morning

“If you have a painting project in mind, but the only paintbrushes you have are old, hard, and frayed, don’t go through the trouble of buying new ones. Revive old acrylic brushes with hair gel instead! Coat frayed bristles with any hair gel to mend the tips, then wash and soak them in fabric softener. They’ll be good as new!” - Paint Nite

Restoring Old Paint Brushes

“No matter what works for you, ensure that you reshape your brushes to the way they first looked when you bought them before you let them dry.” - Rosemary and Co

Hungry for more painting tips? Check out this smart advice for all painters we scored at the Plein Air Convention this year!

*Tips may work differently for acrylic and oil paint brushes. Make sure you double check any recommendations with the type of brush and paint you are using, as it varies with paint types.

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This is a messy way to go. You need a thinner bucket. I don't understand why commercial painters love to fling thinner around, it's a toxin and a fire hazard. Anything you aerosolize, you breathe.

Not being snarky - being concerned for your health. And your pocket book. I get that.

Soften Old Paint Brushes

I was trained to clean those brushes after the day by wiping them out, giving a good rinse in a thinner bucket to knock off any solids, and shampooing with Murphy's. Every Day After Painting. There's no reason for a brush to get to this state. The next morning, it's dry and clean and ready to go. You can also knock off any cruddy build up through the day in a thinner bucket. Which is a zinc or steel bucket, with a lid, with a grate inside to run the bristles over. Paint solids fall to the bottom and the thinner can be used until it's exhausted. No breathing micro droplets, none on the skin, and the fire hazard stays contained. Yes, paint thinner is a fire hazard. It comes from the same cracking tower as motor oil and gasoline, it's very dirty stuff. It often contains lead and other nasty things too. You don't want to breathe it.

You can also give most brushes a 72 hour soak in Murphys as a maintenance deep clean. Every six months or so. This can also rescue brushes you've already trashed. No scraping or grinding needed if you clean up every day though. That's time out of your life. Go watch a game! The five minutes to wash brushes is worth having a clean dry well conditioned tool at hand the next morning. But a Saturday afternoon? Nah.

I'm trained as a portrait painter, but I renovate houses too. And I have a brush fetish, I have over a thousand high quality ones. I clean them all the same way, studio or house. They're all in great shape. Washing daily is not a problem, the oil in oil soap is a great conditioner for natural hairs. Just let them air dry out in the open, they could mildew in a closed container. Takes them inside in freezing weather. Love them and they'll love you back.