How to Clean Paint Brushes: The Artist's Essential Ritual That Most People Get Wrong

I've ruined more brushes than I care to admit. Back when I first started painting in my twenties, I'd leave them sitting in water overnight thinking I was being clever. Spoiler alert: I wasn't. Those poor brushes turned into sad, splayed mops that couldn't paint a straight line if their bristles depended on it.

The truth about cleaning paint brushes is that it's both simpler and more nuanced than most tutorials suggest. After years of painting professionally and teaching workshops, I've discovered that proper brush care isn't just about getting the paint out—it's about understanding the relationship between your tools, your medium, and the kind of artist you want to be.

The Chemistry Behind the Chaos

Paint brushes are deceptively complex tools. Those bristles—whether natural hair or synthetic—have a microscopic structure that traps paint particles in ways that aren't immediately visible. When acrylic paint dries in those microscopic spaces, it creates a plastic-like bond that's nearly impossible to break. Oil paint, on the other hand, oxidizes and hardens through a completely different chemical process.

I learned this the hard way after destroying a $60 kolinsky sable brush. The heartbreak was real. But it taught me something crucial: cleaning isn't just about removing visible paint. It's about understanding what's happening at a molecular level.

Natural hair brushes have cuticles, just like human hair. These cuticles open and close depending on temperature and pH levels. Synthetic brushes don't have cuticles, but they have their own quirks—tiny grooves and imperfections that can harbor paint residue. This is why the same cleaning method won't work for every brush type.

Water-Based Paints: The Deceptive Easy Ones

Most people think acrylics and watercolors are easy to clean because they're water-based. This assumption has killed more brushes than any other misconception in the art world.

With acrylics, timing is everything. Once that paint starts to dry—and we're talking minutes here, not hours—you're fighting an uphill battle. I keep a container of water next to my palette and swish my brush every time I'm done with a color. Not a gentle dip, mind you. A proper swish. Think of it as giving your brush a quick shower between costume changes.

But here's what nobody tells you: temperature matters enormously. Lukewarm water opens up the bristles and helps release paint particles more effectively than cold water. Too hot, though, and you'll damage the ferrule's glue. I learned this after the ferrule on my favorite flat brush literally fell off mid-painting. Nothing quite ruins your creative flow like your brush disintegrating in your hand.

For stubborn acrylic residue, I've discovered something that sounds ridiculous but works: hair conditioner. A tiny dab worked through the bristles breaks down dried acrylic better than most commercial brush cleaners. The surfactants in conditioner are designed to penetrate and lift residue—turns out they don't discriminate between hair product buildup and paint.

Oil Paint: The Marathon Runner's Challenge

Cleaning oil paint brushes is where things get philosophical. You're not just cleaning; you're performing a ritual that artists have done for centuries. There's something meditative about it, once you accept that it's going to take time.

The old-school method involves turpentine or mineral spirits, but let me share something that changed my practice: safflower oil. Yes, the cooking oil. It breaks down oil paint beautifully and doesn't have the toxic fumes. I stumbled onto this method when I ran out of turps during a late-night painting session and raided my kitchen in desperation.

The process goes like this: First, wipe off excess paint with a rag or paper towel. Really get in there—the less paint on your brush, the easier everything else becomes. Then work safflower oil through the bristles, using your fingers to massage it in. The paint will start to dissolve and release. Wipe again, repeat with fresh oil if needed.

Here's where most people stop, and it's a mistake. You need to get the oil out too. Dawn dish soap—specifically Dawn, not just any dish soap—cuts through oil like nothing else. Work up a lather in your palm, rinse with lukewarm water, and repeat until the water runs clear.

The Forgotten Step That Changes Everything

After all that cleaning, most artists stick their brushes in a jar and call it done. Wrong move. The shape your brush dries in is the shape it wants to keep.

I reshape my brushes while they're still damp. For rounds, I'll twirl them to a point. For flats, I'll gently squeeze the bristles between my fingers to ensure they're aligned. Then—and this is crucial—I lay them flat to dry. Standing brushes upright while wet lets water seep into the ferrule, eventually loosening the glue.

Some artists swear by hanging brushes upside down to dry. I tried this for a while using a contraption I built from coat hangers and clothespins. It looked like a medieval torture device for brushes, and honestly, it was overkill for everyday cleaning. Save that level of dedication for your most expensive brushes.

When Good Brushes Go Bad

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, a brush seems beyond salvation. Before you toss it, try this nuclear option: brush restorer. These solvents are aggressive—we're talking about chemicals that can dissolve dried paint that's been there for months. I use them sparingly, maybe once or twice in a brush's lifetime.

The process is simple but requires patience. Soak the brush in restorer according to the product instructions (usually a few hours), then work the softened paint out with your fingers. The smell is awful, and you'll want gloves, but I've brought brushes back from the dead this way.

That said, there's wisdom in knowing when to let go. A brush that's lost its spring or whose bristles splay in every direction might be ready for a second career. I keep a collection of "retired" brushes for texture work, dry brushing, and applying masking fluid. They're terrible for detail work but perfect for creating rough, organic textures.

The Daily Practice

The best brush care happens in small, consistent actions rather than heroic cleaning sessions. I've developed habits that seemed fussy at first but now feel as natural as breathing.

Between colors, I don't just swish—I do what I call the "tap and swish." Tap the brush on the bottom of your water container to loosen paint, then swish. The percussion helps dislodge particles that swishing alone might miss.

At the end of each painting session, even if I'm planning to paint again tomorrow, I clean thoroughly. The temptation to leave brushes "just overnight" is strong, especially when you're in the flow. Resist it. Future you will be grateful.

I also keep different water containers for different paint types. My warm colors go in one, cools in another. This prevents muddy water from contaminating clean colors and makes the final cleaning easier.

Beyond Basic Cleaning

Once a month, I give my brushes a spa treatment. This involves a deep clean with brush soap (the Masters brand is my go-to), followed by a conditioning treatment. Yes, I condition my brushes like hair. A tiny amount of hair conditioner, worked through and rinsed out, keeps natural bristles supple and synthetic ones smooth.

For brushes that see heavy use, I'll occasionally treat them with a drop of linseed oil (for oil painting brushes) or glycerin (for watercolor brushes) worked into the bristles and shaped. This is left on overnight, then washed out before the next use. It's like a deep conditioning mask for your brushes.

The Economics of Brush Care

Let's talk money for a moment. A good brush can cost anywhere from $10 to $100 or more. Proper cleaning extends a brush's life by years. I have brushes from art school that still perform beautifully because I've cared for them properly. Compare that to the graveyard of crusty brushes from my early years, and the math becomes clear.

But it's not just about money. A well-maintained brush performs differently. It holds paint better, releases it more predictably, and maintains its shape through countless paintings. The relationship you develop with a well-cared-for brush is irreplaceable. You learn its quirks, its sweet spots, how it behaves with different paint consistencies.

Cultural Perspectives and Historical Context

In Japan, there's a tradition of holding funeral ceremonies for worn-out brushes, acknowledging their service to the artist. While I don't go that far, I understand the sentiment. These tools become extensions of our creative selves.

The old masters had their own cleaning rituals. Rembrandt reportedly cleaned his brushes with walnut oil, while the Impressionists often worked with turpentine and soap. These methods weren't just practical—they were part of the artistic process, moments of reflection between creative bursts.

Common Myths and Misconceptions

Let me bust some myths that persist in artist communities. First, leaving brushes in water doesn't keep them fresh—it destroys them. The pressure on the bristles creates permanent bends, and water can seep into the ferrule.

Second, fabric softener is not a substitute for proper brush conditioner, despite what some online tutorials claim. It leaves a residue that can affect how paint adheres to your brush.

Third, expensive brushes don't need less cleaning than cheap ones. If anything, they deserve more attention because you've invested more in them.

The Zen of Brush Cleaning

There's something deeply satisfying about cleaning brushes properly. It's a transition ritual, marking the end of one creative session and preparing for the next. I've solved painting problems while cleaning brushes, had creative breakthroughs while watching paint swirl down the drain.

The repetitive motion, the transformation from dirty to clean, the careful reshaping—it all serves as a form of active meditation. It grounds you in the physical reality of your craft while your mind processes what you've created.

Final Thoughts

Cleaning paint brushes isn't just maintenance—it's an integral part of the artistic process. It's a practice that connects us to centuries of artists who've performed these same rituals. Every time you clean a brush properly, you're honoring both the tool and the craft.

The methods I've shared come from years of trial, error, and occasional disaster. They work for me, but the beautiful thing about art is that everyone develops their own rituals and preferences. What matters is that you develop a practice that respects your tools and supports your creative work.

Your brushes are your partners in creation. Treat them well, and they'll serve you faithfully for years. Neglect them, and you'll constantly be fighting against your tools instead of working with them. The choice, as with all things in art, is yours.

Authoritative Sources:

Gottsegen, Mark David. The Painter's Handbook: A Complete Reference. Watson-Guptill Publications, 2006.

Mayer, Ralph. The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques. 5th ed., Viking Press, 1991.

Smith, Ray. The Artist's Handbook. DK Publishing, 2003.

Saitzyk, Steven. Art Hardware: The Definitive Guide to Artists' Materials. Watson-Guptill Publications, 1987.