Tools and Materials
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How to Clean Latex-Based Paint from a Brush
When cleaning any paint brush, the first step is to remove as much wet paint possible from the brush. To do so, you can use old rags, newspapers, cardboard or other similar materials. Then follow these instructions on how to clean a paint brush.
- Run the brush under warm water. You can also use a small amount of dish soap on the brush to remove any excess paint.
- Use a brush comb to get to the paint on the interior bristles of the brush.
- Use a brush cleaner paint multi-tool that uses centrifugal force to spin brushes and remove moisture from the bristles. This is the quickest, most effective way to dry paint brushes.
- Once dry, place the brush in its original packaging to help it keep its shape for its next job.
If you’re taking a break from painting, you can temporarily store brushes and rollers in the refrigerator (best for brushes with water-based paint) or the freezer (best for brushes with oil-based paint).
Use aluminum foil, a plastic bag or plastic wrap to wrap the brush or roller first before storing it. This will prevent air exposure, which dries paint. Most painters store brushes for up to a week or two in the fridge or freezer while others claim the method is effective for months.
How to Clean Oil-Based Paint from a Brush
When using oil-based paint, you can either use a brush with natural or synthetic bristles. When cleaning either brush type, first check the manufacturer’s instructions to see what kind of solvent is recommended for cleaning. For most paint types, including oil-based options, mineral spirits, turpentine and paint thinners are commonly used. Once you choose the correct solvent, follow these steps:
- Check the solvent’s manufacturer’s safety instructions before use. Be sure to protect your skin and face when working with solvents.
- Prepare two containers, one for holding solvent and the other for expelling excess solvent into. For the container holding clean solvent, pour a very small amount (about 1/8 of an inch) into the bottom.
- Dip the brush up and down into the solvent several times to release paint from bristles.
- Hold the paint brush handle in your palms and spin it back and forth with bristles pointing down into the second container. If you need more force to remove stuck-on paint, you can use a wire brush to clean bristles.
- Repeat steps 2-4 until the brush is free from any paint residue.
- Allow the brush to dry on a towel or rag before storing it in its original packaging.
Use a recycled paint thinner canister or similar container with a sealed lid to collect used thinner and keep it from getting it into the ground and harming the environment. When disposing of paint thinner, we recommend bringing it to a hazardous waste facility.
How to Clean a Paint Roller
Whether you’re using water-, latex- or oil-based paint, start off by removing as much excess paint as possible from the roller. Place your paint roller over a paint can or pan and use a paint scraper to scrape excess paint off. Afterwards, you can roll any extra paint off onto newspapers or cardboard.
How to Clean Latex or Water-Based Paint from a Roller
- Fill a bucket with warm water and dish soap.
- Remove the roller from the frame, submerge the roller into the bucket and while wearing gloves, massage the roller’s fibers to remove caked-on paint.
- Rinse the roller with a hose or in another bucket of clean water until all paint is removed.
- Shake the roller to remove water and then allow it to fully air dry.
How to Clean Oil-Based Paint from a Roller
- Place enough solvent (like mineral spirits or one recommended by the roller’s manufacturer) to cover the paint roller in a bucket or paint tray.
- Use gloves to work solvent through the paint and break the bond between the paint and roller. This may take several minutes.
- Squeeze the paint roller over a funnel into a disposable container to remove excess solvent.
- Repeat step 2 with fresh solvent.
- Fill a bucket with warm water and dish soap and clean the roller once more in the suds.
- Rinse the roller to remove water and allow it to fully air dry.
When allowing an air roller to dry, make sure to place it upright (standing vertically) to avoid damaging the roller’s fibers.