Hey there! So, you’re getting into acrylic painting? Awesome choice! Let me tell you something – keeping your brushes clean is key. But how to clean acrylic paint brushes and why is it important?
When you clean your brushes properly after each use, they last way longer. Plus, they’ll keep working just as well as when you first got them.
It’s like taking care of your favorite sneakers, so they stay comfy and look great. Cleaning your brushes keeps the bristles soft and in good shape, which means you can keep creating amazing acrylic art without any annoying streaks or stray bristles. A little care goes a long way in the art world 🙂 So, how to clean acrylic paint brushes easily and effectively?
- Mild Soap or Brush Cleaner: This is crucial for gently removing acrylic paint from the bristles without damaging them. You can use a mild dish soap or a specialized brush cleaner.
- Lukewarm Water: You’ll need access to lukewarm water for rinsing your brushes. It’s gentle on the brush hairs and effective in cleaning.
- Brush Cleaning Container: (Necessary if you don’t have access to running water at the moment.) A small container or jar to hold the water for rinsing the brushes. It should be big enough to swirl the brush around without spilling.
- Lint-Free Cloth or Paper Towel: You’ll need this to dry the brushes after washing. A lint-free cloth is ideal to avoid leaving any residue on the bristles.
Optional Tools for Cleaning Acrylic Painting Brushes
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- Brush Cleaning Pad: This tool (used much for cleaning make-up brushes!) can help in more effectively removing paint from the brushes, especially if they have a lot of bristles. (Check out this instruction for cleaning make-up brushes using brush cleaning pad).
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- Silicone Brush Scrubber: These are great for deeper cleaning, as the silicone ridges help in thoroughly removing paint from the brush.
Estimated Time for Cleaning Acrylic Painting Brushes
- A quick rinse (5 minutes) or a deep clean (15-20 minutes), depending on paint buildup.
How To Clean Acrylic Paint Brushes: Step-by-Step Guide
STEP 1: Rinse Brushes in Lukewarm Water
- Right after you finish painting, hold each brush under lukewarm water.
- Swirl the brush gently to release any excess paint. Be careful to use lukewarm water, as hot water can damage the bristles.
STEP 2: Apply Mild Soap or Brush Cleanser
- Put a small amount of mild soap or brush cleaner in your palm or on a scrubbing pad.
- Swirl the brush in the soap, using your fingers to gently work it into the bristles.
- If the brush is really dirty, let the soap sit on it for a few minutes to break down the paint.
STEP 3: Rinse Out Soap, Reshape the Brush Head
Rinse Out the Soap
- Hold the brush under running water to rinse off the soap.
- Keep rinsing until the water runs clear, ensuring all soap and paint are completely washed out.
Gently Reshape the Acrylic Brush Head
- Once the brush is clean, use your fingers to gently reshape the bristles into their original form.
- Be gentle and avoid pulling on the bristles, as this can cause them to lose their shape or even come out.
STEP 4: Dry the Brushes
1. After reshaping, lay the brushes flat on a clean, dry towel. Alternatively, you can hang them bristle-down in a brush holder.
Let them air dry naturally. Avoid using heat or direct sunlight, as this can damage the bristles over time.
OPTION 2: How to Clean Acrylic Painting Brushes Covered in Old Dried Paint (Reviving Old Brushes!)
Sometimes, despite our best efforts, acrylic paint dries on our brushes, leaving them stiff and unusable. But don’t worry, there’s hope for these brushes yet! Here’s a technique about how to wash paint brushes to bring them back to life.
So, how to clean acrylic painting brushes that look impossible to clean?
Using Fabric Softener: This is a surprisingly effective way to soften hardened acrylic paint. Start by mixing a solution of one part fabric softener to two parts warm water in a container. Submerge your hardened brushes in this solution and let them soak for a few hours, or even overnight if they are really stiff.
Gentle Agitation: After soaking, use your fingers to gently work the softener into the bristles and loosen the hardened paint. You’ll notice the paint starting to dissolve and come out of the brush.
Rinse Thoroughly: Once the bristles feel flexible again, rinse the brushes under lukewarm water to remove all traces of the fabric softener and any remaining paint.
Specialized Acrylic Paint Brush Restorers: For extremely stubborn cases, you might need to use a commercial brush restorer. These are specially formulated to dissolve acrylic paint without damaging the bristles. Follow the instructions on the product, usually involving soaking the brushes in the restorer and then working out the softened paint. One often recommended product is named Masters Brush Cleaner.
If you don’t have access to these special brush cleaners, but still need to know, how to clean acrylic painting brushes right now, try soaking the brush in a mixture of warm water and vinegar for about an hour can help loosen the paint. (This is sometimes done with hair brushes, too). After soaking, rinse the brush with warm water and soap. (Related: other tips on making art while being on budget).
As a very last option, if nothing else works, you may try any solvent or pure alcohol. However, this is really not recommended, as it may damage the brushes if done on regular basis.
Final Reshape and Dry: After cleaning, reshape the brush head with your fingers and let it dry horizontally on a towel or hang it bristle-down to dry completely. And voila!
Good luck! 🙂
