I hate to say it, but I'm bad at... - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

**Double-A** · 07-22-2006, 10:15 PM

Cleaning brushes. I'm bad at cleaning brushes. I've read what the manufacturer says about cleaning their brushes. I've read what the "experts" on the "expert" websites say about cleaning brushes. I'm not lazy about it. I've tried dish soap, Ivory soap, fabric softener, hand soap, hair conditioner. I have combs and brass brushes, but my brushes tell everyone I'm a hack. The guys at the paint store laugh at me. They shouldn't do that, because I slip the really ugly brushes into their truck with they are not looking.

How I've lived this long in this world without learning the correct way to clean a brush is a mystery to me. If you don't think I stink at it, just look at my brushes. I paint only latex (cause the wife is allergic to oils). I'm no pro at painting either. I just paint what the wife asks me to, when I'm asked to, and I have the time. I'm not too cheap to pay someone. I just really like painting. Everything about it.

All my brushes are Purdy Pro-Extra Glide (blue bristles on them). I've tried others and just wind up giving them away to folks I don't really like.

My name is Adrian, and I don't know how to properly clean a paint brush. <hangs head in shame>

johnjamesalaska · 07-22-2006, 11:35 PM

How do you clean your brushes typically?

Woz the Painter · 07-23-2006, 12:33 AM

Just get those babies in some warm soapy water, wirebrush them, rinse the **** out of them while working them with your hand, spin them, let them dry, and your good to go dude...

**Double-A** · 07-23-2006, 12:55 AM

Warm soapy water, comb, brush, rinse, repeat. I still have specks in the bristles. ugh!

johnjamesalaska · 07-23-2006, 01:09 AM

Heres how I do it.... 1. Clean gallon bucket with clean water almost half way up. 2. submerge brush bending brush left and right (dont smash the bristles all over the place, keep them together.) 3. dump dirty water 4. spin brush out till its not flinging water. 5. wipe bucket clean with clean rag. and repeat 1-5 until water is clear. Ya gotta get the paint out of the heal of the brush. Use soap if you want to. Latex get soft when you use warm/hot water but so do the paint brush bristles so not too hot. And put the brush back in the sleave. Or just by a new brush when ever you need one

**Double-A** · 07-23-2006, 01:20 AM

Ya, I can get all the paint out, and get them nice and dry. Problem is, getting those latex boogers out of them. I comb and brush and cuss and use all types of soap. My brushes hate me.

johnjamesalaska · 07-23-2006, 01:26 AM

Oh. I see.....Spinning helps ...like one of those metal brush spinners, and hot water, laquer or sometimes I even break out the MEK.

**Double-A** · 07-23-2006, 02:14 AM

I just spin like a boy scout starting a fire. Between the palms.

Downeast · 07-23-2006, 06:03 AM

Do you let the paint build up near the top? Sounds like it . You could clean your brush when the build up gets to much or the paint is starting to dry/build up if you are painting in the sun .Also try scrapping the brush on the side of the paint bucket as it starts to build up. You could take a putty knife and scrape the excess paint off before you start to wire brush it.

I dont get the cleaning water get hot,just warm at best.Then clean it like jjalaska said. Also brush the handle and brass keeper of the paint also.

Gordo · 07-23-2006, 07:25 AM

Before you start painting, rinse your brush in water then shake/spin water out. This moistens the brush fibers before you dip in paint. The resulting clean up should be easier.

Gordo · 07-23-2006, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnjamesalaska

Heres how I do it.... 1. Clean gallon bucket with clean water almost half way up. 2. submerge brush bending brush left and right (dont smash the bristles all over the place, keep them together.) 3. dump dirty water 4. spin brush out till its not flinging water. 5. wipe bucket clean with clean rag. and repeat 1-5 until water is clear. Ya gotta get the paint out of the heal of the brush. Use soap if you want to. Latex get soft when you use warm/hot water but so do the paint brush bristles so not too hot. And put the brush back in the sleave. Or just by a new brush when ever you need one

This is a good word.

AAPaint · 07-23-2006, 07:36 AM

Next time, wash, wire brush, rinse, kick out, then dip it into a bucket of some EZ Brush Cleaner. Dunk it about 20 times making sure the bristles get worked around pretty good, then wire brush and rinse again. Brush like new......

GoodPainter · 07-23-2006, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordo

Before you start painting, rinse your brush in water then shake/spin water out. This moistens the brush fibers before you dip in paint. The resulting clean up should be easier.

This is a pratice I have always used . But my thoughts on it:

Get the bristles wet with plain water and shake out a bit just make sure there is good bit of mosture still left in bristles, this works to your advantage so the latex won't grip and dry on the brush. When you do paint, the excess water may drip slightly out of the brush when working with overhead--this is common and annoying but o.k. for me.
When you are finished your brush will be easier to clean.
1)Run warm water, or fill a sink. 2)Tap the brush well while turning constantly. 3)change water 4)Put a dab of any soap (dish/hand) on the bristles and work in 5) Repeat steps until you are satisfied

This method I have not had any troble with but over time the paint will need to be combed out of the bristles
**If you paint for long periods of time you may want to either change brushes or wash the one your using to soften the bristles up**

Robert

Jonesey · 07-23-2006, 10:19 AM

If you work a brush all day, you should be cleaning it at least twice a day. Latex hardens too fast to keep a brush in good condition.

Also try putting Triflow in your latex brushes. Just open up the hairs and spray a little bit into the bristles. Work it a bit and shuck it. Keeps the nylon nice and soft.

I buy new brushes quite a bit and cycle them out occasionally. The worst ones I keep for flats. I'll buy at least three new brushes every year, but then I buy Kelly-Moore 'Mustang's. Not really great brushes, and they tend to drop hairs.

For my really good brushes I use in murals, I'll wash, soap, and rinse, rinse, rinse, then TP them to dry. Keeps the shape.

BTW, if you ever want to straighten a brush out, clean it out really well, then wrap it while wet in toilet paper, wet the paper and let it dry. When dry, the brush will retain the shape of the TP because as it dries, the TP shrinks.

the ex-finearts painter

Paulf · 07-24-2006, 11:21 PM

Also I'd advise not cleaning your bristles with a wire brush, try a stiff nylon scrubbing brush and your brush will last longer

DelW · 07-25-2006, 12:49 AM

I'll give them a light cleaning throughout the day as needed (I'm kinda anal about a dirty brush) or wrap them in a wet rag if its a hot day and I'm takin a break

When I get home for the day I'll rinse them with warm water and a wire brush. If the've got the paint boogers on the bristles(Uaually when I use Duration) I'll soak em in some KrudCutter for an hour or so then rinse and wire brush, spin and wrap in newspaper. Good to go for the next day.

Brushslingers · 07-27-2006, 10:31 PM

Yes, this is a typical problem. Here's how I take care of it...

"Hey boy, clean this"

**Double-A** · 07-27-2006, 11:12 PM

Does KrudCutter or EZbrush Cleaner harm them at all? Purty (Brush folks, not our Purty) says "warm water, mild soap."

I keep the paint low on the bristles and away from the upper half. If I do get paint there, I wash it off quickly.

AAPaint · 07-28-2006, 12:02 AM

The EZ brush cleaner doens't harm them at all. It's a very mild solvent that can be thinned with water, but can still be used to get you to a gas station too....lol! No joke, had a boss that did it...don't recommend it, but it worked.