Cleaning Paint Brushes

wish i'd found this site earlier so as to avoid having to replace the paint brush. :|

HELLO,I FOUND OUT THAT IF YOU FORGET TO CLEAN A PAINTBRUSH AND ITS HARD,I USE POLY SUPER STRIPPER,ITS A PAINT AND VARNISH REMOVER.
GET A TIN CAN,PUT YOUR BRUSH IN IT,THEN FILL IT WITH STRIPPER UP TO WHERE THE BRISTLES ATTACHED TO THE HANDLE,LEAVE FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS,REPEAT IF NECESSARY.THEN WASH BRUSH IN WATER.WORKS EVERYTIME FOR ME
THERE ARE 2 KINDS OF STRIPPERS,ONE IS A GEL AND THE OTHER IS A LIQUID.

Tim, love the advise. Can I use brush cleaning info? You'll get full credit for it?

Thanks, Bruce

Bruce Schneider
Enduser marketing Manager and Training Coordinator
Purdy
13201 N Lombard St
Portland, OR 97203

800-547-0780 ex 239

bruces@purdycorp.com

Good advice.
Does this work with polyurethane varnish also?

Good limited information in long format. But what about Oil Based? Completely skipped.

Water Based-
When starting with dry brush take to sink and cup one hand and put luke war water in it. Gently paint the cupped hand with the brush. You don't want a sopping wet brush dripping with water. You want it less than damp.

If taking a break put the brush in a plastic grocery bag and wrap it around the bristles gently or use a large enough zip lock bag. Couple hour storage. Works well with rollers too!

If unsure how long place it into a refrigerator if you got one handy. Works well with rollers too!

To clean use running luke warm water. Paint your hand under the water. Don't over bend bristles as stated. 3 to 5 min. Run brush between fingers to gently squeeze out water. Hang brush down to dry.

Oil Based-
To clean or pre moisten use what ever is recommended for use to Thin the paint, stain, sealer, etc. I.e. Mineral Spirits, Turpentine, simple Paint Thinner, etc.

To moisten poor a small amount onto the thick top part of the brush and work down or dip one corner of brush into thinner and work up while holding upside down.

Taking a break or longer a plastic bag in cool place can work. I have even forzen my brushes and rollers for weeks on end thinking it would only be for a day or two and have had no ill effect with oil based paints. Do not advise with stains or Polys.

To clean get Two Glass Jars with screw on lids. Label one #1 and other #2. Poor paint thinner/cleaner into both. Wash for 2 to 3 min in first. Brush against the sides and gently against the bottom but do not bend bristles much.
Then move to #2 jar and seal #1 jar up. Do the same for 2 min in #2 jar. Seal when finished. #1 jar will get dirty over time. You can use it as a pre cleaner as time goes on. When it gets too dirty in such that it starts to get #2 jar too dirty discard the solvent and poor #2 solvent into #1 jar and put fresh solvent into #2 jar. This is a good way to use very expensive and toxic solvents to their best value. Keep up high way from kids and heat, etc.

Wash brush in warm water with lots of soapy water. Us a cottage cheese container or such to clean in. Squeeze out soapy water. Rinse well. Squeeze out again. Hang bristles down to dry.

The poly stripper trick worked! Thank you!