How to Care for Artists' Paint Brushes & Ensure They'll Last

Opus Resource Library

Caring for Artists' Paint Brushes

"Take care of your brushes and they will serve you and your art-making process for years."

Extend the usability of your brushes, give yourself the best working experience, and get the most value out of your brush purchases! How? Keep your brushes and painting tools clean. Clean brushes are more flexible and resilient, and will hold their shape better than those that have been left to dry with paint in them after an exciting session at the easel.

Brush Care for Natural Hog Bristles

Keeping your brush natural hog hair brushes clean will dramatically extend the life of the brush, and ensure that they are ready to go when inspiration to create strikes.

Here's how to care for and maintain your natural hog hair/bristle brushes:

Always rinse the brush thoroughly in the appropriate solvent (or paint thinner) to remove as much of the remaining colour as possible.
Gently massage the brush in the palm of your hand using a small amount of gentle soap or brush cleaner.
Repeat steps 1–2 until the brush is clean.
Rinse the brush thoroughly and allow to dry upright or hanging downward.
Natural hog hair brushes that have become misshapen can sometimes be restored to a useable profile by working a brush conditioner into the bristles with your fingers. Reshape bristles while they are still damp and set aside to dry.

Brush Care for Synthetic Bristles

Keeping your brush clean will dramatically

extend the life of the brush.

Always rinse the brush thoroughly in water to remove as much of the remaining colour as possible.
Gently massage the brush in the palm of your hand using a small amount of gentle soap or brush cleaner.
Repeat steps 1–2 until the brush is clean.
Rinse the brush thoroughly and allow to dry upright or hanging downward.
Synthetic brushes that have become
misshapen can sometimes be restored to a useable profile by placing them under hot (not boiling) water. This will soften the synthetic hair.

Winsor & Newton Brush Cleaner and Winsor & Newton Artists

Brush Care for Natural Hair Brushes

Natural hair brushes are often more expensive than synthetic, and really benefit from a good cleaning after each use.

Always rinse the brush thoroughly in the appropriate solvent (or paint thinner) to remove as much of the remaining colour as possible.
Gently massage the brush in the palm of your hand using a small amount of gentle soap or brush cleaner.
Repeat steps 1–2 until the brush is clean.
Rinse the brush thoroughly and allow to dry upright or hanging downward.
Natural brushes that have become misshapen can sometimes be restored to a useable profile by working a brush conditioner into the bristles with your fingers. Reshape bristles while they are still damp and set aside to dry.