A well-cleaned paintbrush can be used again and again.
Keeping your paintbrushes clean is as important as the painting process itself. As with any other tool, a paintbrush lasts longer and performs better with proper care. Removing semigloss paint from your paintbrushes keeps the bristles supple and helps paint go on more smoothly. To ensure that the bristles remain flat and paint-free, you must clean your paintbrushes carefully. Rough handling and improper cleaning methods and supplies will result in a paintbrush that leaves brush marks on surfaces.
Instructions
Latex Semigloss Paint
1. Liquid dish soap effectively removes latex semigloss paint from brushes.
Mix 2 tbsp. of liquid dish soap with 1/2 gallon of warm water in one bucket. Fill the second bucket with warm water only.
2. Submerge the dirty paintbrushes in the soapy solution, and gently swish them around to agitate and loosen paint from the bristles. Continue this procedure for one to two minutes to remove latex semigloss paint from within the bristles of the brush.
3. Transfer the brush from the soapy water to the other bucket filled with plain water. Stir and swish the brush around to remove the soap solution and any remaining latex semigloss paint. As the rinse water becomes cloudy from the soap and paint, empty the bucket and fill it with fresh water. Continue to rinse the brushes in the water until it remains clear.
4. Squeeze the brush bristles between two old cleaning cloths to absorb excess moisture. Lay the paintbrushes on a dry cloth and allow them to air-dry completely.
Oil-based Semigloss Paint
5. Rubber gloves protect your skin from chemical-based paint thinners.
Put on rubber gloves to protect your skin from the harsh chemicals found in paint thinner.
6. Pour paint thinner into an old metal coffee can or other clean metal can. Add enough paint thinner to ensure that the brush's bristles can be fully submerged during the cleaning process; a few inches is sufficient.
7. Dip the paintbrush with oil-based semigloss paint on it into the paint thinner. Gently slosh the paintbrush around to make sure the paint thinner removes the paint from the bristles. Hold the paintbrush above the can to see if the paint has been removed. Repeat this step until the bristles are free of paint.
8. Swipe the bristles of the paintbrush against the inner edge of the top of the metal container to remove any excess paint thinner. Wrap an old cloth around the paintbrush and gently apply pressure to remove any remaining paint thinner from the bristles.
