Old toothbrushes can be repurposed for cleaning airbrushes.
An airbrush, if not cleaned properly after each use, will develop a buildup of paint on the needle and in the nozzle. This results in spattering on the canvas. Cleaning an airbrush is like cleaning a gun. It must be broken down and the individual parts cleaned.
Cleansing the Airbrush
Fill the airbrush cup with water and spray it into a bucket until all that comes out of the nozzle is water. Use solvent, such as turpentine, in place of water if you have been using an oil-based paint. This needs to be done whenever you switch colors. When the day's work is done, fill the cup with window cleaner and spray the brush into a container, such as a garbage can or bucket until the liquid is clear.
The Needle
Once disassembled, the small parts, such as the nozzle, are set aside to soak in a cup of nail polish remover. Cotton swabs dipped in the remover are stroked along the length of the needle until all traces of paint are gone. If oil-based paint is used, a solvent, such as turpentine, is used in place of nail polish remover.
The Body
The same solvent is piped into the body of the airbrush using a syringe, a pipette or a ball syringe. Swab the paint inlet. An interdental brush dipped in solvent is used to clean the channel of the body. The nozzle and caps are cleaned with the same kind of brush and solvent.
