Submerge the paint-covered brushes into the container filled with vinegar or rubbing alcohol. Make sure the bristles are fully covered. Allow them to soak for several hours or overnight. The longer you soak, the better the results will be.
How to Clean Acrylic Brushes -Practical Tips and Techniques
Cleaning acrylic brushes is an essential yet often overlooked aspect of maintaining an artist’s toolkit. Acrylic paints, known for their vibrant colors and fast-drying properties, can be particularly harsh on brushes if not cared for properly.
Neglecting regular cleaning can lead to bristle damage, loss of shape, and diminished painting performance.
This guide provides a comprehensive step-by-step approach to effectively cleaning acrylic brushes, ensuring their longevity and optimal functionality.
By following these methods, artists can not only extend the life of their brushes but also enhance the quality of their artwork by preventing color contamination and preserving the integrity of their tools.
Explore the following steps to discover how to keep your acrylic brushes in pristine condition.
7 Easy Steps to Clean Acrylic Brushes
Cleaning acrylic brushes is essential to maintain their quality and extend their lifespan. Acrylic paint can be particularly tough on brushes due to its fast-drying nature, but with proper care, you can keep your brushes in excellent condition.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to clean acrylic brushes effectively:
Materials You’ll Need:
- Used acrylic brushes
- A container or jar
- Mild soap
- Lukewarm water
- Paper towels or a clean cloth
- Brush conditioner or hair conditioner
- An old toothbrush
Step 1: Rinse Out Excess Paint
When you finish a painting session with acrylics, it’s crucial to act quickly. Acrylic paint dries fast, and if it dries on your brushes, it can be challenging to remove. First, gently wipe off any excess paint from the bristles using a paper towel or a rag.
Then, immediately rinse the brushes in a container of lukewarm water. Swirl the brushes around gently to loosen and remove as much paint as possible. Avoid using hot water, as it can set the paint and make it harder to clean later.
Step 2: Prepare the Cleaning Solution
To create a suitable cleaning solution, fill a container or jar with lukewarm water. Add a small amount of mild soap or acrylic brush cleaner to the water.
You don’t need a lot of soap; just a few drops should suffice. The soap will help break down the acrylic paint residue and make it easier to clean.
Step 3: Soak the Brushes
Carefully immerse the paintbrushes into the soapy water, ensuring that the bristles are fully submerged. Allow them to soak for a few minutes. This soaking process is essential, as it gives the soap time to loosen the dried paint and make it easier to remove later.
Step 4: Gently Agitate the Bristles
After the brushes have soaked for a few minutes, gently agitate the bristles with your fingers. Use a circular motion to help dislodge any remaining paint particles.
You can also use an old toothbrush to assist in removing stubborn paint that might be trapped near the base of the bristles. Be gentle to avoid damaging the bristles.
Step 5: Rinse Thoroughly
Once you’ve agitated the bristles and loosened the paint, it’s time to rinse the brushes under lukewarm running water.
Continue to gently squeeze and agitate the bristles while rinsing to ensure that all soap and paint residues are completely removed. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear, indicating that the brushes are clean.
Step 6: Condition
If your brushes feel stiff or dry after cleaning, you can use a brush conditioner or a small amount of hair conditioner. Apply a tiny amount to the bristles and gently work it in with your fingers.
This conditioning step can help keep the bristles soft and prevent them from becoming brittle over time. Be sure to rinse thoroughly after conditioning if you choose to do so.
Step 7: Shape and Dry
After rinsing, gently reshape the brush bristles to their original form with your fingers. It’s essential to lay the brushes flat on a clean cloth or paper towel to dry.
Make sure they are not resting on their bristles, as this can cause them to lose their shape or become misshapen.
Avoid using a hairdryer or exposing the brushes to direct heat, as excessive heat can damage the bristles and the brush handles.
How to Clean Acrylic Paint Brushes With Vinegar?
Cleaning acrylic paint brushes with vinegar is an effective and natural method that helps remove paint residue while also disinfecting and softening the bristles.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to clean acrylic paint brushes using vinegar:
Materials You’ll Need:
- Dirty acrylic paint brushes
- White vinegar
- A container or jar
- Lukewarm water
- Mild soap (optional)
- Paper towels or a clean cloth
- Brush conditioner or hair conditioner (optional)
Step 1: Rinse Out Excess Paint
Before you start the cleaning process, gently wipe off any excess paint from the bristles using a paper towel or a rag.
Removing as much paint as possible at this stage will make the cleaning process more effective and prevent the paint from drying on the brushes.
Step 2: Prepare the Vinegar Solution
In a container or jar, pour white vinegar to create a solution for soaking your brushes. You don’t need a large amount; just enough to submerge the bristles. White vinegar is preferred for its mild acidity, which helps break down acrylic paint.
Step 3: Soak the Brushes in Vinegar
Immerse the dirty brushes fully into the white vinegar, making sure that the bristles are completely covered.
Let them soak for approximately 30 minutes to an hour. During this time, the vinegar will work to loosen and dissolve the dried paint.
Step 4: Gently Agitate the Bristles
After the soaking period, gently agitate the bristles with your fingers. Use a circular motion to help dislodge any remaining paint particles.
Stubborn paint near the base of the bristles can be addressed by using an old toothbrush. Be gentle to avoid damaging the bristles.
Step 5: Rinse Thoroughly
Remove the brushes from the vinegar and rinse them thoroughly under lukewarm running water.
Continue to squeeze and agitate the bristles during rinsing to ensure that all traces of vinegar and paint residues are completely washed away. Rinse until the water runs clear.
Step 6: Wash with Mild Soap
If you want to ensure that no vinegar or paint residue remains on the brushes, you can wash them with a mild soap.
Create a lather by gently massaging the soap into the bristles, then rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. This step can provide an extra layer of cleanliness.
Step 7: Condition
To maintain the softness of the bristles and prevent them from becoming stiff or brittle, consider applying a brush conditioner or a small amount of hair conditioner.
Gently work the conditioner into the bristles, then rinse thoroughly. Conditioning is optional but can extend the lifespan of your brushes.
Step 8: Shape and Dry
After cleaning, gently reshape the brush bristles to their original form with your fingers. Lay the brushes flat on a clean cloth or paper towel to dry. Ensure they are not resting on their bristles, as this can cause them to lose their shape.
Avoid using a hairdryer or exposing the brushes to direct heat, as this can damage the bristles and handles.
How to Clean Acrylic Paint Brushes (Step by Step Guide)
Painting with acrylic paint is a fun and exciting hobby, but what do you do with your brushes when you are done painting?
In this post, I’ll take a deep dive into how to clean acrylic paint brushes the right way so you can spend less time cleaning and more time painting. Let’s dig in!
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- To clean acrylic paint brushes, start by removing any wet paint from the brushes. You can then use a cleaning solution like dish soap to remove any remaining paint. Finally, let the brushes dry completely before storing them.
- Always clean your brushes immediately after use to make your job easier.
- If you need to remove dried paint, you might need to use a more abrasive cleaner.
Jump to Section
How to Clean Acrylic Paint Brushes
1. Remove Excess Paint from the Brushes
First, you do NOT want to let acrylic paint dry on your brushes. It’s much more difficult to remove the dried paint than it is wet paint, so try to remove any excess paint on your brush as soon as possible.
After you are done painting, take a paper towel or two and wipe off any excess paint that is leftover on your brush. This will help reduce the number of times you need to rinse the brush later on. The more paint left on the brush, the longer it will take to clean it thoroughly so this is key.
2. Rinse with Water
Fill a bowl, cup, or small bucket with cold water.
Place your brush bristles in the water and move the brush in a circular motion. This will help water get between the bristles and start to loosen the stubborn paint.
Take another dry paper towel and wipe off any paint that came loose during the rinsing process.
Place the brush back into the water and let it sit. This will keep the paint wet so it won’t dry while you complete the next step.
3. Create a Cleaning Solution
There are several types of acrylic brush cleaner options that I’ll explore below. For this step, you can use any of the solutions.
Mix or prepare the cleaning solution of your choice. For this example, we will use a basic dish soap and cold water mixture.
Grab another bowl, cup, or small bucket and fill it with cold water. Next, add several drops of dish soap and stir to combine to create soapy water. You can always add more soap if needed.
4. Swish the Brush in the Soapy Water
Take brushes out of the first bowl and place the bristles of the brush in the soapy water mixture. Start to swish the brushes around, agitating the water to loosen the acrylic paint.
Do this for at least one minute. Pull the brush out of the water and wipe it with a clean paper towel.
5. Rinse with Water Again
Place the brush back into the first bucket (non-soapy water) and move it in circular motions to rinse the bristles of the brush.
6. Repeat Swishing and Rinsing Till the Brush is Clean
Continue placing the acrylic brush in the cleaning solution and then rinsing it in the non-soapy water until the brush is clean when you wipe it with a clean paper towel.
This will take several rounds of cleaning and rinsing, depending on how much paint clings to the brush bristles.
If you’re still having trouble removing dried paint from your brush, you might need to break out a fine tooth comb to break up the dried paint so it can be removed.
7. Allow the Brush to Dry Completely
You may think this is an unimportant step, but let me tell you, it’s pretty crucial that you dry your brushes properly!
If you let the dry bristles down in a cup or holder, the bristles can dry out of shape, which can be challenging to fix. On the other hand, if you dry them with the bristles facing up, the water and moisture will run down into the part of the brush that houses the base of the bristles. This moisture can ruin the glue that holds the bristles in place. So what do you do?
It is best to lay your paint brushes flat (horizontally) and allow them to dry completely before placing them in a holder or container.
What Liquid Is Used to Remove Acrylic Paint from Brushes?
You might be wondering, “What are the other acrylic brush cleaners that you mentioned earlier?” – here are your options.
Liquid Brush Cleaner
Several companies make liquid brush cleaners. One of the most commonly used cleaners is Newton brush cleaner. This cleaner is non-toxic, biodegradable, and safe for natural or synthetic brushes.
These will work on both natural and synthetic brushes to remove acrylic paints.
Check out the video below for more help cleaning your brushes!
Hi, I’m Emilee. I’m a woodworker, crafter and world class figure-outer. Mama Needs a Project is where I share all of my DIY adventures. I believe down to my core that working with your hands to physically create something will change your life!
I hope browsing Mama Needs a Project will leave you inspired and fired up to tackle your next DIY project. While Emilee is no longer actively blogging, her passion for woodworking can be found anywhere she goes.
