bristle paintbrush

5.   Misshapen synthetic brushes can sometimes be reshaped by soaking them in hot water (not boiling).

4.   If your brush is made from natural bristle, you can soften it by dipping it in clean oil (the one you use as a medium) after you have cleaned it.

3.   Never use a lot of pressure to force paint out of a brush.  Be patient and rinse it several times.

2.   Don't let acrylic paint dry on a brush as its water-resistant when dry. But also never leave a brush standing in water.

1.  Always use separate brushes for oil painting and water-based medium. After all, oil repels water. Also use separate brushes for varnish, gesso, and masking fluid.

 Tips:

10.   If you're worried about the toxicity of the paint you're working with, wear gloves while painting and cleaning your brushes.  Also if you find the paint is drying out and cracking, or staining your skin.

9.  Leave brush to dry at room temperature.  Ensure it's not resting on its head as it will then dry misshapen. Standing it on the back of the handle works well.

8.  If necessary, wrap the bristles in a piece of tissue or toilet paper while the brush is still wet.  When the paper dries it'll contract, pulling the bristles into shape.

7.   Use your fingers to gently shape the brush head into its correct shape.

6.   Rinse once more in clean, lukewarm water to remove any traces of soap.  Shake off the water.

5.  Rinse and repeat until there's no trace of any color coming out.  Over time a brush may become stained, but don't stop rinsing until you're sure there's no paint left.

4.  Wash gently using a little bit of mild soap (rather than dishwashing liquid). Dab the brush gently onto the piece of soap, then work up a lather in a small container (or the palm of your hand if you're not using any toxic pigments or solvents).

3.  Wipe it on the cloth again to remove the last of the excess paint.

2.  Rinse the brush in turpentine or oil if you've been using oils or lukewarm water if you've been using a water-based medium.  Never use hot water as it can expand the ferrule, causing the hairs to fall out.

1.  Wipe off any excess paint using a cloth or soft tissue. Gently squeezing the bristles from the ferrule edge outwards with your fingers, or with a cloth, will help remove paint from the brush. But be careful to avoid pulling on the bristles.

 Here's How:

Time Required: Time worth spending

Difficulty: Easy

Your brushes are an investment. By cleaning them thoroughly and properly at the end of a painting session, they will last longer.

How to clean paint brush

733# bristle paintbrush:
two time boiled high quality pure white bristle. Stainless steel ferrule grass tree wooden hande