Cleaning Your Brushes: By Vicki Rhodes When using your brushes, NEVER walk away and leave paint in the brush. It's a good habit to rinse a brush before you lay it down, even if only for a moment. Wash out the majority of the paint after every use. Use a mild, oil-free soap, such as JoSonja's Brush Soap & Conditioner, and water. Work a small amount of soap up into the bristles, and rinse it in a clear or white dish. This lets you see if any color remains in the bristles. Use your fingers to work the color out of the ferrule. Do not use your fingernails. Rinse the soap out of the bristles. Rinse, pinch, and wipe the bristles, using a white paper towel, until no more color is released. Rinse the bristles with tepid water to remove the soap. Reshape the bristles. Shape the wet bristles with your fingers. Then set the brushes on their sides until they are dry. You may dress the brush in a small amount of Retarder medium for storage. Storing wet brushes with the bristles pointing up will allow the moisture to settle into the brush handle, causing damage to the painted handle. Brush Care Do not reuse the plastic tube used on new brushes; this may bend the bristles beyond repair. Never use a brush to mix large amounts of color. If the bristles fray, dip them in a cup of hot water for 30 seconds, reshape them, and allow them to dry. Protect the brushes when you are traveling by rolling them up in a towel or using a brush carrier. About the Author: Vicki Rhodes is the author of two books and numerous magazine articles. Contact Vicki at vrhodes@frontiernet.net.

Discuss Brush Cleaning in our Forum