How to Clean Paintbrushes So They Look Brand-New After Every Project

This method for cleaning paint tools uses supplies you probably already have around the house.

Updated on September 15, 2022

four open paint cans with paintbrush on top — Photo: Blaine Moats

Taking care of paintbrushes, rollers, and pads will save you time, energy, and money. With proper cleaning, painting tools can last for many uses and help you achieve a beautiful finish. But if you put off cleaning after you finish painting, you might need to throw them away and buy new ones for every project. Although learning how to clean paintbrushes and other tools isn't difficult, it requires a bit more effort than simply tossing them in a bucket or sink and expecting them to clean themselves.

Follow the steps below to learn how to maintain the quality of your paintbrushes. While working with water-based paint, you should plan to clean your paintbrushes every two hours and at the end of your project. You can use these same steps to clean paint rollers and pads as well. This simple cleaning solution uses supplies you likely have around the house to easily wash away paint.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

How to Clean Paintbrushes

5-in-1 tool or brush-cleaning tool
5-gallon bucket
Paintbrush spinner
Plastic bucket with lid
Towel

Materials

How to Clean Paintbrushes

Fabric softener
Trashbag

Instructions

How to Clean Paintbrushes

This technique works best for painting tools that were used to apply water-based formulas, such as acrylic or latex paints. Check the paint can label for specific cleaning instructions before you begin.

Jacob Fox

Remove Excess Paint

Rid your paintbrush or paint pad of any excess paint by scraping it with the edge of a painter's tool or the teeth of a brush-cleaning tool. For extra small brushes, you can also use a fine-tooth hair comb. Scrape the side of the tool on the bucket or paint tray in between passes to remove the collected paint.
Jacob Fox

Make Paint Remover Solution

Mix up several gallons of this paint cleaning solution in a 5-gallon bucket: For every gallon of warm water, add 1/2 cup of fabric softener. The fabric softener is a surfactant, which actually makes the water wetter, so it can more easily dissolve the paint. This DIY version will save you the money and trouble of heading to the store for a commercial brush cleaner.
Jacob Fox

Clean Paintbrushes

Dip your brush into the mixture, swish briskly through the water, and count to 10. The paint will release from the bristles and settle to the bottom of the bucket. If your solution reaches the top of your bucket, be careful not to mix too forcefully and cause spills.

Rollers take a little more time (about 30 seconds) and they might need to be dipped multiple times. They also may require more time to dry after cleaning.
Jacob Fox

Dry Brush

To dry your paintbrush quickly, use a paintbrush spinner ($9, The Home Depot) to fling water from the brush. We recommend doing this over a spare bucket you don't mind getting dirty.

detail hand paintbrush solvent paint thinner cleaning oil-based — Jay Wilde

How to Clean Paintbrushes with Oil-Based Paints

The fabric softener trick unfortunately only works for water-based paint. Oil-based paint including stains or varnishes should be treated differently. The paint can label will likely tell you what kind of solvent is best for the product; most recommend paint thinner or mineral spirits. Clean the brush as noted above, but swap the fabric softener solution for the oil-based solvent, following the manufacturer's instructions. Let dry and run a brush comb through the bristles one last time to make sure no paint chips remain.

DIY a Wet Waste Bucket

To make a wet waste bucket, start with an empty 5-gallon plastic bucket with a lid. Cut an 8-inch hole in the center of the lid. Place a plastic trash bag in the bucket and snap on the lid. The lid keeps the splatter inside the bucket; toss the bag when finished.