Brush Maintenance
Acrylic paint is hard on brushes. Remember, once acrylic paint dries, it is waterproof and almost impossible to remove. Paint often gets into the brush’s ferrule (the metal band that holds the bristles in place). If paint dries there, it can make the bristles break off or force them in unnatural directions. A brush left to dry with acrylic paint in it is as good as thrown away.
Follow these pointers to keep your brushes like new for as long as possible.
- Stick to a strict and thorough brush-cleaning routine. See “Tip: How to Clean Brushes” for my favorite cleaning procedure. (Note: Some paint colors stain synthetic bristles. This staining is permanent, but normal and harmless.)
- Never leave a brush resting in a jar of water. This can bend the bristles permanently. It can also loosen the ferrule, causing the bristles to fall out. (Sometimes a brush with five hairs is good for small details, but not if the poor brush started out with a hundred!)
- Always store your brushes handle-down in a jar, can or brush holder to protect the bristles.
Proper Brush Storage
Always store brushes with their bristles in the “up” position!
- Swish the brush in a clean jar of water to loosen any remaining paint.
- Run lukewarm over the brush.
- Work the brush into a cake of The Masters Brush Cleaner and Preserver until it forms a thick lather.
- Gently massage the bristles between your thumb and fingers to continue loosening the paint.
- Rinse under the warm water.
- Repeat steps 3 to 5 until no more color comes out.
- When you are sure it is clean, apply some brush cleaner paste to the bristles and press them into their original shape. Allow the paste to dry on the brush. When you are ready to use the brush again, simply rinse off the soap with water.
My Favorite Brush Cleaner
The Masters Brush Cleaner and Preserver will remove all of the paint from your brushes and condition the bristles. I’ve used it for many years and swear by it.