Cleaning brushes

[emkay]

Just wondering if anyone has any good tips on cleaning oil paint out of brushes without using solvents?

I loathe and detest turps.....

I've been using dishwashing liquid, or a bar of soap followed by a bit of oil to soften the brush again, but I'm not sure if I'm damaging my brushes....:blink:

[after-dark]

well I find chucking the brush out and grabbing a new one works well - haha Really though I have no idea - I find it soooo hard to clean my brushes - can never get all of the oil out no matter what I use...

[chardonnay]

Michelle - what sort of oil do you use to soften them? Mine have gone a bit hardish (they are nearly a year old though). I have some linseed oil, would that do the trick?

As for washing them, I wipe most of the paint off with a rag or tissue, then I bounce them up and down in a jar of turps, then I wash with soap and water, finally rinsing in water, then reshaping then let dry.

From the sounds of it, your not damaging your brushes.

I've seen in the art shop heaps of diff. solvents in the shops for cleaning brushes.

From art spectrum, they have; odourless solvent, citrus turpentine and art clean. All apparently non-smelly. The art-clean one says it is completely biodegradable too.

So there's really heaps of choice out there.

Gee............., don't let Daniel give you brush cleaning advice, he's dangerous.

[Petra Sohns]

There is a new german product out at jackson it suppose to clean and condition the brushes at the same time
i bought a small tub, and it seems to work well so , though i still use rag and turps before i wash the brushes

[Jewels]

I use a paper towel to wipe off the paint then dunk them in turps and then apply Art Spectrum hand and brush cleaner, it is a natural product and great for getting dry hard paint from hands and palettes, I then wash them in velvet soap and warm water, if I wont be using the brushes for a while I smother them in good old vaseline , which can stay on your brushes for over twelve months and does not dry out.I have to admit that all the natural turps I have tried, it does not seem to get the paint out of brushes, like pure wood turpentine, I smells, I know, but I only use it to clean my brushes, Art Spectrums citrus turps is good as well,so I guess you need to try a few brands and see what works for you, How I wish I could throw my brushes out like Daniel does, but I have had my brushes for a long long time and have looked after them, you probably wont believe this but I am still using brushes that I have had for 30 years, I am thinking of replacing a few now and have no idea what brand to buy...

[Belinda]

i have been using "Brush Cleaner and preserver" its in a little creamy brown container at the artshops. I have seen it for years and once asked an art teacher if it works ... she replied it sure does seeing as its like 20- i have been reluctant to get it but did recently .. it works a treat .. its kinda like gumpton... i wipe brushes and then wash it with this in a bit of soap and water .. probably a bit expensive for everyday .. but if your stopping for a couple of days .. and want to give them a good clean .. it really works . i would say better than turps :) as i was getting paint out that was old when i was recently cleaning with it :)

oh and i suffer from dermatitis on my hands .. and this hasn't affected it at all whereas the turps does :)

[Jewels]

That sounds like good stuff Belinda, can you remember who makes it,or has it got a brand name. The Art Spectrum hand and brush cleaner sounds very similar to what you are using and it is about $25 for a reasonable size jar, cleaning brushes is a pain

[Belinda]

I took a photo of it for you jewels, its only a small container but it lasts a while. This is exactly how it is sold so it doesnt really have a brand.

[after-dark]

Oh I've seen that stuff at the art shop for a while now - will have to give it a try next time - thanks

[emkay]

:001_wub: Thanks for all the input!

I have used that amazing brush cleaner in a tub Belinda. It is really good - but it was fairly expensive and didn't last long enough I thought.

Likewise Jewels - with the Art Spectrum hand and brush cleaner. Fantastic for getting stuff off your hands, and pretty good job with the brushes, but it just went so quickly.

I was hoping there might be some old school solutions for things that were in the cupboard.:blush:

I do find using a bar of velvet soap and running the brush firmly along it dislodges quite a lot, and start with some detergent before doing that with some of my bigger brushes. After they are clean, and if I think it may be a few days before I paint again I dip them in some linseed oil for a bit of a condition. I suppose it's as good as anything, but my brushes don't last an incredibly long time. It probably doesn't help that the linen I paint on has a very strong tooth, and I am a bit too enthusiastic as I work, but I just hate it when a brush that has provided wonderful help dies on me...:sad:

Maybe I just need to stop being so thrifty and go back to the store-bought lovelies....

[emkay]

And thanks Petra - I'll see if I can hunt that one out.

[Belinda]

I was thinking that my tub wasnt going to last long becuase i was using it everytime i cleaned my brushes .. but i have taken to just wiping them and dipping them in turps and wiping again .. if its just overnight ... and then if i know i am done with that brush for a while i will clean it properly... :) i guess it depends on your sizes of brushes too :) .. whats the velvet soap ? is that from your supermarket ? not sure i know of that one :)

[emkay]

Just plain old ordinary pure soap Belinda. The brand used to be 'velvet'.

[Belinda]

ahhhh hehehhe thanks michelle :)

[Jewels]

Belinda, thanks heaps for the photo, I am going to get some , Daniel I have a propersition, for you, dont throw your brushes out, share them with all of us , we will clean them as good as new, mind you we get to keep them though, how many brushes do you throw out a week.....Emkey, I have favourite brushes as well, and I am going to have to replace them soon, I think I might buy good ones maybe windsor and newton as they last forever, anyway we might not have to buy any, we might get Daniels brushes !!!!!