Brush Care & Maintenance

While Painting:

• When using your brush try to move the hairs in their natural direction.
• Do not let your brush sit in liquid for long periods of time, especially not while resting it on its hairs.
• Try not to let paint get into the ferrule of the brush (often metal, this tool keeps the hairs in place on the handle). Paint is hard to remove from this area and may cause the ferrule to swell altering the shape and springiness of the hairs.
• Do not let paint dry in your brush. Brushes left this way are often completely ruined, however, some brushes can be brought back with a good cleaner and a lot of elbow grease.
• Try to keep the liquid in your water container below the ferrule of the brush. Excess moisture can cause the wooden handle to swell (cracking and peeling the paint) and loosen the ferrule.

When Cleaning:

• Make sure to clean your brushes directly after painting.
• Remove excess paint with a paper towel or paint rag. Water-based paints can be easily removed with warm water and soap. Make sure to continue cleaning until the water runs clear. For oil-based paints, rinse your brush with a solvent cleaner until most of the color is gone. Use a brush cleaner to remove any remaining paint. Some pigments will stain bristles, this is not a problem as long as all of the paint is removed. Natural hair brushes should be conditioned every few uses.
• Once all of the paint has been removed, gently squeeze out excess moisture and reshape your brush.
• Make sure the handle and the ferrule of your brush is dry to prevent a build up of moisture.
• Leave your brush to dry with the bristles upright so they do not get misshapen.

Find brush cleaning accessories here.