How to Clean Paint Brushes (DIY)

Introduction

Good paint brushes are worth the money, whether you're painting with latex, oil or shellac. Here's how the pros clean up their expensive paint brushes. Plus, we included some tips at the end for reviving your petrified paint brushes. 

Tools Required

Materials Required

• Denatured alcohol
• Household ammonia
• Lacquer thinner
• Newspaper
• Paint thinner

A Good Paint Job Starts With a Good Brush

One expensive paint brush is way better than a handful of cheap paint brushes. Get a good nylon or polyester brush for painting with latex and a good natural (animal hair) bristle brush for oil paints. Don’t use a natural-bristle brush for water-based paints like latex. The natural fibers will swell, lose their shape and eventually lose their strength, too. If you can’t get the buying information you need from a home center or hardware store, go to a retail paint store for assistance.