After a painting project, you may be tempted to just throw away your gloss paint brush but the cleaning process is not hard. In fact, many home DIY enthusiasts think that it’s too much trouble to clean gloss from a paintbrush and would rather buy a new one for each project.
This approach can be a costly solution to a very easy problem. Cleaning gloss paint brushes means that you will have a suitable brush ready for your next project as they can work wonders for years if properly maintained.
It will take more than a basin of soapy water to get your brushes clean for oil-based gloss paint and while they will never return to an as new condition they can still be used multiple times without a problem.
So how do you clean gloss paint brushes? Follow these simple steps to keep them in the best condition so you can continue using them and saving money.
How to clean brushes that have been used for oil-based gloss. For water-based gloss you can simply rinse the brushes under water and clean thorougly. Leave to dry in a well ventiliated area.
Total Time: 10 minutes
1. Wipe The Brush Clean Of Excess Gloss
Use an old newspaper to wipe any excess gloss paint off the brushes. You won’t get all the paint off but the aim is to remove as much excess gloss as possible before the next step.
2. Fill A Jar To Soak The Brush
For gloss brushes fill a jamjar or any glass container with white spirit and place the brush into the container. Swirl the brush around in the jar to help dislodge the paint. Wear protective gloves to avoid white spirit contact with the skin.
3. Replace The White Spirit Solution
After 24 hours of soaking you can replace the white spirit solution and continue the process again for another 24 hours. Do not pour white spirit down the sink. Unfortunately you will need to dispose of it responsibily so view your local councils policy on the disposal of solvents.
4. Wipe Clean The Brushes With Newspaper
The solution should dislodge the paint to the bottom of the container, you can now wipe clean your brushes with newspaper to remove any additional gloss. You can use an old cloth for this process also.
5. Let The Brush Dry
After the brush has been cleaned then let it dry out in an area with plenty of ventilation and it will be ready for your next project. Often people leave it in white spirit jars to keep them from hardening. While this works well it’s not the best practice to have open containers of white spirit around the home.
