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Oil paint brush missed cleaning, any way it can be revived?

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Michael Robinson

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My blending brush got overlooked for cleaning and the hairs are now stuck together and quite hard. I have tried my oil brush cleaners to no avail. Any ideas please? It is a nice brush so would be happy to revive it.

Adele Elgood

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Welcome to the forum Sandra. I've just had a look on you tube and they have a video By Michele Theberge showing how to clean brushes that have dried oil and acrylic paint on them. She is using Winsor & Newton Brush Cleaner and Restorer. Have a look and see if you can find it.
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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The longer it's been left in that condition, the more difficult it will be to clean. If the W & N product doesn't work - I've no idea if it will, I don't let my brushes get into this state (smug mode enabled), you could try submerging the hair in meths or mineral spirit (white spirit) and leaving it for a few days, then try washing with plain soap and water. This process is far from foolproof, though - and is likely, if it works at all, to de-nature the hairs and make the brush far less useful as a blender. There is a question and answer section, as I remember, on the Rosemary & Co website which covers many aspects of brush cleaning. But I think you might end up having to buy a new brush. Let us know how you get on.

Adele Elgood

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Easily done Sandra. I have always been meticulous in cleaning my brushes after each painting session but one had fallen on the floor unnoticed and I didn't find it for days, alas. I threw it away after trying to soak it in spirit, which didn't help. It's worth buying the restorer only if it works out cheaper than a new brush of course.
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Linda Wilson

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I use "Spirit Green" for cleaning hardened brushes. It is non toxic, but even works on acrylic. Beware though do not use it as a medium.

Michael Robinson

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Adele you are a gem! I watched Michele's video, and as I have a similar brush cleaning product to the W&N one I soaked the brush overnight and have just finished the cleaning it as she recommended, finally topping off with the Daler Rowney oil brush cleaner. The brush feels much softer now, will have to wait until it dries to know whether it can be used for blending, but if not it feels as if it would be usable as an ordinary brush. It was also a very good tip about split brushes, I hadn't known that acrylic binder gets left behind once the pigment has been cleaned. I treated a split acrylic brush the same way and this has improved it, although I think it will need a second go before it is fully restored. We have had a session on brush care but this wasn't covered. I hadn't thought of Youtube for the brush problem although I do watch art videos. Once again many thanks.

Michael Robinson

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Splosh thank-you very much for your reply too. I haven't come across Spirit Green here but will just check next time I go to my favourite art supply shop.

Adele Elgood

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Hi Sandra - thanks for letting us know the outcome. So pleased it worked to a degree. I will also bear it in mind if I am tempted to bring out my oils again and find any brushes not up to standard.
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Linda Wilson

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Forgot to mention that it is best to avoid paint stripper as some brands of this contain sodium hydroxide, which also dissolves hair. fine for cleaning the drains though.
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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Well done - I shall have to investigate these methods and products, because now I've boasted that I don't let my brushes get into that state, I'm absolutely bound to forget to clean one properly myself and have to try rescuing it. The real reason I don't, is that years ago I did - and a fellow artist (and a very good one; sadly no longer with us) came to visit me, and saw the state of my brushes, and told me off good and proper; this must have been the best part of 50 years ago, but I still remember it vividly, and since then I've been obsessive about cleaning my brushes. Now if only he'd told me off about the state of my palette, it might be a bit less of a mess. Anyone got any ideas about the best way to clean dried out oil paint on a wooden palette........?

Adele Elgood

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Robert you naughty man! How on earth people work with fresh paint dolloped over an encrusted palette, I will never know. Now I was obsessed with cleaning my palette after each painting session. Then I decided that was too much trouble and covered the palette with foil so that after painting I could just throw the foil away. Then I bought tear off palette pads. The advantage of those is that the surface is white and you can judge your colours better. Obviously a bit more expensive if you paint every day. I wonder if you can dribble some of the brush restorer on top of the encrusted palette?? Meanwhile start scraping - it probably won't do any good but it is your penance!
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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Well ...... scraping it with a palette knife (ie, NOT a painting knife) and then just rubbing away like billy-o with a cloth soaked in white spirit usually works, but I was hoping something less labour-intensive might present itself......... apart from which, white spirit honks.
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