Looking for a new brush? Discover how to choose a paint brush and keep them clean with top advice from artist, Melanie Cambridge.

I'm often asked “how do I clean my brushes properly?" Taking good care of your brushes whether they are synthetic fibres or natural hair means they will last a long time. They will keep their shape better and remain soft and useable over time. 

Here are my handy hints and tips on both choosing and how to clean paint brushes, whatever media you use.

Choosing your brush – synthetic vs natural brushes

Natural hair is preferred by many artists, however there's a wide range of synthetic fibres available for all types of brushes. This means that anyone concerned about using animal products can opt for these “Vegan friendly” brushes instead. Personally, I am a fan of synthetic brushes and indeed my own range uses only synthetic fibres.

Types of oil brushes

Oil brushes are traditionally made of natural hog hair. They're often relatively stiff and able to take the wear and tear when using oils (or acrylics). 

However, there are now plenty of synthetic alternatives on the market. I find the slightly softer feel and flexibility of synthetic fibres gives them more “spring”. Synthetic brushes tend to wear relatively evenly so an old brush will keep its shape and edge, becoming shorter as you use it. Hog brushes, being stiffer, can split at the ends as they wear, especially if you do not clean them well and reshape when wet. 

Types of watercolour and acrylic brushes

Many artists choose expensive, natural fibres for watercolour brushes such as Sable, because they keep a fine point and hold a lot of pigment. 

However, synthetic brushes can be as good with the added benefit of being cheaper and not using animal hair. Synthetic brushes also take less care and are more robust. So if your cleaning regime is sometimes a bit 'hit and miss', it probably won’t matter too much on the odd occasion.

How to clean oil brushes

1. Wipe off as much paint as possible with either a rag or paper towel. Start by the ferrule and gently wipe towards the tip.

2. Clean your brush with solvent. I like to have two jars of solvent with approximately 1” in each. I prefer an odourless solvent rather than white spirit to reduce fumes in my studio. 

Swish the brush around in the first jar, then wipe clean again (same technique as for removing excess paint). Move on to the second jar for another swish and wipe clean.

Top Tip! You can re-use dirty solvent several times. Leave it in a glass jar for the pigment to settle over a couple of days and then pour off the clean(ish) solvent to use again. 

3. If you're painting again the next day, place these brushes upright in a jar to let them dry off fully.

Top Tip! Eventually the solvent will turn a yellowish colour. This is because the solvent now contains some oil from the paint. This solvent/oil mix can be used as a lean painting medium for future oil paints.

4. If you will not be painting again the next day, give your brushes a second wash with a liquid soap cleaner. Place a little soap in your hand and massage the brush in your palm. Work the soap into the brush fibres before rinsing off with plenty of water.

5. Once cleaned, wipe each brush from ferrule to tip before placing upright in a jar to fully dry off. Once dry, store them in your zip-up brush folder.

How to clean watercolour and acrylic brushes

1. Wipe off as much paint as possible with either a rag or paper towel. Start by the ferrule and gently wipe towards the tip. Be gentle, especially with watercolour brushes to keep the shape of the brush as you wipe off excess paint.

2. Give your brush a good swish around in clean water. If using watercolour, then running brushes under the tap is ok. Don't repeat this for acrylic brushes as the pigment contains micro plastics which should not being going down the sink. Use a jar instead and empty dirty brush water into a bucket and dispose of as wastewater, not down the drains.

3. If you will be painting again the next day, place these brushes upright in a jar to let them dry off fully.

4. Give your brushes a second wash with a soap cleaner. Place a little soap in your hand and massage the brush in your palm, before rinsing off with plenty of water.

Top Tip! A proprietary artist brush soap is ideal for this, but domestic liquid soap will do.

5. Once cleaned, wipe each brush from ferrule to tip before placing upright in a jar to fully dry off. 

Frequently asked questions: cleaning your brushes

Can I clean water-mixable oils just with water? 

Yes, but I find that after several painting sessions there can be a sticky build up near to the ferrule. If you use a soap brush cleaner after rinsing with water, this helps prevent build up.

Is it ever okay to leave brushes standing in water or solvent?

No. Even leaving brushes in solvent of water for a short while can cause the fibres to bend and soften. Left for a long time this can weaken the glue that holds the fibres in place causing them to drop out.

Now you know how to clean your brushes correctly, why not follow one of our step-by-step painting tutorials?

How do I re-shape a brush when wet?

Use your fingers to softly draw the point back together. Never put a brush in your mouth to do this!

Why do my oil brushes never look as perfectly creamy as when new?

This is normal. Oil colour can stain the light fibres of hog and synthetic brushes. As you can see from this photograph of two of my own filbert brushes.

Recommended products

• Oil solvent:  Jacksons Pure Sol, Winsor & Newton Sansodor
• Soap brush cleaner: The Masters Brush Cleaner & Preserver
• Melanie Cambridge Artist Brushes, available via Art Supplies with Painters Online