Treatex Brushes | Key Tips For Cleaning Your Brushes

Cleaning and maintaining your brushes regularly is essential in prolonging the lifespan of your brushes, ensuring they remain clean, smooth and easy to use for the long term. At Treatex, we supply a range of brushes, as well as Treatex Thinner to guarantee your brushes are always ready for the job at hand. Below, we highlight some of the most important cleaning and maintenance tips to remember when using brushes for both interior and exterior surfaces.

Know Your Paints

In order to understand exactly what approach is best for cleaning your paintbrushes, you should first understand what paint you have most recently used. In order to determine which solvent you will require to dissolve the dried paint effectively, you must first understand the difference between water and oil-based paints as they will require slightly different approaches. For oil-based paints, use mineral spirits or turpentine in a small pail, and for latex or water-based paints, simply place your brushes in a bucket filled with soapy hot water.

Remove Excess Paint

Never allow your paint brushes to fully dry while dripping, as this will quickly solidify and make it far more difficult to clean your brushes effectively. Remove excess paint from your brush by pressing the bristles of your brush inside the paint can, as this will also prevent waste. Try wiping bristles on old newspapers, as this will make it far easier to clean your brushes later on.

Use Thinner

For oil-based paints, a cleaning solution with thinner should do the trick, whilst for water-based paints, a simple water and soap mixture will be enough to clean your paint brushes effectively. Submerging your brushes, spinning the bristles, and squeezing and wiping them clean in an appropriate cleaning solution will ensure any and all dry paint is thoroughly washed off.

Rinse & Dry

If you have used thinner, it’s a smart idea to wash them again using warm water and soap, to remove any excess solvent that may remain on the brush. Chemicals used in thinners can pose risks, so always place your brushes in a bucket or sink away from food.

Wipe down and shake your paint brushes until they are dry, it’s essential that you make sure the bristles are completely clean and dry, so try using old newspapers, a clean rag or something similar that will absorb leftover water carefully without damaging the bristles themselves.

Looking for a range of paint brushes, floor brushes and more? At Treatex, We provide a range of trade quality brushes that are suitable for our interior and exterior products. At Treatex, As one of the top suppliers of wood finishes in the UK, Europe, and Australasia our team has earned a reputation for being friendly, honest and knowledgeable. Contact us today.