Any artist knows that investing in paintbrushes is very important, and you need to take good care of them. After using a paint brush, you need to ensure that it is well cleaned, especially if you are using oil based paint. So, how do you clean oil paintbrushes?
The easiest way of cleaning your oil brush is to wash using a non-water-based solvent. You can use citrus thinner, which is good at detaching the excess paint from the brush. After using the citrus thinner, you will need to clean all your brushes using soapy water to flexible the bristles (can be regular dish soap).
In this article, we will look at some methods that you can apply when cleaning oil paint from your brushes. These methods are the best, and you should never use them to clean acrylic paints. Simply use warm soapy water to clean acrylic paint off your brushes
, then rinse thoroughly. Let’s take a closer look to the question How Do You Clean Oil Paint Brushes?
Table of Contents
How Do You Clean Oil-Based Paint Brushes?
Always remember to rinse all your brushes using running water. This will help remove any oil paint remains from the brushes. After using oil paint, you need to know which solvent will work well for you and what technique you can apply. If you use the wrong solvent, it will end up damaging your brushes.
If you are a new artist, it is always good to know how to clean your oil paintbrushes. Paintbrushes are expensive, and you need to know how to keep them clean so that they can last for a long time. Knowing how to clean your brush will ensure that you get quality paintings.
If you want to clean an oil paintbrush, you should make sure to clean it properly. Paint can get stuck at the base of the brush or near the ferrule. If you do not clean it properly, you can end up buying new batches every month. So, you should never forget how to clean your brush correctly thoroughly.
Whether you are an artist or just painting your house, oil paints have different ingredients, and you need to know what material to use when cleaning the paintbrushes. You should always clean your paintbrushes when they are still wet to make your work easy and enjoyable.
The methods we will look at are not organized in any format, so you should not be afraid to start with any. Many people always think that oil paint thinner is the only method of cleaning oil paint brushes, but there are other methods.
Mineral-Based Baby Oil
Did you know that you can clean your oil-based paint brushes without using a paint thinner? Yes, it is possible. If you have problems inhaling toxins found in mineral spirit, you can simply use baby oil. Let us look at how it is done.
Method
Start by coating all your paintbrushes with baby oil. Using your fingers, you can gently remove the paint mixture and oil from the brush. Some people prefer using old newspapers or a rag to wipe their brushes. Repeat the same procedure two or three times until all your brushes are clean.
Using soapy water, you will wash off any remnants of oil found on the brush. Rinse your brush with running water until all the paint is off. Dry the brush using an old newspaper or a piece of rag.
Paint Thinner
So, what exactly is a paint thinner? A paint thinner is a solvent meant to make oil-based paint thin, and they come in the form of mineral spirit. This product can be found in any art store, and it is a by-product of petroleum. Paint thinners are usually clear and odorless.
White spirit/mineral spirits are insoluble when mixed with water, and it is typically used as an extraction solvent in most paint industries. The difference between white spirit and mineral spirits is that it is not directly from the fermented grains. It can also be found in turpentine.
Most artists prefer using mineral spirit to clean their brushes because it does not have any oil residue on your brushes. Using turpentine can be dangerous because it is flammable and very toxic. Always wear protective gear when dealing with turpentine.
You need to have hand soap (the best soap should be “pink soap” because of the bristle conditioner in it), a well-cleaned container/jar, paint thinner, a regular comb, and a few old newspapers.
- Not only cleans the fresh paint from your brushes but the dried paint as well
- Great for conditioning and reshaping your brushes
- Cleans oils, acrylics and watercolors (home, school, and work), it cleans greasy stove tops and...
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Step One
Start by pouring a good amount of paint thinner in a jar or container, then using the old newspaper, you can gently remove oil paint from the brush. Make sure to remove all the loose paints by scrapping them using a comb. The comb will help remove paint particles from the bristles.
Step Two
Do not forget to remove any paint that is found in the ferrule and the bristles. After you are sure that all the loose paint is taken care of, you should dip all the brushes in a jar of thinner. Make sure to scrub all the loose paint found at the base of the jar.
Step Three
Remove all the brushes from the jar and clean them again using the old newspapers. Repeat the process over and over until all the paint is removed from the brushes.
Step Four
Get some liquid soap in your palms, then scrub all the paintbrushes until they return to their normal color. Soap is typically used to remove the paint color from the bristles. Wash all the brushes using water, then repeat the cleaning with fresh soap. Keep repeating until the water is clear.
Step Five
Rinse all the brushes with clean running water until they are clear from any paint. Use an old newspaper when drying the brushes. Always use disposable plastic gloves if you have any problem with the toxic materials found in oil paint. And there you are, all your paintbrushes are sparkling clean.
Linseed Oil
The most common vegetable oil that you can use to clean your oil-based paintbrushes should be linseed oil. That is because it is very cheap and readily available in many supermarket outlets. Just the same as baby oil, linseed oil is not harmful to your skin, and it has the same results as baby oil.
How To Use Linseed Oil
Start by pouring some small amount of linseed oil on a rough paper, then place all your brushes on top of the paper oil. Confirm that both sides of the brush are well covered with linseed oil. Get an old newspaper, then scrape out all the paint until your brush is back to its normal color.
Make sure to repeat the entire process two or three times until it is just clear oil left on the bristles. Rinse your brush using soapy water. Once you are sure it is clean, you can dry it using an old newspaper.
Citrus Thinner
Citrus thinner can be found in most juicing industries, and it is a byproduct got from removing citrus oil from citrus. The peels are where citrus oil is found, and instead of throwing them away. Citrus thinner is made from peelings. Citrus thinner has a natural smell, and it does not contain synthetic solvents.
How Can I Use the Citrus Thinner?
The same way you use baby oil to clean your brush, you will use citrus thinner. Most artists prefer using citrus thinner because it has a nice smell, and it is not very harmful to your health. Use small amounts whenever you are cleaning your brush.
Turpentine
Before we proceed, you should note that using turpentine is not a good idea. But because it is popular and readily available in many garages, why not give it a try. Turpentine is made from resins found in living trees. The resin is the solvent.
Most people do not like using turpentine because of its effects on your eyes and the lungs. You will need to have a lot of protective gear if at all you want to use turpentine. You should never ingest it, breathe it, or even use it on your skin. It can cause serious irritation when you touch it. For safety purposes, simply use white spirit. Another option could be gamsol.
Always Clean Your Oil Paint Brush When Painting
It is always good to clean your brush between colors, especially if you use more than two colors. Always make sure to have a rag and an open container of paint thinner. The cleaning process in between colors will not make your brush very clean, but it will indeed have a difference.
If you want to change the brush you are using, you can simply dip the used brush inside the thinner mix then wipe off any oil residues found on the brush. Of course, you should remember to clean all your brushes thoroughly after completing your painting.
Other Alternatives of Cleaning Oil Paint Brushes
Apart from the methods and techniques provided, there are other miscellaneous cleaning tips that you can employ to clean your brush.
- Use White Vinegar
White vinegar can be found in many homes, and it is the perfect cleaning agent. Because vinegar is used for cleaning materials at home, you can also use it to clean your dirt paintbrushes. Simply use some warm vinegar, then dip all your brushes inside a container. Clean for a few minutes, then wipe using old newspaper.
- Use Fabric Softener or Hair Gel
Yes, you can clean your oil paint brushes with hair gel. You will start by coating all the dirty brushes with hair gel, then soak the brushes inside a jar of fabric softener. Leave them to soak for 5 minutes, and they will be back to their original form. Wipe using a clean rag and dry the brush.
What Ingredients Are Found in Oil Paint?
Now that we all know the procedure of cleaning our oil-based paintbrushes, why don’t we look at some of the ingredients found in oil paint? There are up to six ingredients that make up paint, and they include,
A base which is the matter that will make the whole body, linseed oil which is soluble in both the pigments and the base, color pigments which can be two or more, a thinner or solvent, inert filler, and a drier (red lead or litharge).
Should I Use Student Oil Paint or Professional Oil Paint?
If you want to buy a student-based oil paint, you can spend around 10 to 15 dollars for a six-and-a-half tube, whereas a professional grade oil paint will cost you around 30 dollars for a tube. The price difference depends on what you want to achieve.
If you want your painting to last for an extended period, you should go for the expensive paint. Cheap paints will have a devastating effect on your artwork. Your painting can become dull over time, and it can also start to crack once oil evaporates completely. If you are still new to painting, it is good to stick with student oil paints.
Student oil paints will always use linseed oil for consistency, whereas professional oil paints use safflower oil and linseed oil. Other professional oil paints only use safflower oil. The pigments found in the student paints are way cheaper than the ones used in professional oil paints.
How Toxic Are Oil Paints?
Initially, the pigments that were found in oil paints were very toxic, but that has since been discontinued. The toxic pigments include orpiment (arsenic sulfide) and Paris Green(copper). Unfortunately, some of the pigments found are still in use.
Oil paints containing organic compounds and hydrocarbons, which can be very dangerous to your health when inhaled. Please also note that there are some health and safety concerns when storing them. These paints can produce fumes that contain poisonous substances. Always use safety gear when using some of these oil-based paints.