Ultimate Guide To Paint Brush Care: Tips For Watercolor, Acrylic, And Oil Brushes

Brushes are a fundamental -if not the most important- tool for any artist who works with watercolor, acrylic or oil painting. I have ignored the importance of having a well-kept appropriate brush, and the consequences of this are palpable in some of my pieces.

Neglecting to properly care for painting brushes can lead to a range of issues for artists, including bristle damage, loss of shape, and reduced brush lifespan. Ultimately, neglecting brush care can result in increased costs due to the need for frequent replacements.

The best way to care for your painting brushes is to maintain a regular cleaning routine based on the type of brush you have as well as storing them appropriately. Our article Ultimate Guide to Paint Brush Care: Tips for Watercolor, Acrylic, and Oil Brushes can assist you in maintaining your brushes’ performance and longevity as well as ensuring consistent painting results. Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

1 General Tips
2 Specific Care for Different Types of Brushes
3 Environmental considerations When it Comes to Caring for Your Paint Brushes
4 Final Words
5 Sources

General Tips

Although there are some particularities on the brush depending on what kind of pigment it should be used for – which we will discuss further below -, next we have listed some general thoughts to have on the top of your mind when it comes to caring for your paint brushes.

For Cleaning Paint Brushes

Always clean brushes immediately after use to prevent paint from drying on the bristles.
Use lukewarm water and mild soap for most brushes; avoid hot water as it can damage bristles and the ferrule.

For Drying and Storing your Paint Brushes

Lay brushes flat or hang them bristle-down to dry to prevent water from seeping into the ferrule.
Store in a dry place, bristles up, once completely dry.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Do not leave brushes soaking in water or solvent: it can damage the bristles, corrode the ferrule, damage the handle and contaminate the brush.
Do not rest brushes bristle-down: it can distort shape, cause frayed tips as well as wear and tear the bristle.
Avoid harsh detergents or soaps not specifically designed for brushes.

Specific Care for Different Types of Brushes

Differentiating between acrylic, oil, and watercolor brushes is important not only because each type of paint requires specific brush characteristics for optimal performance, but because the type of care the brush will need might be slightly different.

Separator image of acrylic painting showing flowers

Tips for Watercolor Paint Brushes

Watercolor brushes generally have soft, absorbent natural or high-quality synthetic bristles or natural hair, optimal for holding water and pigment, with shorter handles for precise, controlled strokes.

Delicacy and Maintenance: Brushes meant for watercolor tend to be more delicate due to their fine bristles, so they need to be treated in a gentler manner.
Cleaning: Rinse them under lukewarm water, gently reshape bristles, and use mild brush soap if necessary.
Dry after Cleaning: It’s important to remove water excess, make sure to dry the ferrules and handles, reshape brush heads, and leave them with the bristles facing upwards.
Special Tips: Never use hot water; it can remove natural oils from the bristles.

Windsor & Newton recommend using mild soap and cool water, swirl the soapy brush in the palm of your hand, and rinse. They recommend repeating the washing and rinsing process until the waters run clear.

This type of watercolor pencil is the only one that I have had since I started watercoloring, and it’s because I take a lot of care of cleaning it after use. You do not need anything in particular – I rarely see the need to use soap.

One of the best things you can do to preserve a watercolor paint brush from getting damaged is using it solely for watercolor, and not for other type of pigments. You can also follow this How to Look After Your Watercolor Brushes: 21 Do’s & Don’ts advice.

Tips for Acrylic Paint Brushes

Acrylic brushes tend to have medium-firm synthetic bristles, designed to handle the thickness of acrylic paint, and can have either short or long handles depending on the painting style.

Prepare your brush before painting: You can do this by removing starch or gum arabic solution from new brushes, removing loose bristles from the paint brushes and wetting the paint brushes before use.
Preventing Paint Buildup: Acrylic paint dries quickly, making immediate cleaning essential; even when painting you may have to remove excess by gliding the paintbrush over the paper towel or rag to get rid of excess paint. Also, avoid getting paint on the ferrule
Cleaning: Use mild soap and cool water (thin shampoo could work as well); use the pressure of the water to your advantage and pinch the bristle to dislodge any stuck paint. You can also try to use vinegar which is an affordable, enviromentally friendly alternative.
Dry after Cleaning: Same recommendation than with acrylic brushes above. Also common to both is to store them with their bristles up in a jar after they are completely dry.
Handling Dried Paint: For dried acrylic paint you will need to use a specialized soap – consider if you will buy the soap or buy a new brush – it’s always best to keep your brushes as clean as possible as early as possible.

Winsor & Newton Brush Cleaner & Restorer, 16.0-oz Bottle

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Tips for Oil Paint Brushes

Oil brushes typically feature stiff natural or synthetic bristles, suited for working with the heavy texture of oil paint, and usually have long handles for painting at a distance.

Handling Oil Residue: Use specialized solvents like white spirit or brush cleaner. Linseed and other natural oils can be used, which are less harmful to you.
Remove Excess: It’s always good practice to wipe off the brush with a paper towel or piece of newspaper first.
Cleaning Process: After removing the paint excess with paper and afterwards with a rag, then clean with a solvent followed by mild soap and warm water.
Avoid Detergents: Do not use household detergents as they can damage the bristles – if the oil painting dries you can try vinegar or this Winsor & Newton brush cleaner.

Opens in a new tab. — How to restore old dried up oil painting brushes, by Oko Academy

For a more comprehensive explanation on how to clean your oil paint brushes, read How Do You Clean Oil Paint Brushes? in which we also discuss all the different cleaners you can use

Environmental considerations When it Comes to Caring for Your Paint Brushes

There are particular environmental considerations when it comes to the disposal of water and cleaning supplies used with oil painting. Although the toxicity of cadmium pigments is negligible, the solvents used for both cleaning and thinning oil painting shouldn’t be disposed of down the sink.

If you need to use solvents, make sure they stay on the rag you are using to clean, and do not use them at the same time you use water. Also, don’t allow solvents to evaporate in an open container. Instead, use a sealable jar or metal container.

Final Words

In the end, the longevity and performance of your painting brushes is directly tied to the care you give to them. Whether you work with watercolor, acrylic, or oil paints, adopting a consistent brush care routine will save you from the cost and frustration of frequent replacements:

While you are Painting: Rinse frequently, wash off excess, keep off moist in the case of watercolor brushes, and consider using different brushes to reduce the need for constant rinsing and to keep colors pure.
When you are Done Painting: Clean immediately – don’t wait! Gently reshape the brush and lay the brushes flat or with the bristles facing downward to dry. This prevents water or solvent from seeping into the ferrule (the metal part) and loosening the glue that holds the bristles.
When Storing The Brushes: Always ensure they are dry before storing, store vertically or horizontally, protect the bristles and avoid direct sunlight and heat.

We hope our Ultimate Guide to Paint Brush Care: Tips for Watercolor, Acrylic, and Oil Brushes has given you tips for the specific materials you are using.

Sources

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