How to Clean Oil Paint Brushes Safely

How to Clean Oil Paint Brushes Safely 09/23/2010

Many artists use turpentine to clean paint brushes.

As far as I am concerned turpentine is too dangerous a product to use on a regular basis. There are far safer ways of cleaning brushes. I do not allow any thinner in any form, in my studio.

Wipe off excess paint prior to cleaning. Pages from old phone books, rag or no name tissues are useful for this purpose.

Place the brushes in inexpensive vegetable oil, I use Canola oil, some pope use baby oil and neat’s-foot oil is ideal for this purpose, but expensive and a bit smelly.

Slosh the brushes around in the vegetable oil, then squeeze out the excess oil, repeat until you have the brushes relatively paint free.

Wash brushes in luke warm water and a super fatted soap. You can use hair shampoo. It is best to not use a harsh soap or it will dry out the brush bristles too much.

Rinse bristles and carefully shape the hairs and wipe the handles clean and dry.

If any of the hairs look like they are not forming into the shape the brush was in when new, then tear strips of tissue and wrap these strips around the bristles forcing the hairs back into as new shape. Leave these tissue strips in place while brushes dry hair end up in the air.

Don’t let a sales person convince you that odourless turps is less toxic than normal turps, it is just as harmful to the environment and your own health, in fact it is more risky to use because you cannot smell it as easily to realize the studio needs ventilating.

Vegetable oil will not clean your brushes as well as turps so be extra vigilant and clean those brushes well they are worth it and turps is just too harmful to the environment. To use when we have safe substitutes.