Winner of the Piggy Paint Giveaway is actually comment #1 (what are the chances?)
Ok so this is not the coolest post in America but I think it is useful. Sometimes I get super lazy when I clean my paintbrushes. I am either in a hurry, forget, or think I will “be back in 10 minutes” to finish the project up and never do. I found this product at Home Depot.
Now I hear you can use mineral spirits as well, but I did not have any on hand and this was less expensive anyway. I read about this product in a magazine called Family Handyman. I actually made an investment into my brushes because I paint so often and good paintbrushes are a MUST, in my humble opinion. My brushes were in desperate need of refreshment.
Don’t judge me by my paintbrush! My house looks slightly a lot better than my brushes, I promise.
So I tied two rubber bands around some pencils and opened them up and shoved my paintbrush between them so I could suspend it in the liquid (you don’t want the ferrule in the solution).
Yah, I know I sound smart. Ferrule…I said it. Yah I am a pro, or read a magazine that tells me the correct terminology. Definition of ferrule – the metal part of a paintbrush that holds the bristles to the handle.
Then I set it in my brush cleaner and covered the top with aluminum foil. 
I swished it around a few times to help dislodge the stuck paint and let it sleep overnight. In the morning I woke up and washed the brush out with soap and water. Even though the ferrule was not in the cleaner the ferrule came out clean too. I just wanted to sound smart one more time.
Lastly, I let them dry with the handle down. Did you know you are supposed to dry your brushes handle down after you clean them? I totally didn’t know that either! Now I have a bouquet of Purdys again. Pun TOTALLY intended! Yes I am dork too.
Wow, I'm so impressed! Is that really the same brush? I think my brushes are in need of some lovin, thanks for the tips! What is the deal with drying them handle down? I would of thought the opposite. Thanks again 🙂
Ooooh, gotta get me some of that! And yeah, why dry them handle down? What is the reasoning for that?
It is because if there is any leftover paint that you didn't clean well enough or anything it will go into the ferrule and not the tip of your paintbrush. When you hang them with the bristles down the bristles wear out sooner because of that. That is what it said in that article.
wow, thats great!does it work on long old dried out brushes? you know, the ones you figure are far gone?
You are so clever girl, and now I'm reminded how much I need to pay better attention to MY brushes !
That is really, really good to know – thanks for the tip!!!
It's a great tip for cleaning paintbrushes!!!
Charo
I love the before and after! I'm gonna get me some of that liquid cleaner. Did it stink?
Great tip! I generally wash mine out right after a project but I have one that I forgot (a Purdy) and I should get some of that cleaner to get all the crusty paint bits out of it. Thanks for the uber smart terminology too! 🙂
Thanks for sharing! I'm definitely going to have to try this.
That is amazing. I thought my brushes were going to have stay nasty. Thank you for sharing.
Way better than throwing them out, I say. Er… yes, I'm so guilty of that.
You and my husband would get along well. He is a FREAK about keeping his brushes clean. I'm HORRIBLE. I would buy new brushes every time I paint. I'm so lazy…
Great info! I have been storing my Purdys in a pitcher on my desk. I like to look at them and think about the next project. So nice to know I am "doing it right!"
A blog after my own heart! You know how chef's are w/their knives? That's how I am w/my brushes. NO ONE touches my brushes – ever.
But I will say, since I usually use latex, I always have ziplock bags to throw them into. Even my art brushes.
If I'm on a job, the purdy Purdy's get tossed in the freezer overnight.
And, you know – most people don't know what a ferrule is. Color me impressed! 😉
A blog after my own heart! You know how chef's are w/their knives? That's how I am w/my brushes. NO ONE touches my brushes – ever.
But I will say, since I usually use latex, I always have ziplock bags to throw them into. Even my art brushes.
If I'm on a job, the purdy Purdy's get tossed in the freezer overnight.
And, you know – most people don't know what a ferrule is. Color me impressed! 😉
A blog after my own heart! You know how chef's are w/their knives? That's how I am w/my brushes. NO ONE touches my brushes – ever.
But I will say, since I usually use latex, I always have ziplock bags to throw them into. Even my art brushes.
If I'm on a job, the purdy Purdy's get tossed in the freezer overnight.
And, you know – most people don't know what a ferrule is. Color me impressed! 😉
A blog after my own heart! You know how chef's are w/their knives? That's how I am w/my brushes. NO ONE touches my brushes – ever.
But I will say, since I usually use latex, I always have ziplock bags to throw them into. Even my art brushes.
If I'm on a job, the purdy Purdy's get tossed in the freezer overnight.
And, you know – most people don't know what a ferrule is. Color me impressed! 😉
Wow, I learned several new things today!! Thanks for sharing. I'm pretty sure my husband doesn't clean our paint brushes well and I might just have to surprise him with clean brushes one day!
So, I grew up with my father adoring his Purdy brushes. See, I was never allowed to touch them lol. He was a little possessive with them. When he passed away and my hubby and I were going through his garage, and I saw the paint bucket (with all things paint inside) I just smiled. See, now I use the wonderful Purdy brushes and I too have become possessive of them. My husband will now buy nothing else! I will have to try this cleaner though…that will help. Thanks!