How to Clean Your Freaking Brushes -- Oil Painting #Shorts

2 years ago
16

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Materials I use for cleaning my glorious brushes (Not Affiliate Links):
Brush Cleaner: https://amzn.to/3CXcRtL
Viva Paper Towels (Easily found in store): https://amzn.to/3iinxeE
Odorless Mineral Spirits: https://amzn.to/3AW5DW6
Irish Spring Soap (Easily found in store): https://amzn.to/3APf1uK
Masters Brush Cleaner and Preserver: https://amzn.to/3CWo25R

*Important safety information*
In this video, I don't use gloves to clean my brushes though it might be smart to especially if you are new to the process. I'm very careful about getting the toxic materials on my skin. I start by wiping the paint off on a paper towel and then I get rid of the excess paint by swabbing the brushes in my brush cleaner filled with odorless mineral spirits. Though odorless, it is still toxic so DO NOT leave the cap off when you aren't using it. If you don't use mineral spirits to get rid of the paint in the initial cleaning process and you proceed to clean the paint only with soap, that mixture of oil paint and soap can solidify overtime within the pipes of the sink which is bad MmmKay...

I then wipe the mineral spirits off on a paper towel and proceed to the sink where I clean the brushes, first with Irish Spring soap and then with Masters Brush Cleaner Soap. When I first start washing them with soap, I am careful not to get the residue on my hands and I scrub the brushes on the bottom of the sink repeatedly between washes and rinses until all of the paint and mineral spirits are out of the brushes. In this manner, I don't get any on my hands. Once I am sure they are fairly clean of the toxins, I continue to soap and rinse my brushes, this time scrubbing and massaging them with my hands.

At this point, I will be extra thorough and use the Master Brush Cleaner soap to finish the cleaning process. Because I use Irish Spring in the beginning to get rid of all the toxins, I don't waste the higher quality Masters Brush Cleaner soap and it lasts longer. Instead, I can use it for the end where I leave it on the brush to condition it. I then wrap the brushes in paper towels and they are good to paint with the following day.

It is very important to take care of you brushes because it will help them last longer and enable you to not fight the brush if it is worn out from poor care. Painting is hard enough so it is worth taking the time to preserve your materials. If you have any questions, please contact me.

Music in this video from Epidemic Sound

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