The cleaning process is a messy but essential aspect of painting projects, and it only seems messier when working with oil painting brushes. And if you do it wrong, your brushes will lose their perfect shape or worse. Whether you're touching up your walls or creating an oil masterpiece, cleaning your brushes properly is key to keeping them in good condition.

How quickly do you need to clean your paint brushes after using them?

Oil paint takes longer to dry than water-based paints, but don’t let that fool you—cleaning the paint off brushes should be done promptly. If oil is allowed to harden in the bristles, it leads to gunky paint can be nearly impossible to remove. It may not be an issue for cheap brushes, but some types of brushes can be quite costly. Ideally, clean up from the oil painting process immediately.

Applying teak oil to wood with a paint brush.
Yes, we clean our teak oil brushes using this technique, too. Credit: terminator1 / Getty Images

What Not to Do

  • Don't use hot water: It can cause bristles to warp or weaken.
  • Avoid soaking brushes in solvent for too long: Overexposure can damage the glue that holds the bristles.
  • Don't rush the soap: Sudsing up dry oil brushes is a waste of time until you’ve removed the paint.
  • Don’t leave brushes lying flat in solvent: It can distort the shape of the bristles.
  • Don't clean without a well-ventilated area: Mineral spirits and citrus-based solvents can produce intense fumes. If stuck inside, search for an odorless solvent or use another common brush cleaner.

You'll Need

  • A container (glass jar or metal can)
  • Solvent (turpentine, paint thinner, or mineral spirits): fastest option but have toxic properties and fumes.
  • Natural oil (linseed oil or baby oil): Work well but uses a lot of soap to clean off.
  • A natural cleanser (Murphy's oil soap, or white vinegar): Cost effective, takes longest to work.
  • Cotton rags, oil cloths or paper towels
  • Liquid soap or brush cleaner
  • Gloves (optional)

1. Remove Excess Paint

  • Wipe off as much oil from the dirty brush as possible using a cleaning cloth or clean paper towel.
  • Wrap the brush bristles in a piece of paper towel and gently squeeze from the ferrule to the tip to remove trapped paint residue.
Person soaks a paint brush in solvents to remove oil-based paint.
Solvents are essential. It's nearly impossible to clean an oil-based paint brush without it. Credit: Adrian Pacurariu / Getty Images

2. Rinse with a Cleanser

  • Fill a container with a solvent, a natural oil, or a natural cleaner. The product varies but process stays the same.
  • Swirl the wet brush in the solution, squish and twist the bristles against the bottom of the container and press them gently against the container's sides to loosen the paint.
  • Repeat with fresh solvent until the liquid remains mostly clear. There should be no pigment particles when you squeeze the brush with paper towels or a clean cloth.
  • If using a natural product, you can leave the brush to soak in a container of vinegar for 15-30 minutes to soften stubborn paint.
  • Let excess solvent drip off.

3. Clean with Soap and Water

  • Rub the brushes with dish soap or a dedicated brush cleaner.
  • Use warm water to massage the brush soap into the bristles, lathering from the base to the tip.
  • Rinse the brushes in water until no residue remains.
Person rinses a paintbrush off under the faucet.
Thoroughly rinse to remove all solvents from the bristles. Credit: Ableimages / David Harrigan / Getty Images

4. Shape and Dry

  • Spin excess water off of the brush head by rapidly rolling the handle between your palms.
  • Reshape the brush hairs by gently smoothing them back into place. Natural bristle brushes will need a brush conditioner to maintain long-term flexibility. Synthetic bristles generally don't.
  • Pat dry with a clean towel, then hang the brush on a hook or with a clothes pin. Dry time depends on the quality and thickness of the brush.
  • Store clean brushes upright to help them maintain their original shape. Storing away wet brushes can cause mold over time.

5. Dispose Properly

  • Take the extra time to make sure that any gloves, paper towels, and cloths with solvent on them have air dried completely before adding them to the regular garbage. Failing to do so can cause spontaneous combustion.
  • Let traces of paint pigment settle to the bottom of the jar of solvent and pour the clean layers of solvent into a leakproof container to reuse later.
  • Take dirty paint thinner and oil-based paints to a hazardous waste collections location, never pour it down the drain.

Old red varnish on a paintbrush.
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What Should You Do If You Can’t Clean an Oil Paint Brush Right Away?

If your painting session ran long or you have lots of brushes to clean, there are a couple options. 

  • You can leave the brushes in oil (leftover paint or linseed oil) for a few hours. Too long can cause the bristles to oversaturate and clump together.
  • For an overnight fix, wrap the bristles tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to trap excess moisture, minimize air exposure, and prevent the paint from drying.
  • For extended periods, you can store the wrapped brush in the freezer, which slows the drying process. Bring them back to room temperature before cleaning. Frozen synthetic brushes tend to break if the bristles are stiff. Natural brush bristles tend to fall out if disturbed when frozen stiff. This temporary solution buys you time without risking permanent damage to your brush.