How Should You Store Your Paint Brushes?

When purchasing paint and accessories, you get what you pay for. You can safeguard your investment and enhance the wear and longevity of your brushes with the right maintenance techniques before, during, and after using. Below is some pertinent information on how to store your paintbrushes.

How to Pick a Quality Brush
The quality of your paintbrush will define your satisfaction with the completed product and make the painting job easier and quicker. For all exterior and interior home painting projects, spending a couple more dollars on the correct brush and picking the right one for the job can be the difference between a professional and an unprofessional looking finish.

Brush Types

Natural Bristles - Made from natural animal hair. These brushes are best for using oil-based finishes and paints.

Polyester/Nylon Blends - This combination of materials works well with all latex paint types, keeps its shape, is simple to clean and is very durable.

Polyester Bristles - For an even and smooth paint application.

How to Store Paint Brushes
Based on the range of your job, you might need to take a few short breaks. Instead of just laying your paintbrushes on a drop cloth or newspaper, leave the lower part of the bristles in the paint before walking away. This stops the paint on the brush from drying out, letting you start back right where you left off.

Cleaning and Storing Your Brushes
When your project is done, it’s time to clean and store your brush until your next project. Follow these steps:

Clean your brush before the paint has an opportunity to dry, getting rid of any excess paint by moving the brush around the paint can rim and then brushing in a zigzag pattern across a couple of sheets of newspaper.

Clean the brush completely, using water for latex-based paint and the correct solution for oil-based paints.

Wash the brush with water and soap, removing any leftover solvent and hit the brush against the edge of your worktable to get rid of extra water.

Reshape the bristles using your hand or a paintbrush comb.

Hang the brush vertically with the bristles going downward.

Taking care of your brushes will ensure that they stay in good shape for a long time. Buying quality brushes and keeping them clean will be worth it. Contact a local painting company if you want to double-check caring for your brushes and rollers.
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