How to Store Paint Brushes

How to Store Paint Brushes

When you’re painting, one of the most important things to do is store your paintbrushes properly. If you don’t do this, they can get dusty, dirty, or harden to the point that you can’t use them any longer. Read on for expert tips on how to properly store your brushes!

Storing your Brush During a Short Break

If you’re taking a short break from painting (such as to lay down more newspaper or a drop cloth, answering a phone call, etc.) you should leave the bottom third of the bristles in paint before stepping away. Some paint pails actually have magnets on them where you can stick your brush to the side for this exact purpose.

Keeping the bottom bristles in paint (without saturating them) will prevent the brush from drying out, but it also won’t get overloaded so you’ll be able to pick it up and start painting again without missing a beat. This is a much better method than leaving it on the lid of the paint can or on top of a paper or drop cloth.

Storing your Brush During a Long Break

If you’re taking a longer break, such as one that lasts several hours, you’ll want to use a different strategy. Wrap the entire head of the brush in plastic wrap or a plastic bag. Wrap tape around the handle of the brush to create a good airtight seal. Squeeze out any air from the plastic before you tape it.

This method will keep the brush from drying out and prevent dust and dirt from contaminating it. Store your brush in a cool location. You may even want to put it in the fridge or freezer! However, avoid using the freezer if you’re painting with latex paints.

You can use this method to keep your brush in good condition for about one or two days. After that, the paint may start to dry on the brush.

Keeping your brush protected in this manner is as important as any other DIY paint tip. If you start painting with a brush that has dried clumps of paint in it, it will show in your work, and you’ll likely spend a lot of time going over sections again to correct for imperfections.

Cleaning and Storing your Brush for an Extended Period of Time

If you’re done with your project and you know you won’t be using your brushes for a long period of time, using the correct process can extend the life of your brushes and help ensure that they’ll be good to use when it’s time to paint again.

First, clean as much paint as possible off the brush before it dries. This can be accomplished by running it along the rim of the paint can, then wiping it off in a criss-cross pattern on a piece of newspaper or something similar. 

Once your brush is as dry as you can get it using this method, remove the remaining paint with the appropriate solvent. If you’re using latex paint, you can clean it with water, while you’ll want to use paint thinner if the paint is oil-based. 

Then use soap and water to wash off the remaining paint. Rinse well, then reshape the bristles. You can usually do this by hand or by gently using a brush comb. From there, hang the brush vertically with the bristles facing down. You may want to wrap it in a paper towel or newspaper and secure it with a rubber band. This will prevent it from getting dusty.

Or Leave It to Us!

As a trusted and experienced painting company in Boulder, Colorado, we can help you get the high-quality paint job you deserve, without stress and hassle. 

 The team at Jacobsen Brothers Painting is efficient, professional, and highly skilled. Give us a call at 303-449-3239 or contact us online to talk to our team or to book an appointment.