How to Clean Your Painting Equipment (Part 1)

Summary
– Steps to take to clean painting equipment
– Step 1: Cleaning brushes and paintbrushes
– Step 2: Case 1: Cleaning the rollers after applying waterbased paint

Cleaning paint equipment after use is important to keep it in good condition. The cleaning of painting equipment is not the same depending on whether you have applied water-based paint (acrylic, vinyl, alkyd) or oil-based paint (glycero, epoxy, polyurethane).

Here is how to clean the different painting tools and accessories.

Painting equipment you will require

Paint tray	$3
Painter’s knife	Starting at $3
Household gloves	Starting at $1
Glass jar or bottle	Recovery
Cartons	Recovery

Steps to take to clean painting equipment

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Cleaning of painting equipment may require the use of solvent. In this case, take certain safety precautions.
– Wear a pair of gloves to protect your hands.
– Ventilate the room and keep solvents away from heat sources.
– Keep children and pets away.

1. Cleaning Brushes and Paint Brushes

Brushes are cleaned differently depending on whether they are new or not, whether they are made of natural or synthetic bristles, whether they have been used to apply water or oil paint.

Cleaning a new brush

To clean a new natural bristle brush:

– Let the brush soak overnight in linseed oil at ¾ of the bristles.
– Rinse it with warm soapy water, making sure to remove all traces of paint.
– Wring it out without twisting it, from the ferrule (the metal part that holds the bristles of the brush) to the top of the bristles.

To clean a new synthetic bristle brush:

– Let the brush soak overnight in clear water at ¾ of the bristles.
– If any traces of paint remain, rinse with clear water to remove them.
– Wring it out without wringing it out, from the ferrule to the top of the bristles.

Cleaning a brush that has already been used

The method is the same for cleaning a brush that has already been used whether it is made of natural or synthetic bristles.

– Squeeze the paint on paper or cardboard.
– After the application of a water-based paint (acrylic, vinyl or alkyd) :
◦ Carefully clean the brush with warm soapy water until all traces of paint disappear.
◦ Rinse with clear water.
– After applying a solvent-based paint (glycero, epoxy, polyurethane):
◦ Clean the brush in a tray with the corresponding solvent, this is the solvent in which the paint is diluted.
◦ Once you have cleaned the brush, transfer the solvent into a glass container (bottle, jar) that you will close with an airtight lid.
◦ Rinse with warm soapy water until all traces of paint have disappeared.
◦ Rinse with clear water.
– Wring out the brush without wringing out the bristles.

2. Case 1: Cleaning the rollers after applying water-based paint

Some rollers are disposable after use, in this case, it is not necessary to clean them. In the case of reusable rollers, clean the sleeve to remove all traces of paint and allow it to dry.

To clean a roller that has been used to apply water-based paint (water phase):

– Wring out the roller sleeve by squeezing it with a paint knife or spatula.
– Remove the roller sleeve from the roller frame.
– Soak it in warm soapy water and allow the paint to drain until the water is saturated.
– Repeat the operation until all traces of paint are removed.
– Rinse the sleeve with clear water once it is clean.
– Wring it out, hang it up and let it dry.

This post will now continue in part 2 to cover the following:

– Step 2: Case 2: Cleaning the roller after applying oil paint
– Step 3: Cleaning a spray gun
– Step 4: Cleaning an aerosol can
– Step 5: Cleaning Paint Tools and Accessories
– Step 6: What to do with used paint solvents?

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