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I have been an oil painter for many years, and have had all my brushes since I started and inherited my grandmothers brushes!. Brush care is essential to the life of the brush!
After using, swirl brush in artists paint thinner and blot with paper towel, NEVER scrub to dry, always blot by pinching the bristles with paper towel with thumb and forefinger at the base of the bristles, always working in a downward motion in the natural direction of the bristles!.

I use warm water and a soap that is specifically designed for them, it comes in a cannister that looks like shoe polish or saddle soap!. On the top it says "the masters" Brush Cleaner and Preserver!. Even if you have dried on paint it will remove it!. I use the brush to apply the soap (w/ warm water) and in the palm of my hand I use the brush as if I am painting!. After I rinse clean I may repeat the process if still unclean!.

And finally I use a dab of vaseline to shape the bristles back flat and for storage!. It works wonders to keep your brushes like new!. The vaseline rinses easliy with thinner at your next use!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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There's the regular paint brush cleaners you get with your oil paints in art supply stores!. But you can also use a paint thinner or mineral spirit!. Turpenoid is a good cleaner!. I've even used straight "Murphy's Oil" which requires some elbow grease but is less toxic then the other cleaners!. However, whatever you use, you should end up cleaning the brush again with soap & water!. After you remove all the paint with something like Turpenoid, etc, take a bar of everyday soap, scrub the brush vigorously against the soap with warm water, rinse & keep doing this, this will remove any extra paint left behind, remove the turpenoid, & refresh your brush!. Rinse it well & then reshape the bristles with your fingers!. You can also put a tiny bit of soap from the bar back on the bristles, this will "lock" down any frayes & wont hurt the brushes or your paint when you use them next time!. Then dry the brushes either hanging down (the best) or on their side with the ends not touching anything, like the handle on the table with the brush part off the edge of the table!. Do not dry your brushes standing up (like in a jar) any moisture still in the brush will leak down into the handle & will warp the wood or metal!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Any kind of solvent can be used to clean the brush!.
Procedures:-
1!. sprinkle solvent to brush immediately after applying paint and repeatedly squeeze the brush until there is no color comes out!.
2!. If there's still some paint remain dry on brush soak it in a container of solvent at about 30 mins!.
3!. Shake well to dry the brush and keep it at a safe place!.
That's the good way of cleaning it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Thinner!. contaminated turp will do fine for this to rinse out most of the paint!.
Water and soap to do the real cleaning!. Use a hard soap you'd wash your hands with!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Sounds crazy, but Original blue Liquid Dawn Dish Detergent!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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