So last week I finished painting this buffet for my Paint Finish of the Month Club. And in typical #hotmess fashion, I was so excited to get the piece put back together and get the top decorated that I failed to wash my paint brushes out right away. Dang the luck. Someone please tell me they do this too????
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This was just 2 of the mannnnnnnny brushes that I let harden overnight. Oops. And I don’t mind if I lose a chipbrush here and there, but I don’t like ruining my detailing brushes or my favorite chalk-type paint brushes.
So I thought I would show you my best tip for cleaning paint brushes with dried paint. I have painted professionally for 15 years so I have accidentally ruined about 1294 brushes. You ready for the tip? Here it is……….
SOAK THEM IN FABRIC SOFTENER. For real. Sometimes overnight. Sometimes I soak them for a bit and then use a scrubby brush on them to help break up the dried paint and then back to soaking. I pinkie swear, this works GREAT on chalk paint and latex paint. It will clean paint brushes EASILY.
And if that doesn’t work or you don’t have any fabric softener, my 2nd choice for cleaning paint brushes with dried paint is APPLE CIDER VINEGAR. It too will loosen and break up the dried paint…. it just doesn’t smell as nice as the fabric softener. =)
And look at that. I only soaked these brushes for a few hours and they are good as new. CLEAN PAINT BRUSHES!
Here is the video I put on my Facebook page:
Please note my new blush and new Nickel and Suede earrings. I’m obsessed with both. The new blush is from the photo shoot I just had for the cover of a national magazine that you’ll be able to get at Barnes and Noble this spring. More details on that soon!!! xoxo
I hope that little tip helps all of you other painters out there! Let me know if you have any brush cleaning tips too!
Happy painting,
Jen
If would like to put those CLEAN paint brushes to use, I have a ton of painting ideas throughout my blog. Here I talk about painting the TILE Backsplash in my kitchen and TILE and HARDWARE on a fireplace! And did you know you can totally update you furniture by PAINTING LEATHER?
If you need some more easy home improvements — many with a few painting projects, watch my free video with ten quick home updates you can do before dinner!
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