How To Reshape Your Paintbrushes Like a Pro

A well-loved paintbrush is an artist’s or tradesperson's best tool, but over time, even the best brushes can lose their shape and effectiveness. Whether it’s frayed bristles, dried paint, or bent tips, your brushes don’t have to be destined for the trash bin. With the right techniques, you can clean, reshape, and restore them to their former glory.

Here’s everything you need to know to breathe new life into your paintbrushes and keep them performing beautifully for years.

5 Simple Steps to Clean and Reshape Your Paintbrushes

Step 1: Rinse Immediately After Use

After every painting session, rinse your brushes with water as soon as possible, especially if you’ve been using acrylics or watercolors that dry quickly. For oil-based paints, you’ll need to use a solvent like turpentine first before rinsing with water.

• Hold the brush under lukewarm water, gently massaging the bristles to release excess paint.

• Avoid using hot water, as it can damage the glue in the ferrule (the metal part holding the bristles). Hot water can also damage the tips of synthetic bristles.
  

Step 2: Lather Generously with Soap

For most brushes, soap is your best friend.

• Use a specialty brush soap, like Anco Bilt's Corrugated Hand & Brush Soap, which cleans and conditions the bristles.

• Apply a generous amount of soap and work it through the bristles, focusing on the base where paint often collects.
  

Step 3: Deep Cleaning for Stubborn Paint

Sometimes, dried paint can cling to your brushes. For those tough cases:

• Soak the Brush: Submerge only the bristles in warm, soapy water or a specialized brush cleaner. Avoid soaking the ferrule to prevent weakening the glue.

• Use a Brush Comb or Toothbrush: Gently comb through the bristles to remove hardened paint. A soft toothbrush works well if you don’t have a brush comb.
  

Step 4: How to Reshape

Once your brush is clean:

• Lather your brush up with Anco Bilt soap again, making sure to get the lather in the recesses of the brush bristles.

• With the lather in the bristles, reshape the bristles with your fingers to the shape you would like the bristles to take

For flat brushes, place the brush bristle end in a cone-style coffee filter while they dry to maintain a crisp, professional shape. The filter will help to maintain the shape while absorbing some of the water. You can place an absorbant towel on top of the filter to absorb more water. And you can add a weight like a book on top of the towel. Leave the brush in the filter for 24 hours.

Step 5: Proper Drying and Storage

How you store your brushes is just as important as how you clean them.

• For artist paintbrushes, store them upright with the bristles facing up.

• For household paintbrushes, lay the dry brushes flat, preferably within their original cardboard packaging. Or hang them upside down with the bristles pointing down.

• Never leave brushes submerged in water, as this can warp the handle and damage the ferrule.

• Once the brush is ready to use, simply rinse the dried soap from the brush and give it a quick pat dry before using.

Pro Tips for Brush Longevity

To keep your brushes in top condition, follow these best practices:

• Avoid using harsh solvents unless absolutely necessary for oil paints.

• Keep separate brushes for different mediums (e.g., watercolor, acrylic, oil) to prevent cross-contamination.

• Clean brushes thoroughly after every session to prevent paint buildup.