How to Clean Brushes and Paint Rollers (so They Can Be Reused)

When you’re done painting a room, furniture, or other project, the last thing you want to do is clean up the mess you’ve made. But if you’ve invested in quality brushes and rollers, you’ll probably want to use them more than once. And spending a few minutes cleaning them right away will save you a lot of time and hassle later on. Here’s what to do.

Prepare brushes and rollers before painting

There are a few things you can do to make it easier to clean your brushes and rollers before you even start painting . First, run your hands over the bristles of the dry brush to remove anything that has fallen out, as well as any other dust, debris, or hair that may have gotten stuck.

If you’re using a roller, wrap masking tape around it and then peel it off to get rid of lint, lint, or lint. Following these steps will prevent debris from getting into the paint and make your job easier.

How to clean paint brushes

Here’s how to deal with brushes :

1. Put on a pair of rubber gloves.

1. Scrape off the bristles from the edge of the can as you remove it, and wipe off any remaining paint on newspaper.
2. If you used water-based paint : Fill a bucket or sink with hot water and drizzle mild dish soap onto it. If you used oil-based paint : Fill a bucket with mineral spirits or turpentine.
3. Rinse and swirl the brush in the liquid, using your fingers to remove paint from the bristles and then wipe them against the inside of the container. If the paint has dried on some of the bristles, leave the brush in the liquid to soak it in.
4. Wash the brush in (new) hot soapy water. Then give them a final rinse in clean water.
5. Shake the brush to remove excess water.

How to clean rollers

And here’s how to remove the paint from the rollers :

1. Put on a pair of rubber gloves.
2. Use a spatula or other tool with an equally flat edge to scrape the paint off the roller.
3. Roll out excess paint on a sheet of newspaper.
4. If you used water-based paint : Fill a bucket or sink with hot water and drizzle mild dish soap onto it. If you used oil-based paint : Fill a bucket with mineral spirits or turpentine.
5. Massage the paint off the roller with your hands while it is immersed in the liquid.
6. Rinse the roller in the sink under running water.
7. Stand the roller upright at the end to dry.

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