Keeping Paint Brushes Soft

02-05-2021
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One of my readers asked me if it was a good idea to put their wet paintbrushes and rollers in plastic bags tokeep them fresh when you need to stop painting.

How Do I Keep My Paint Brushes Soft

How to Keep Your Paintbrushes Clean and Soft Paintbrush Cleaning Demo with Paint Brush Soap this video we'll. . Wrap brushes tightly tin foil so that they dry very slowly. Slow drying will keep the bristles soft. Soak Brushes in Fabric Softener to Keep Brushes Soft Every DIY painter has been privy to the horrors of a day-old brush with stiff bristles that makes round two nearly impossible. To keep paintbrushes soft: Rinse thoroughly (no soap) Mix half a cup of fabric softener with a gallon of warm water; Swish brushes in the mixture for 10 seconds or so. My fiance and I have spent our last two weekends priming ceilings. It’s hard work, but rewarding. Every night after a few hours’ work, we fastidiously clean out the rollers and brushes, using more water than we’d like—and they’re never up to par the next day. This was our practice until a friend stopped by today and let us in on a painter’s secret.To make the rollers and brushes. How do you keep paint brushes soft after use? After cleaning a paint brush (of any shape or size as long as it is water-based paint) coat it with dish soap and let it dry bristle side up. The soap will keep the bristles soft. Wrap brushes tightly tin foil so that they dry very slowly.

Early on in my career, I wrapped mine that way when I had a delay incontinuing the paint job. Well, I was surprised to find that the brushes were pretty dried out in spots and theroller cover was hopelessly stuck to the frame! Was I mad! Did I do something wrong?

Keeping Paint Brushes Soft

Plastic wrap or plastic bags are not the ideal brush and roller wrapping material!

Plastic doesn't work well for a couple of reasons:

  • It's hard to seal a plastic bag well unless you put the entire roller or brush inside.
  • Even then, the excessive air in the bag still allows drying to take place.
  • Wrapping a brush or roller in plastic wrap gives a better seal but is messy to deal with.
  • Thin plastic wraps can be slightly porous, allowing moisture (from latex paints) or solvents (from oil-based paints) to escape, hardening the paint on the brush/roller.

My solution? Aluminum foil instead of plastic!

Why foil? Aluminum foil is virtually airtight when folded around a brush or rolled onto a roller and conforms to the shape perfectly, leaving minimal air for drying. A standard width piece cut about 12' long will cover a standard size brush or roller.

Be sure to leave lots of paint on the roller orbrush before wrapping to get the longest storage time!

How well does it work?

I have wrapped rollers covered with Kilz fast drying primer and had them still useable for a few days. I prefer to use thicker heavy-duty foil, which is less likely to tear. It is only a few cents more per roll than regular foil but well worth it. If you think your rollers will be in for some abuse once wrapped double-wrap them!

Want your brushes and rollers to last even longer? Refrigerate them!

Keeping Paint Brushes Soft

If you want those wet brushes and rollers to last even longer, throw… sorry… place them in the refrigerator. Then their useful life can increase by weeks! In fact, I have found month-old rollers still useable, buried behind the veggies in my fridge. Not that it makes my wife very happy… but that's another story!

Storing Your Brushes And Rollers Overnight

Brushes

See Full List On Wikihow.com

The freezer?? Not for latex paints!

Soak Brushes In Fabric Softener To Keep Brushes Soft - Norway ...

Some folks think putting brushes and rollers in the freezer is even better. For oils, it doesn't seem to have a negative effect. But for latex paints, freezing can cause the paint to become stringy and semi-solid. These little bits of clotted paint will transfer to your work, leaving little lumps on the surface and making a general mess. Stick to the refrigerator!