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April 23, 2020 by Bre

How to Soften a Hard Paint Brush Without Chemicals!

There is nothing worse than getting ready to start a painting project and finding your paint brush dried out and too hard to use!  Before you get frustrated and go buy a new brush, let me show you how to soften a hard paint brush without chemicals. 

This is so helpful! Learn how to soften a hard paint brush without using harsh chemicals. This easy method of softening hard paint brush bristles is something to remember for later!

It’s so easy and will have you painting again in no time!  In all of my time painting furniture, I’ve encountered the hard paint brush too often, but I promise this technique works to soften paint brush bristles!

What is the best way to clean paint brushes?

For future reference, as soon as you finish using a paint brush, make sure to clean it! This will help keep your paint brush soft and ready for use in the future!

If you used water-based or latex paint, you can wash the paint brush in the sink with warm water.  Keep rinsing and going through the brush bristles until the water runs totally clear.  If the paint is hard to remove, try adding a little dish soap and massaging it into the paint brush bristles.

If you used oil-based paint or stain, clean the brush by soaking it in mineral spirits or turpentine.  Plain old water will not help here!  Both mineral spirits and turpentine smell bad, so make sure to clean the paint brush in an area with good ventilation!

Why do paint brushes get hard?

No matter how carefully you clean your paint brushes, there are times that they will get hard.  This most often happens because even the smallest amount of paint left on the paint brush bristles can harden and cause bristles to stick together.

How to Soften a Hard Paint Brush Without Using Chemicals

Chances are you will have a paint brush that has hardened, despite your best efforts to clean it.  You’ll be happy to know that it is very easy to soften the paint brush, and no harsh chemicals are needed!

Step One: Heat Up Vinegar

First, pour vinegar into a pot and place it on the stove.  Heat the vinegar until it is just about boiling.

To help soften a paint brush that has gone hard, heat vinegar on the stove.

If you don’t have a stove, you could also heat the vinegar in the microwave.

Step Two: Pour the Hot Vinegar Into a Glass Jar

When the vinegar reaches the right temperature, pour it into a glass jar or some other container that you won’t be using for food storage in the future.

Step Three: Place the Hard Paint Brushes Into the Hot Vinegar

Now, place the dried paint brushes into the hot vinegar.  Make sure that all of the bristles are submerged in the vinegar solution.

Allow the dried and hard paint brushes to sit in the hot vinegar for at least twenty minutes.

Set a timer for twenty minutes and wait for the vinegar to begin softening the brushes.

After twenty minutes, check the paint brushes to see if they’re softened.  If not, wait another ten minutes.  

Step Four: Comb Through the Paint Brushes

Next, remove the paint brushes from the vinegar, and use a fork to comb through the bristles.  This will help remove any leftover dried paint within.

Comb through the softened paint brush with a fork.

Step Five: Rinse Out the Paint Brushes

Finally, rinse out the paint brushes to remove any vinegar and dried paint bits left in the paint brushes.  

When you have finished that, your paint brushes will be soft again and ready for another round of painting and DIY!

Test the paint brush prior to rinsing in the sink.

Don’t you love that there is such an easy way to soften hard paint brushes without chemicals?  I have a feeling you’ll be purchasing far fewer brushes now!

 

This is so helpful! Learn how to soften hard paint brushes with vinegar. No harsh chemicals needed! Your paint brushes will be soft and ready to use in around 30 minutes with this great method of softening paint brushes.

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Comments

  1. Mike says

    December 2, 2020 at 10:49 am

    A guy I used to work with had a large pot for boiling his paint brushes after years of use he put them into a pot and boiled them for awhile and he claimed it made them soft again.Worth a try .If my brush is to the point its so hard I just buy a new one because that means it has painted a lot of surfaces.I prefer Purdy or Wooster brand they last awhile. 2 1/2 in angle brush is the best.🙂

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Bre of Average But Inspired

Hi, I'm Bre! Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you'll find ideas to inspire your creativity and beautify your home here.

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