Cleaning Paintbrushes
Gearing up for some painting? Make sure to leave enough time at the end of each session for some brush work.
1) Start by removing any paint in the bristles using either water or paint thinner, depending on the type of paint. (If you have a baby, you can use an empty baby wipe container as a holder for your brushes while they soak. The slit in the top should hold the handles of most brushes in place. But don't let the bristles touch the bottom because of all the paint residue that settles down there.)
2) After soaking, wear gloves as you work the bristles through all the way up to the handle, then shake them out.
3) Finally, dry the bristles with a rag and fold them tightly into a piece of butcher paper to help them keep their shape--otherwise they'll fan out over time and become useless for any sort of detail work.
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