Cleaning paint brushes which have been used for oil paints or varnish can be a chore and result in dried paint clogging the brush if not done thoroughly. You can also use a lot of turps in the process! An easy and economical way to clean them is as follows.

Steps

1. Obtain three glass jars, preferably with interchangeable lids, an empty tin such as a tuna tin and some rags or newspaper
2. Number the jar lids 1, 2 and 3.
3. Fill the jars about a third full with mineral turps
4. Clean as much paint off the brush as possible with rag or newspaper
5. Pour the contents of jar 1 into the tin and work the brush in it
6. Shake as much turps off as possible and again clean the brush with paper or rag.
7. Pour the turps back into jar 1 and repeat with jars 2 and 3.
8. Your brush is now perfectly clean and can be put away wrapped in newspaper
9. The paint in jar 1 will settle to the bottom in time and the clear liquid can be poured off the top.
10. When jar 1 becomes too dirty to use, throw away the contents, clean and fill with clean turps as before.
11. Rotate the lids so that jar 2 becomes jar 1, jar 3 becomes jar 2 and the now clean jar becomes 3. This process can be repeated indefinitely and uses only a minimum of turps.

Tips

• Only use the above system for turps based paints. Separate jars must be used for thinners based products.
• If you are going to re-use the brush within a short time, ie. in the next 48 hours, put a few drops of turps in a plastic bag which has no holes, and seal around the head of the brush with an elastic band so that it is airtight. Squeeze out as much air as possible.
• To ensure oil based paint does not go hard in the tin, add about a teaspoon of turps, close tightly and always store upside down.