Once the paint brush has hardened, it can be cleaned and softened by the following steps:
First, for water-based paint brushes
1. Initial soaking: completely immerse the hardened water-based paint brush in clean water, gently press and swing the brush, so that the water-based paint on the bristles begins to dissolve.
2. Repeat rinse: Rinse the brush repeatedly with clean water until you feel that most of the water-based paint on the brush has been removed. You can repeat this process several times to make sure the brush is as clean as possible.
3. Clean thoroughly: If the water-based paint on the brush is still difficult to remove, try using mild soapy water or laundry detergent water. Soak the brush in soapy water or laundry detergent, gently rub the bristles, and rinse with clean water.
4. Dry and reserve: Put the cleaned brush in a ventilated place to dry naturally, avoid direct sunlight. After drying, the brush will regain some softness and be ready for the next use.
Second, for oil-based paint brushes
1. Prepare solvent: Because oil-based paint is not easily soluble in water, it needs to use a specific solvent to clean. Common solvents include toluene, paint thinner, or gasoline. Make sure to operate in a well-ventilated area and wear proper protective gear.
2. Soak cleaning: Pour an appropriate amount of solvent into the container, and then gently press and swing the hardened oily paint brush in the solvent. Let the brush soak thoroughly for a while to dissolve the oily paint on the bristles.
3. Repeat: Remove the brush from the solvent and wipe or shake dry with a clean cloth or paper towel. Then repeat the soaking, cleaning, and drying process two to three times until the oily paint is completely removed from the brush.
4. Follow-up treatment (optional) : After cleaning, in order to increase the softness and service life of the brush, you can rinse the residual solvent on the brush with water and put it in a ventilated place to dry naturally.
Third, precautions
1. Safe operation: When using solvents to clean oil paint brushes, be sure to do so in a well-ventilated place and wear appropriate protective equipment (such as gloves, masks and goggles) to avoid inhaling harmful gases or contact with the skin.
2. Avoid damaging the bristles: In the cleaning process, please avoid excessive force or excessive rubbing of the bristles, so as not to damage the bristle material or affect the service life of the brush.
3. Check the bristles: After cleaning, carefully check the bristles. If the bristles have been seriously deformed, cracked or fallen off, then even after cleaning and softening treatment, its use effect may be greatly reduced. In this case, a new paint brush is recommended.
With the above steps and precautions, you can effectively clean and soften hardened paint brushes to restore their original softness and use effect.