How To Clean Dried Out Paint Brushes | Ask This Old House

In this video, Ask This Old House master painter Mauro Henrique explains that while paintbrushes should be cleaned after every use, all is not necessarily lost if the paint dries on a brush. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Expert painter Mauro Henrique shows host Kevin O’Connor how to bring an old paintbrush back to life. Kevin explains that a “friend” let their wet paintbrush sit too long, allowing it to harden and become unusable. Mauro explains the importance of cleaning a paintbrush after every use before showing Kevin some methods of removing the dried paint from the bristles with a chemical brush cleaner. Skill: Easy Cost: Under $20 Estimated Time: Around 1 hour Shopping list: Brush cleaner [https://amzn.to/3lYgAl5] Rubber gloves [https://amzn.to/3pmJlKb] A short scrap of 2x4 [https://thd.co/3vuN4q9] Tools: 2 Small paint buckets [https://amzn.to/2XtxAGo] Soft bristle brush [https://amzn.to/3vuNBIF] Paintbrush comb [https://amzn.to/3pjBsoS] Steps for cleaning an old paintbrush 1. Place the brush in an empty, clean paint bucket. If the bucket has a magnet, place the ferrule (the metal part) of the brush against it to hold it in place. 2. Put on rubber gloves and pour the brush cleaner into the bucket, filling to just above the height of the dried paint. 3. Allow the brush cleaner to soak into the paintbrush and dried paint for 20 to 30 minutes. 4. After allowing the brush to soak, use the soft-bristled brush to loosen and remove the paint. Brush from the ferrule toward the tip of the brush. Continue brushing until all of the chunks of paint are loose. If necessary, soak the brush again. 5. With all of the paint removed, use fresh, clean water to rinse the brush. Place the 2x4 in the bucket and use it as a work surface to brush against as you rinse the paintbrush. Use a clean brush to rinse the paint from the bristles. Continue until the water running from the paintbrush is clear. 6. With the tip inside the rim of the bucket, spin the handle of the brush between your palms to remove excess water. 7. Use the comb brush to straighten the bristles and ensure the paintbrush is ready for the next project. Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://ift.tt/3jclZ3N About Ask This Old House TV: From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. Ask This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home. Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/AskTOHTwitter Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest Instagram: http://bit.ly/AskTOHIG How To Clean Dried Out Paint Brushes | Ask This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/