However, if you know the right products and procedures to use, you can make cleaning up oil paints much easier. Cleaning paintbrushes before the paint has a chance to dry on them is the best way to keep your equipment in good shape. While the brushes are soaking, prepare a blotting area: Lay down several layers of paper towels on top of the protected surface where you’re working. There are 16 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. The precise amount of dishwashing soap that you’ll need will depend on how large the brush is and how dirty they are. Whether you're painting your living room or working on a landscape to hang over the mantle, oil-based paint offers a rich, smooth look that's hard to beat. Then clean them again with soap and water until the foam from the soap is white. Massage the oil into your skin until the paint breaks down and comes off. You can use any type of oil, such as olive oil, jojoba oil, or canola oil, to help break down the oil-based paint. As I’ve explained, when it comes to poor ventilation, the problem generally isn’t so much with the paint as with the solvents the artist uses for cleanup and paint dilution. However, it is believed to be an extremely effective cleanser so it may help the paint come off more easily. Blot the brushes on clean paper towels. To clean oil-based paint off of your skin, rub an oil like coconut, canola, or olive oil all over the painted area. Rinse out the soap with clear water. Remove the brushes and place them on the paper towels. By using our site, you agree to our. Be sure that wherever you choose is protected from splatters and is well ventilated. Then wipe dry. Any dishwashing liquid soap that is marketed as being able to cut through grease will work for cleaning your brushes. If you have the paint on yourself clean it immediately with citrus thinner also. You need a wire paint comb, used paintbrush, paint container, latex gloves, goggles, dropcloths or newspapers, three plastic or metal containers (such as coffee cans), paint thinner or mineral spirits, paper towels, large cardboard box, large garbage bag (lawn-cleanup size). Most artists use oil paints for many years without ill effects. You may be concerned about the pollutants and fumes that go along with using solvents like mineral oil and paint thinner. Wipe them dry. Palette knives are used to mix the colors together. Check the care instructions for the fabric that you’re cleaning. You should never put mineral spirits down the drain as they can contaminate groundwater. Use nylon or polyester brushes for latex and natural bristle brushes for oil paints. Create a place for the brushes to dry by lining a large cardboard box with a large garbage bag. Swish them around once or twice. It’s easier to remove fresh paint than it is to get off dried stains. If you want to learn how to clean brushes or fabric that have oil paint on them, keep reading! We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Cleaning paintbrushes before the paint has a chance to dry on them is the best way to keep your equipment in good shape. “It stinks,” they say. Coconut oil usually work best because it is solid at room temperature so it won’t make as big a mess as you rub it into your skin. The problem with it, though, is that it's usually much more difficult to clean up that water-based paints. Once the color is mixed the knife is wiped clean. Contact your local waste disposal service to ensure proper disposal. Leaving the film of minerals spirits and dishwashing liquid on the brush to dry will help keep the bristles soft so it’s like new when you use it the next time. Cleaning with paint thinner can be quite messy. I first dip my brushes in odorless mineral spirits and wipe off excess paint, then I put Murphy’s oil soap (a liquid vegetable oil soap that is used to clean wood and leather saddles) into a jar, about 1/2 inch deep and put the bristles into that, and after a few minutes I add a bit of warm water to it, and swish the brushes in it. How to Clean Oil Paint from Paint Brushes. Whether you’re cleaning oil-based paint off of brushes, skin, or fabric, it’s important to treat the stains as soon as you notice them. Dry the brush with a clean rag. Can you dump mineral spirits down the drain after you’ve cleaned the paintbrush? Colors should not be allowed to dry on your palette. Thinner is usually not necessary. If you have a lot of paint on your skin, you may need to repeat the cleaning process two or more times to remove all of it. Last Updated: August 11, 2020 If you don’t want to use turpentine to blot the stain, you can use minerals spirits. Then swish the brush in citrus thinner until all color is gone. wikiHow's. Use solvent (paint thinner) to clean oil paint from paintbrushes; soap and water won’t work. Before painting, be sure to use high-quality brushes that are right for the type of paint you’re using. Replace the lid securely. Then wipe the palette with a dry paper towel or rag followed by one moistened with citrus thinner. This article has been viewed 64,127 times. Use a dishwashing liquid that’s designed to cut grease. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Start with a small amount and add more if the paint isn’t coming off. BUT…if you haven’t used oil-based paint in the last ten years or so, you might be surprised, because it isn’t nearly as … Place your hands inside the large cardboard box to contain the spatter, and slap the metal heel of the brush handle against the heel of your hand repeatedly until no liquid is left. If the stain remains after washing the item in the washing machine, treat the area with a prewash stain removing product and wash it again. Put all your brushes into the first container and soak for five minutes. You can soak the fabric in a sink if you prefer. This is followed by soap and water. Put on your gloves and goggles, and lay down newspaper or dropcloths to protect your work surface. Wash away the oil with soap and water, then pat your skin dry and apply a moisturizer so your skin doesn’t dry out. Because oil paints take a long time to dry they can get on everything and once they've dried they're hard to remove. Test a small, inconspicuous area of the fabric to ensure that it won’t be damaged. It’s important to use a white cloth to blot the paint stain to ensure that no dye transfer from the cloth to the fabric that you’re cleaning. The amount of coconut oil that you’ll need depends on how much paint is on your skin. A wall coated with oil-based paint will usually be easier to clean, which is why oil-based paints are often used in high-traffic areas. If you like, you can add lemon essential oil to help the paint come off more easily. As soon as you … Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. References. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Adding the lemon essential oil is optional. After you’ve worked the cleansers into the brush this time, do not rinse them out. Work in a garage or outdoors, if you can. Wiggle them around to work out the paint. % of people told us that this article helped them. Aim for a 1- to 2-inch (25- to 50-mm) dollop of the liquid. 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