How to clean paint brushes and rollers, the easy way!

Plus, how to store them properly in between paint coats.

Buying the right tools isn’t cheap; buying quality brushes can make all the difference to the paint job. After investing so much into your paint supplies, it makes sense to clean them properly before storing them (and I’m sure it’s the last thing you want to do after the hard work of painting, but it’s worth it!). After all, you want to be able to use the paint brushes and rollers again, so read our guide on how to clean them so you’re not compromising the quality of future paint projects. Each product we feature has been used and tested by our Celtic Team.

STEP ONE: Invest in quality painting tools

We all know the general rule: Buy cheap, buy twice! Good quality tools do go a long way.

High-quality rollers and brushes will help you obtain a smoother, more professional finish on your walls, and they’ll last longer too. We’d recommend choosing a meeting with a wooden handle and a metal ferrule, as plastic parts are more likely to fall apart with frequent use. Then it’s down to the bristles, depending on what paint or oil you are using, which depends on your colour. But look out for ‘flagged’ bristles, meaning the ends are fuzzy and soft to the touch; this results in a smoother finish with sharper lines when cutting in. A brand like Purdy has densely packed bristles made from a blend of nylon and polyester, which provide excellent durability and finish every time.

But if it’s rollers you’re after, it all comes down to the pile length (nap length). You must pair the size with the texture of the wall you’re painting. For smooth surfaces, like interior plastered walls, we can handle a short pile, while for more textured surfaces, you can use the medium pile roller; for most of our thick emulsion paints like Claypaint, for Grafclean, we’d recommend using a medium pile roller. And for textured surfaces, use the longer pile; most masonry walls are roughcast, and the long bank helps the paint get into all the nooks and crannies on the surface. Once you’ve picked your roller frame, we suggest getting a durable paint tray with ridges along the bottom, an important feature to help the paint distribute evenly across the roller.

STEP TWO: Preparation is everything!

Before starting, consider running your hands through the bristles on the brush to remove loose stray hairs. Once you’ve used painter’s tape around the room, roll a little bit up and use the sticky side to ‘defluff’ the roller sleeve, this is quite an excellent pro tip when using a roller sleeve for the first time! Ensuring you don’t get any fibres deposited into the paint and onto your walls. Another tip: before you start painting your first mist coat, mixing fresh plaster evenly with a bit of water is a good idea. This helps the first coat's absorption into the application, which is very useful, especially on lime plaster.

You can have a plastic bag nearby for when you want a break in an hour or two. When it’s time to pop the kettle on, wrap the paint and brushes in the bag and close it tightly. When you are done for the day, do the same again, wrap the tools up, tightly ensuring all air is away from the paint. You can start again in the morning, exactly where you left off.

STEP FOUR: Clean rollers and paint brushes quickly as possible!

You’ve done the tricky bit, don’t stumble at the last task! We get it, it’s the last thing you want to do, but it’s best to clean up immediately after painting. Paint is much harder to clean off brushes and rollers once dried, and you could risk ruining your brushes altogether. Try washing everything down straight away after finishing a painting.

STEP FIVE: How to clean paint brushes and rollers after using water-based paints:

1. Job done! With the last paint strokes, try to get as much paint off the brush (and paint tray) and onto the painted surface as possible.
2. Get a tub of warm mild soapy water, and gently work your tools through the soap until the water runs clear. Remember to remove the roller sleeve from the roller frame and rinse that too!
3. Grab a paint brush scraper to help remove the paint more quickly (especially useful for getting any dried bits of colour). Keep rinsing under the warm water and repeat.
4. Let the rollers and brushes air dry completely before storing or using them again. (Stand the roller upright so one side doesn’t dry flat).
5. Keep the rollers and brushes in the original packaging; they are so helpful and will keep them dirt-free if stored, and keep the meetings neat, keeping their original form.

STEP SIX: How to clean brushes after using oil-based products

Cleaning oil out of bushes uses a substation amount of water or solvent; try cleaning them as soon as possible to extend the life of your tools

• Tightly wrap a plastic bag around wet rollers and brushes to prevent them from drying out in-between coats. Use masking tape to keep the air out of the bag and store it flat.
• If you use a hardener, wet rollers and brushes will dry even if wrapped in a plastic bag, and cleaning them will not be possible.
• Wet brushes and rollers can be cleaned using Treatex Thinners.
• Brushes should be stored flat. Standing brushes on their bristles will bend and spoil them. Rollers, too, should be hung up so they don’t get a flat edge.
• HANDY TIP: No matter how careful you are, the oil will likely be left on your hands after applying oil, especially after cleaning the tools. We find that the best way to wash your hands is to use vegetable oil, which will quickly remove the oil from your skin. Removing the vegetable oil can be done with ordinary dish soap.

To clean the roller tray:

1. First, take off as much remaining paint using a paper towel (this stops the paint from entering the water system)
2. Then rinse and repeat in warm soapy water.