Help with brush cleaning Please

Thank you. Though that might take some getting used to for me, as I never clean anything till the en of the day.... So, did you mean I should also put walnut oil in my little bowl, instead of water, and clean with water?

Yes. Bristle brushes should never be left in water for any length of time. Here is a link that tells you everything you ever wanted to know about bristle brushes. Scroll down for cleaning tips:

http://www.silverbrush.com/art/art_pdfs/art_brush_tips.pdf

Thank you! I read the link. So, it's ok, to leave the brushes' bristles in a tiny bowl of walnut oil for around 30 minutes? It wont soften the bristles?

Also, they said in the link you sent me that hog bristles aren't good with water. Though I've heard of this, I've never had any problems with them keeping stiffness and shape, (and I've always used acrylics) I like the texture they leave and I like using them.

So, does anyone know of a good brush cleaner that is non-toxic? I've heard people here using hog bristles, how do you clean yours?

My art teacher has been teaching us to clean our brushes first in baby oil or safflower oil, then swish them in Awesome, rinse, and dry. It seems to be working very well with traditional oils as well as WMOs. I have used diluted Awesome for several years as a stain remover for clothing that has oil or grease stains, and my husband and I love it. We buy a spry bottle of Awesome at our Dollar Tree Store for $1.00. Awesome is supposed to be much safer than Windex as a cleaning agent. This is also very cost effective. Have fun painting.
Dayle

Thanks Dayle! And you are doing this with hogs? And no softening problems?

This is just a final cleaning of the brushes for the day. If hogs sit is water for long, they will swell until they dry again. I am using mostly synthetics, but other people in the class are using hogs occassionally.

Dayle

I use synthetic brushes, rinse, then use Dawn dish soap, which works like a charm, then run them through Masters, shape them, then store them. I'm super picky with my brushes, and like the Dawn to get everything out of them first.

Btw - ACMoore, I find, is better than Michaels, and you can get their weekly coupon online for at least a 40% (sometimes 50%) discount.

I use all kinds of brushes for WSOs, (Artisan so far) and rinse them often, then wash them with liquid dish soap. Sometimes I use hair conditioner on them and let them air dry. So far so good.
Haven't tried Master Cleaner yet.