Soak the brush with hardened paint in vinegar for an hour. If the bristles don't bend, soak for an additional hour. If it needs more loosening after two hours, submerge the head of the brush in vinegar in a pot, place the pot on a stove and bring to a boil. Afterwards, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool off.
When you have gotten most of the paint out, switch to a running water source and rinse the brush while lightly separating the bristles for an extra clean brush. Shake the brush dry (or invest in a spinner if you plan to paint often) and re-shape the bristles with your hands or a brush comb.
New brushes are often shipped with a watersoluble “glue” holding the bristles together to prevent damage in shipping (even brushes shipped with a plastic cover over the bristles may have sizing in the brush). The bristles will feel hard and crusty, or maybe even be stuck together completely.
Acrylic paint, when left to dry overnight, can turn your brushes into hard, frayed, unusable tools. However, don't despair! There are effective techniques to potentially rescue your ruined paintbrush and restore it to a usable state.
An example is a paintbrush with natural fibres. This type of paintbrush, with proper maintenance, should last up to 5 years. A synthetic paintbrush, one with nylon and polyester fibres can last up to 3 years. On the other hand, a polyester paintbrush can last for up to a year.
Make dried paints liquid again with water
As acrylic paints are water-based, you can make these paints liquid again by adding water. Hot water is best for this, which you pour drop by drop into the pot. Then stir the dried paint thoroughly and wait for the water and dried acrylic paint to mix thoroughly.
Tip 2: Cover your brush with aluminum foil.
Wrap the foil around the entire brush or roller and press the sides to keep it sealed. This helps lock moisture in and keeps the air out. Do the same with your rollers then store them for the next days.
I worked some dish detergent into the bristles and brushed it well with the wire brush to remove all the loose paint. I rinsed it again with warm water and fanned out the bristles to pump the clean water through. I smoothed down the bristles and left it in the sink handle up to drain a bit.
Soften dried-on paint with hot soapy water, just make sure to work quickly. Never soak or let the water seep into the base of the filaments, into the ferrule. After the dried paint has softened, work the soap through the brush bristles and follow with a clear water rinse. Repeat the process if necessary.
Here is how you can clean your hairbrush with these powerful ingredients: Fill a container with warm water and blend 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1/4 cup of white vinegar. Dip your hair combs and brushes in the solution and swirl them around for a few seconds. Allow them to soak in the solution for 30 minutes.
I let the brushes soak, suspended in the carbonated water for several days. You can temporarily use a little bit of hydrogen peroxide in the water mix, being careful not to use too much for too long so that it loosens the glue that holds the bristles together.
Fill a cup or bowl with enough rubbing alcohol to completely submerge the brush bristles. Set your brushes in the rubbing alcohol for a few minutes until the paint colors start to run and the bristles feel less stiff. Use a dry cloth to clean off any paint that's still stuck in the brushes so they feel soft again.
Reshaping natural hair paintbrushes
Instead, use simmering water and only hold the tip of the hair under water. The rest of the process in the same: gently reshape the brush either with your fingertips or by rolling the brush on a cloth to bring it back to a point. Finally, lay the brush down flat to dry.
Wrap your paintbrush or roller in aluminium foil to prevent drying out overnight or cover it in plastic wrap for a shorter period of time. Whether you're a DIY or professional painter, it's smart to maximize the use of your roller or brush.