Did you forget to wash your brushes the last time you painted? If it's been a while since your last painting or chore, chances are they're not in the best of conditions. However, it is possible to put them back together and make them soft again. Softening brushes is simple - you'll need products that you use routinely around the house, such as moisturizer, vinegar, hair conditioner, and / or liquid softener.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Using a Cream
Step 1. Squeeze a small amount of cream onto your hand
You can use any type of baby cream. However, if you don't have this product available, any hand or body cream you have at home will do just as well. The ingredients contained within the product are not important, but it is good to use one that dries without greasing. Residues of grease could damage the bristles.
Baby creams are particularly suitable thanks to their high moisturizing properties
Step 2. Rub the brush into the cream
Move the bristles as if you were painting your hand. Fold it back and forth making sure to coat the bristles up to the ferrule (the metal end of the handle). It should take about a minute and a half for the bristles to soften.
Step 3. Rub the bristles on a towel
Once you have obtained a satisfactory result, remove the excess cream with a towel. Gently rub the towel over the bristles from base to tip in small circular motions. Apply medium pressure to avoid causing the bristles to come off or bend.
Keep in mind that dry brushes may not soften completely. However, doing this treatment several times can give good results
Method 2 of 3: Using White Vinegar and Hair Conditioner
Step 1. Boil the white vinegar in a small or medium saucepan
The amount of vinegar to use depends on how many brushes you intend to soften. However, you should prepare enough to coat the brush (s) from the tip of the bristles to the ferrule or base of the handle. Keep in mind that the vinegar will begin to evaporate once it comes to a boil, so you may need to add more.
If you're not sure how much to use, add about 2-3 cups
Step 2. Place the brush or brushes in a heat resistant glass jar
Since the brushes must be placed vertically, with the bristles facing down, be sure to choose a container that is tall enough. You can try using an old glass jar or a clean paint jar. Be careful, as the container will be hot to the touch once you pour the vinegar into it.
You can also put the bristles directly into the pot you boiled the vinegar in, but be especially careful
Step 3. Pour the boiling vinegar into the brush container
Once it starts to boil, remove it from the heat and pour it into the container of your choice. You need to make sure you pour in enough to cover the bristles. If you go over the ferrule, you risk melting the glue that holds the bristles together.
Leave the brush or brushes to soak for 20-30 minutes
Step 4. Scrape off the remaining paint
If there are any paint residues left, gently remove them with a brush or comb. You can use a plastic brush or an old hair comb. Instead, avoid using metal objects, which can bend and damage the bristles. Start at the base of the handle and gently comb the bristles down.
If you can't get all of the paint off, simply put the brush or brushes back in the vinegar and let them soak for longer
Step 5. Rinse and apply the cream
After leaving the brushes to soak and after combing the bristles, rinse them with warm water. You can gently massage the bristles under running water. Afterward, take a small amount of baby cream and gently massage it into the bristles.
Step 6. Apply conditioner to the bristles
If the bristles continue to feel stiff after rinsing and applying the cream, coat them with a hair conditioner. Then, put the brushes in a plastic bag with the bristles facing one corner. At this point, close the bag tightly.
Step 7. Put the bag in a bowl filled with hot water
It is not necessary to boil it for this process. Open the hot water tap and let it run into the bowl. The water temperature should be similar to what you would use for bathing. Make sure it completely covers the bristles. This way the conditioner will be heated and penetrate better into the hair. Leave the bag to soak for about an hour. Replace the water as it cools.
Rinse the brushes at the end of the process
Method 3 of 3: Using a Liquid Fabric Softener
Step 1. Scrape off the excess paint
Before soaking your brushes, be sure to remove as much paint as possible. You can do this with a special rubber mat or a plastic hair comb. Just make sure you don't pull too hard, or some bristles may loosen and come off the brush.
Step 2. Mix the fabric softener and water in a large bucket
Any type of fabric softener will do. Measure half a cup for every 4 liters of water. For example, if you're using a 20-liter bucket, make 2 1/2 cups of fabric softener. Of course, you won't need a 5L bucket if you only need to wash 1 or 2 brushes.
Fabric softener is preferable to dish detergent because it reduces the surface tension between liquids and solids. Being a surfactant, it facilitates miscibility with water and thus facilitates the dissolution of the paint
Step 3. Shake the brush or brushes in the solution
Stir one brush at a time in the water-based softener solution. Slide it into the mixture up to the ferrule and then quickly swirl it back and forth for a count of 10. The paint should come off the bristles and go to the bottom of the bucket.
Once you have removed the paint, put the brushes to dry
Warnings
- Do not press the brush too hard on your hand, otherwise you risk damaging the bristles.
- Make sure you let the brush dry well after applying the cream.
- With these steps the brushes will not be as good as new, but they will become more flexible and easier to use.
