You can also use turpentine to remove oil-based paint from brushes. However, it has an extremely strong odor so it’s important to ensure that you’re working in a well-ventilated area. [2] X Expert Source Renée PlevyPortrait Artist & Educator Expert Interview. 7 May 2021.
Make sure that you rub both sides of the brush over your hand to ensure that you work the minerals spirits into all of the oil-based paint stains.
Any dishwashing liquid soap that is marketed as being able to cut through grease will work for cleaning your brushes. The precise amount of dishwashing soap that you’ll need will depend on how large the brush is and how dirty they are. Aim for a 1- to 2-inch (25- to 50-mm) dollop of the liquid.
If the brush is extremely dirty or the paint stains are old, you may need to repeat all of these steps two or more times to remove all of the paint.
After you’ve worked the cleansers into the brush this time, do not rinse them out.
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.
You can use any type of oil, such as olive oil, jojoba oil, or canola oil, to help break down the oil-based paint. 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 amount of coconut oil that you’ll need depends on how much paint is on your skin. Start with a small amount and add more if the paint isn’t coming off. Adding the lemon essential oil is optional. However, it is believed to be an extremely effective cleanser so it may help the paint come off more easily.
If all of the paint isn’t coming off, add a little more coconut oil to your skin to help break down the remaining paint.
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.
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.
Check the care instructions for the fabric that you’re cleaning. Use the hottest water appropriate to rinse the paint stain.
Turpentine may cause some fabrics to fade. Test a small, inconspicuous area of the fabric to ensure that it won’t be damaged. If you don’t want to use turpentine to blot the stain, you can use minerals spirits. You may need to blot the stain with turpentine several times to remove all of the paint.
Use a dishwashing liquid that’s designed to cut grease. You can soak the fabric in a sink if you prefer.
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.
