Cleaning Your Brushes…

Is Nail Polish Remover a Good Choice?

Disclaimer: These are the opinions of Ginger Cook and Jon Little and do not reflect those of other artists. Do your research and find out what works best for you.

Picture this: You’ve just finished painting a masterpiece. But alas, you’ve forgotten to clean your brushes in the hustle and bustle. They’re sitting there, bristling with dried-up acrylic paint like they've been petrified in some ancient art time capsule. In a moment of desperation, you think, “Nail polish remover! That’s got to work, right?”

Spoiler alert: It’s a big NO.

Let me tell you why using nail polish remover to clean your beloved brushes is a bad idea—and trust me, your brushes will thank you for reading this.

Nail Polish Remover: The ‘Toxic Tornado'

Nail polish remover (especially the acetone kind) is basically the evil twin of the gentle brush soap you *should* be using. Sure, it’ll take off that dried acrylic paint, but it’ll also strip your brushes of natural oils, leaving them looking like they’ve just walked through a desert. Expect brittle bristles, frizz, and brushes that suddenly feel more like scrubbing pads. Yikes!

The Stench of Regret

Have you ever gotten a whiff of nail polish remover? It’s like being slapped in the face with a cloud of toxic fumes. Now, imagine that soaking into your beautiful brushes, destined to leave behind a permanent odor of regret (and acetone) on your next painting. Not exactly the “fresh canvas” smell you were going for, huh?

Acrylics Are Stubborn, But So Are We

Let’s face it—dried acrylic paint can be stubborn. But don’t reach for nail polish remover when we’ve got better solutions (pun very much intended).

So, What Should You Use? I’m Glad You Asked!

Professional Acrylic Brush Soap (A Brush’s BFF)

We’re big fans of professional acrylic brush soap. It’s specifically designed for acrylic paints, gently cleaning and restoring your brushes without turning them into stiff little porcupines. It’s like giving your brushes a day at the spa—minus the cucumber slices.

91+% Alcohol: The Secret Weapon

If you’ve let your brushes sit in dried acrylic paint for too long (we won’t judge—we’ve all been there), then 90+% alcohol is your hero. Soak your brushes in it for a few minutes, and watch the stubborn paint peel away. It’s like magic but without the toxic tornado effect!

Soaking Caps: The Overnight Miracle

For those extra tough cases, try soaking caps! These nifty little devices let you prop your brush up in a bath of alcohol or brush soap without letting the brush tip get squashed at the bottom. It’s like an overnight brush treatment. Just leave it soaking, and your brushes will be ready to rock and roll in the morning! Comment: We were told about these but were unable to find anything like this, but Jon “hangs” a brush over an alcohol bath that keeps the brushes from touching the bottom.

Tub O’ Towels: For Everything Else

Hands, tables, and surfaces love Tub O’ Towels wipes. When acrylic paint splatters beyond the canvas (because, of course, it does), these wipes are your cleanup crew. They get rid of the paint without damaging surfaces—or your skin.

In Semi-Conclusion…Love Your Brushes—They’ll Love You Back!

Next time you’re tempted to grab that bottle of nail polish remover, remember: your brushes have feelings too. Treat them with love and care; they’ll stick by your side through thick (paint) and thin (lines). So leave the nail polish remover for your nails, and let your brushes bask in the luxury of proper cleaning solutions!

Here’s a list of recognized acrylic brush cleaners that are readily available in the U.S., Australia, Canada, and Europe for everyday cleaning and those occasional emergency dried-on-paint situations:

Everyday Acrylic Brush Cleaners

1. The Masters Brush Cleaner and Preserver

   – This cleaner is a favorite among artists because it cleans and conditions brushes, even bringing some back from near disaster! It works with both wet and dry paint, making it perfect for everyday use.

https://amzn.to/3zAcQzZ

2. Winsor & Newton Brush Cleaner and Restorer

   – A great option for those who want to clean brushes gently. It's non-toxic and works on synthetic and natural hair brushes without harming the bristles.

https://amzn.to/3Y4QRu8

3. Liquitex Brush Cleaner

   – Liquitex makes a range of professional acrylic products, and their brush cleaner is no exception. It's non-toxic and great for cleaning while preserving the natural oils in the bristles.

4. Da Vinci Brush Cleaning Soap

 This is a solid brush soap that’s effective for regular cleaning, keeping your brushes soft and well-shaped. It’s gentle on both synthetic and natural bristles.

For Emergency Dried-On Acrylic Paint

1. Isopropyl Alcohol (91% or higher)

 Great for removing dried-on acrylic paint. Soak your brushes in it for a bit, and the paint will loosen up without damaging the bristles. Only soak for a few minutes at a time and wash between soakings.

2. Zest-it Acrylic Brush Cleaner

 An effective cleaner for dried acrylic paint, it’s citrus-based and biodegradable. A great eco-friendly alternative for tackling challenging, dried-on paint.

3. Pink Soap

 A non-toxic cleaner that works wonders for acrylic paint, especially when it’s been sitting for a while. Its conditioning formula also helps keep your brushes in good shape.

4. Mona Lisa Brush Shaper and Cleaner

This product not only cleans brushes but also restores their shape, making it useful for when brushes are a bit stiff from dried paint.

5. Eco Brush Cleaner by Art Spectrum

 A popular choice in Australia, this eco-friendly cleaner is powerful against dried acrylic and water-based paints. It’s safe to use on synthetic and natural brushes.

Specialty for Tough Dried Paint

1. Murphy’s Oil Soap

Though originally intended for wood, this cleaner has gained a reputation in the art world for rescuing brushes covered in dried acrylic paint. It’s gentle and effective when brushes need serious help.

https://amzn.to/4ep8aMl

For Hands and Surfaces

Tub O’ Towels

 Back to Ginger's favorite cleaner for the heads and surfaces. These multi-purpose wipes are great for removing acrylic paint from hands and surfaces without drying out the skin. They are also Ideal for cleaning up spills and splatters.

Are there any other options for cleaning brushes?

Yes! There are other soaps like Fels-Naptha or a similar type of Zote soap, which is commonly found in Mexico and other parts of Latin America. These soaps are primarily used for laundry but are also known to be excellent brush cleaners, especially for cleaning paint from brushes.

How to Use Zote or Fels-Naptha for Cleaning Brushes:

1. Wet the Brush: After rinsing your brush under warm water to remove as much paint as possible, gently rub it against the bar of soap.

2. Lather the Soap: Rub the brush bristles into the soap until you get a good lather going. Work the soap deep into the bristles to loosen any remaining paint.

3. Rinse and Repeat: Rinse the brush under warm water and repeat the process if needed, especially if there is still dried paint in the bristles.

4. Dry and Shape: After thoroughly rinsing the brush, reshape the bristles and let it dry in a horizontal position to prevent water from seeping into the ferrule (the metal part holding the bristles).

Why It Works:

– Fels-Naptha and Zote are both strong, oil-based soaps that break down oils and pigments from the paint, making them effective for cleaning brushes. Their grease-cutting properties can work wonders on acrylics and other paint types, but they are gentle enough not to damage the brush bristles.

Both soaps are very affordable and widely used by artists who like multi-purpose, natural brush cleaning options.

A final thought on brush cleaning options.

We have heard many folks recommend vinegar or cider vinegar, but we are to tell you that this does not work. Jon soaked a brush that had dried acrylic paint on it for 45 minutes in a warm vinegar solution and did not even begin to cut into the dried acrylic paint. He resorted to 91% alcohol for a minute and brush soap, and the brush was ready to go after 5 minutes.