Why Brush Care Matters
The brushes included in paint-by-numbers kits vary widely in quality, but even basic brushes will serve you well throughout an entire kit — and potentially many more — if maintained properly. Acrylic paint is the main enemy of brushes because it dries quickly and permanently. Once dried acrylic sets in the bristles, it is very difficult to remove fully, causing the brush to lose its shape and flexibility.
Cleaning Your Brushes During a Session
Proper during-session brush cleaning prevents cross-color contamination and keeps bristles supple.
Rinse in clean water immediately after each color
As soon as you finish with a color, swirl the brush in your rinse cup. Do not let paint sit on bristles, even for a few minutes.
Wipe on a damp cloth or paper towel
After rinsing, wipe the bristles gently on a damp cloth. This removes residual paint the water didn't catch.
Check the bristles before your next color
Look at the brush — is it clean? A clean brush should show white or near-white bristles. If there's color tint, rinse again.
Change your rinse water regularly
Dark, murky rinse water will taint your colors. Change it every 20–30 minutes, or whenever it looks significantly discolored.
Cleaning Brushes After a Session
End-of-session cleaning is more thorough than between-color cleaning and is essential for brush longevity.
Rinse under warm running water
Hold the brush with bristles pointing down. Run warm (not hot) water through the bristles from ferrule to tip. Gently work the bristles with your fingers to release paint.
Use dish soap for a thorough clean
Work a small amount of dish soap into the damp bristles. Swirl the brush gently in your palm. Rinse thoroughly. Repeat until the soap runs clear with no color.
Reshape the bristles
While wet, gently squeeze and reshape the bristles to their original pointed or flat shape. Acrylic is much easier to reshape while the brush is still wet.
Store horizontally or bristles-up
Lay the brush flat or stand it bristles-up to dry. Never store wet brushes bristles-down — water runs into the ferrule and loosens the bristles.
Reviving Dried-Out Brushes
Forgot to clean a brush? It happens. Acrylic paint that has dried in bristles can sometimes be revived:
- Soak in warm water: Place bristles in warm water for 30–60 minutes, then work the softened paint out with your fingers and soap
- Rubbing alcohol: For stubborn dried acrylic, soak bristles in isopropyl alcohol for 5–10 minutes. It will dissolve dried acrylic. Wash thoroughly with soap and water afterward.
- Specialized brush restorer: Products like "The Masters" brush cleaner are specifically designed to remove dried acrylic from brushes — highly effective for severe cases
- Acceptance: Very stiff brushes with heavy dried acrylic buildup may not fully recover. These can still be useful for dry-brushing textures, or for applying varnish.
Brush Types and When to Use Each
- Round brush (most kits include this): Versatile — good for medium sections and any curved areas
- Flat brush: Good for large rectangular sections; edges create clean straight lines
- Fine liner / detail brush: Essential for very small numbered sections, outlines, and fine detail work
- Fan brush (optional): Great for creating soft foliage, fur, and grass textures