How to Clean and Store Paint Brushes and Rollers

Gasoline works on oil based

Forget using expensive minerial spirits or paint thinner. You can use cooking oil to clean oil based paint. It's cheaper and smells alot better.

Why spend ages cleaning them - just buy new ones - they are cheap enough.

if you ever use college kids to help, do not count on them to ever clean anything up when they are done, even if you told them to do so (several times).
Got to love getting advise from a contracror that is wearing all kinds of jewelry on his wrists as he cleans brushes and a spotless work? truck in the background (I know it is GMC sponsered). Most painter I know drive vans and they are far from spotless.

Based on many years of using different types of paint, Eric has made three mistakes in what he has said. First, after you clean a brush with mineral spirits you should then wash it with soap and water also. It usually takes two or three washings before it's thoroughly clean. Second, put a brush back in its sleeve to keep the bristles in good shape. If you don't have the sleeve, put the brush along one edge of a paper towel about half way down and roll the paper towel around the brush. When you get to the other end of the paper towel fold it over the tip of the brush and put a rubber band aroud it. Three, be sure a brush or roller is dry before you put it away in a plastic bag, or wherever. And lastly, use the painters tool to scrape the extra paint back into the tray or paint can to reduce the amount of paint that goes down the drain. After you've washed out your paint roller, stand it on end on a paer towel or put it over the end of a spigot to dry before you put it away.

Geeze, If any of my guys used a wire brush to clean the brushes, I'd make them buy their own brushes. Oh god, he's telling people to use a wire brush to clean a roller too? No way. NEVER use a wire brush to clean any brush or roller. Instead use a brush comb on brushes and soap and water only on a roller. The fastest way to kill a brush is to use a wire brush on it. It will rip the bristles out and bend them and stress them out instantly. I cannot even believe he said to use a wire brush on a roller. That is unreal to me.

Properly cleaning quality brushes will extend the life for years of house painting enjoyment. Nice video, putting this in an article last year~
http://ezinearticles.com/?Painting-Contractor-Gives-Tips-on-Paint-Brush-Care-and-Maintenance

Has anyone ever tried ammonia to clean their brushes of latex paint ?? - works great. Have used ammonia to clean spray equipment but you must flush thoroughly with water and run a regular spray equipment cleaner through unit, as ammonia is very corrosive. Concernig rollers - squeeze paint out and wrap it in a couple of plastic bags (from convenience / grocery store), tape shut, in an attempt to seal air out and put in refrigertaor. Good for a week or two.

If you plan to use the same brush or roller ( either latex or oil) to continue the job later, the easiest way is not to clean them at all. Just wrap them in a plastic grocery bag (sealed up good), and put them in your freezer. Just thaw them out, and they're ready to go again. I've stored brushes and rollers for over a year this way.

My advice to anyone wanting to paint their house is to hire a real painter.As good a job as you think you do, it will still look like crap and your friends will silently snicker at your job.