Paint thinner, or mineral spirits, is commonly used to clean oil-based paints and stains from brushes and tools. Most people dispose of the thinner after just one use, but that’s unnecessary.

Once the paint brush is soaked with thinner run a stainless steel wire brush through it a few times and then repeat the entire process 4-5 times.

This brush is a little bit longer and thinner. ... which makes it easier to paint the nail," says Kandalec. No. 8 Flat Kolinski Nail Art Brush, $19, Sally Beauty. Sally Beauty.

Brush cleaning, one of the least pleasant aspects of painting and other types of finishing, can be made much easier if you follow a simple system. Or it can be avoided altogether if you use ...

In order to clean your paintbrush sometimes you need to let it soak in paint thinner, but you don't want the bristles touching the bottom as they will. Skip to Main Content.