best way to clean brushes? what's your system?

I use Masters in bar soap form - works great as it is meant to loosen up and get out those deep color pigments.

Old Master's Brush Cleaner & Conditioner Soap is fantastic for getting paint stains out of brushes and, using the directions on the package, has even gotten dried up oil paint out of brushes. The soap lasts forever!
Just remember to rinse VERY well when using any kind of soap on FP brushes & sponges.
Cheers,
Susan

In a cup I make a mixture of 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 baby shampoo, with a few drops of Silly Farm's Brush Bash. I take all of the brushes and smoothies I use for white, and put them in brush down. One at a time, I take the white brushes and clean them under a running facuet. I have a casserole pan, full of vinegar to the side. I lay each brush in there. Once all of the whites are soaking in the vinegar (I have about 3 brushes and 2 smoothies per color), I grab up the next lightest color group, yellow, and set them in the cup with the soap/vinegar mixture. While they soak, I take the set in the pure vinegar, and lay them on a paper towel to dry. I repeat that, finishing with my black brushes.

As to the Rinse Well, I gave mine away after two months. I use a separate tub for each color. You can see the one I used to have, with only 4 tubs. The one I use now has 6 tubs.
http://www.facepaintforum.com/gallery/Personal-album-of-LillyW/Lilly-Walters-Workstation-April-2009-pic_1684.htm

With the Rinse Well, as soon as you touch your black brush to it, it takes FOREVER to get it clean.

- Lilly Walters, 909-398-1228
Henna Tattoo Artist, Face and Pregnant Belly Painter, in Claremont, La Verne, Upland, Rancho Cucamonga, San Dimas and Glendora
www.funfacepainting.com

Face Painting Classes In Southern California
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Wow, ok I must be just stupid. And I'm ok with that, lol! It's fun to laugh at yourself. I am very concerened with cleanliness!! So, I have tones of questions....

1.) Do you only load the brush once? I load tons!! Have not gotten that whole thing down yet I guess.

2.) Do you sanitize every brush after every child and let it dry? How many brushes do you have to use for that? Omgoodness! I thought it was ok to use till after the gig. Obviously not using them on sick children.

3.) How do you find out about what governs your business? Like the cosmetology thing. I thought facepainting was diff than that. Actually I didn't think anyone governed you. I thought it was kinda left up to the painter. Of course I can see where that would make sense.

Again, I am very concerned with this. I have 3 little children and would NEVER want to do anything that would cause another child harm in ANY way! I use a buggy cover at WalMart etc and sanitize our hands regularly. What is the appropriate thing?
Thanks!!!

JBax wrote:I've heard about using baby shampoo. Any thoughts?

There is a pain reliever in baby shampoo to keep it from hurting if it gets in the kids eyes.

I currently use dish soap for my brushes. (I only use them on myself.)
I'm going to try some of the other cleaning methods you guys suggested. Dish soap kind of leaves soap suds in the brush that take a long time to get out.

Also for sponges, do you think the cheap disposable triangle sponges (like the ones you can find in Walgreens) would be good when using rainbow cakes and such? I think I might buy them to try it out and that way I wouldn't have to deal with cleaning sponges.

Hey Killer,
I'm still new, so haven't had a ton of experience. But, I went out and bought the cheap disposable sponges(got mine from walmart-don't know if there is a difference). Anyway they did seem to really soak up a lot of paint and then go thru and thru to get the fingers dirty. I then read...somewhere...that you should get high density sponges. I went to my local craft store and picked up some of those. I must say, much better!! They are a little more, but I have found they are worth it! Just my 2cents! Good luck!!

Awesome! I'll try getting some high density ones then. Thanks!

Welcome

When I'm working: Clear rinse water to work then isopropyl rinse, clear rinse again and onto a paper towel.

Sometimes I use the antibacterial gel in a cup because I can stand my brush in and the bristles don't get ruined because they are suspended in the gel.

At the end of the day everything goes into a dish soap bath, a super hot clear rinse, back to the bath if necessary (and it usually is necessary,) super hot clear rinse, then isopropyl soak and air dry.

when do you use the alcohol? I use it after I wash my brushes with shampoo and conditioner - but how do you use it during a gig?
I guess what I am asking is .... Do you dip it in an alcohol rinse in between each client ? If so, is it diluted or full strength ? Sorry - i am still pretty new at painting clients - up until recently I just painted my kids ...

Dawny wrote:when do you use the alcohol? I use it after I wash my brushes with shampoo and conditioner - but how do you use it during a gig?
I guess what I am asking is .... Do you dip it in an alcohol rinse in between each client ? If so, is it diluted or full strength ? Sorry - i am still pretty new at painting clients - up until recently I just painted my kids ...

Personally, and I know that this varies greatly depending on if you are regulated by local laws or not, I'm not:
I use different brushes for different colors so after I'm done with that color brush, it goes to water, then alcohol, then water, yup between patrons.

Do you know what I mean? I usually try to paint all the white that's going onto a design in one shot, then that brush goes to soak, then I do the next color and so on until I line with black or white.

It's not a perfect science, but I make my best effort to to keep things clean between customers.

thanks sooo much for the information ! i really appreciate it - i really want to do everything properly and i am very attentive when it comes to cleanliness - so - thanks again!

You should never use diluted alcohol, as it will actually promote bacteria growth if it is not used full strength. Also, unless you are using 70% alcohol (the higher percentages dry too fast) and allowing it to completely dry on the brush, then you are not actually disinfecting your brush.

why not use diluted bleach (10/1) water? I'm sure there is a reason, so i would like to hear it. thanks