How to clean paint brushes with vinegar?

Abby
by Abby

It's me again with another vinegar question. Does anyone know how to clean paint brushes with vinegar?


  21 answers
  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Nov 04, 2019

    Immediately after use, soak in soapy warm made from dish soap. IF you have some that have gotten stiff, soak in white cleaning vinegar then rinse.

  • Deanna Nassar Deanna Nassar on Jan 11, 2019

    If you have dried mod podge stuck on your paint brushes from previous mod podge projects, you can remove it by soaking the brushes in hot vinegar for few minutes, then using a paper towel to wipe them clean. You may also want to run them under warm water to dilute the vinegar smell.

  • Can do Can do on Jan 16, 2017

    To remove semi-private Paint from good Paint brushes boil them in water with some vinegar added and then clean them as you would right after you get done with fresh paint

  • Staci Staci on Oct 18, 2017

    I have seen that if you soak them in vinegar it takes the paint out of them

  • Jan32065531 Jan32065531 on Feb 13, 2019

    Let them sit in vinegar for a few hours, cleans beautifully. Had some old paint brushes at least two years of paint stuck on them the brushes had been left and forgotten about. Rather than throw them out, I figured what the heck can't hurt to try. I filled a coffee can about half way with vinegar just enough to cover the bristles went out to the garage the next morning all I could see was white paint in the can, I rinsed the brushes off they were soft and clean like new it was amazing.

  • Joanna Smith Joanna Smith on Aug 16, 2018

    Try letting it soak overnight in straight , white vinegar. Just a note, if you are going to be painting for more than one day, wrap your brush in tin foil and stick it in the refrigerator when you're done at the end of the day. Works like a charm! Take the foil off the next day and start painting with a soft, already-primed brush!

  • I have had some success heating vinegar in the microwave and soaking the brush in the hot vinegar. Once the paint is soft use a comb to remove the paint from the bristles.

  • Laura Laura on Aug 15, 2018

    Cleaning Hardened Paintbrush with Vinegar

    1. Place the paintbrush in a disposable aluminum baking pan.
    2. Heat vinegar up in a pot on the stove to almost boiling.
    3. Pour the hot vinegar over the paintbrush in the pan.
    4. Allow the brush to soak for 10 minutes or longer.
    5. Use a brush comb or wire brush to remove the softened paint.


  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Nov 24, 2021

    I know. Vinegar can be quite acidic are you trying to clean up after acrylic or oil based paints. I have never used vinegar.

  • Mogie Mogie on Nov 24, 2021

    If the paint has hardened try this. Just heat the vinegar in a cup in a microwave for a minute or till the container feels hot. Let sit for at least 20 minutes until the paint softens.

  • William William on Nov 24, 2021

    I heat up vinegar in a microwave for about a minute or two and soak the brushes in it. I use a microwave safe plastic bowl.

  • The vinegar works best if it's been heated. Just soak your brushes in it.

  • Lindsay Aratari Lindsay Aratari on Nov 25, 2021

    Soak in hot vinegar

  • Annie Annie on Nov 25, 2021

    If you heat up the vinegar, it will be easier to clean them, here's a link you can read more

    https://todayshomeowner.com/video/how-to-clean-hardened-paint-from-paintbrushes-naturally/

  • Chloe Crabtree Chloe Crabtree on Nov 26, 2021

    Soak the brush with hardened paint in vinegar for an hour. If the bristles don't bend, soak for an additional hour. If it needs more loosening after two hours, submerge the head of the brush in vinegar in a pot, place the pot on a stove and bring to a boil. Afterwards, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool off.

  • Maura White Maura White on Nov 28, 2021

    depends on the kind of paint - if its oil based, you need terpentine. If its acrylic, water should work just fine (as long as the paint hasn't dried.)

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Nov 29, 2021

    I leave mine soaking in vinegar after I rinse paint out. It will remove residue and soften them.

  • You can simply soak them in the vinegar to clean your brushes that became stiff.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Mar 07, 2023

    You could try steeping them in water along with a drop of Wash Liquid too.