Jan 7, 2024 2 min read

How I Clean My Oil Paint Brushes Without Toxic Solvents

Did you know you can clean oil paint brushes without toxic solvents?

I didn't oil paint for a long time because I thought you had to use them. I'm super sensitive to scents and also struggle with sensitive skin. The typical solvents used for oil painting can be harmful to breath or touch. So it's something I decided to avoid.

I hear a lot of oil painters say it’s okay to use them as long as you have a proper ventilated room. But even with proper ventilation these solvents can cause headaches, nausea, and skin irritation. Also, some pretty nasty health issues like liver, kidney, nerve damage and cancer over time.

If there's a way to avoid the possibility of these health conditions why choose to use it right? It made sense to me and my situation and I hope this gives you a good alternative for yourself if you’re struggling with the same things or just want to avoid future health issues.

Here’s the steps I use to clean my brushes.

Linseed Oil: I use linseed oil and some old cut up towels to get as much pigment off as I can. Warning! Be sure to let your rags harden before throwing them out so they don’t catch on fire. This can happen because of the oxidation process the paint goes through when drying.
Dish Soap: I like to start by using natural dish soap, my favourite is the Unscented Company’s. I put a small amount of dish soap in my palm and then do gentle circles with my brush until all of the pigment is out. Then I rinse.
Condition The Brushes: I wet my brush again and then rub them around in The Master’s Brush cleaner and preserver. This helps to condition the brushes and gets out any leftover pigment the soap and oil couldn’t get out. Make sure to rinse the brush cleaner fully off so it doesn’t harden on your brushes.
You Have Clean Brushes: And now your brushes are clean! Store them upright in a jar to dry until your next painting session. All these brushes I’ve had for a few years now and they’re still looking great with this method.

Have you tried this cleaning method before? Comment your favourite solvent free products below. I’d love to hear your experience with cleaning your brushes in the comments so we can all help each other out.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my email list so you get notified when new blog posts come out. I hope these suggestions and tips help you on your painting journey.

Tune in to my weekly LIVE stream every Wednesday to ask any question you may have and paint along with me. Click below for more info on the Mini Paint Challenge.