Wash your brushes after every painting session.
Brushes are one of the most expensive elements of acrylic painting. If you keep your brushes clean, you will save a great deal of money over the years. A good brush is a great tool, and will allow you to control the paint and apply it with much more accuracy. It doesn't make sense to make the investment in quality tools unless you take good care of them. Acrylic brushes are especially prone to damage as the acrylic paint dries so quickly.
Instructions
1. Keep a big can of water nearby while you are painting, and place your brushes in the water when you have finished using them for the moment. If the acrylic paint dries on the brush, which can happen in 30 minutes or less (depending on the thickness of the paint), the brush will be useless and should be discarded.
2. Take the brushes out of the can one at a time when your painting session is over, rinsing as much paint out of the bristles as you can, and wiping the bristles of the brush off on the rag.
3. Run each brush under warm water until the water runs clear. This means that the paint has been rinsed out of the brush. You can grip the end of the bristles and gently push on the bristles in the direction of the handle. This will help remove paint that gets trapped up near the ferrule (the metal clasp that holds the bristles in place).
4. Apply a little soap to the brush and rub it in. Rinse it out under running water.
5. Store your brushes standing up in a can or another holder.
