Lay brushes on their side when not in use.
Keep your acrylic brushes in pristine condition by properly cleaning them immediately after use. Acrylic brushes are made from nylon filament, making them more durable than other types of brushes made from natural or watercolor filament. Although sturdy, acrylic brushes must be properly cleaned and maintained to preserve the brush integrity.
Before Use
Unwrap the packaged brush from its round or clear, flat plastic container to allow it to take shape and relax. Rinse the brush in cool water to remove any errant brush pieces or debris caught inside the brush during packaging. Rinsing also removes any gum arabic or preservative typically applied to brushes at the factory. Shake the brush dry or gently press the brush into a few paper towels to remove excess water. Store brushes on a flat surface.
During Use
If you are working with several brushes at one time, keep a few containers of water or paint thinner on hand. Maintain a container of water or thinner for clean brushes and one for dirty brushes. Change the thinner or water between color changes or as the solution becomes murky. When cleaning your brush, dip it into the water or thinner solution, swirl it around and then rinse in clean water. Lay the brush on its side. Never leave the brush in the water or thinner with the bristles pointing down. Doing this will destroy the brush shape.
After Use
If you leave paint on an acrylic brush, it will harden and become permanent in 20 minutes. If this happens, swirl the brush in water and then dip it in gum arabic or water-soluble office gum. The gum will preserve the acrylic bristles. Dry the brush with a hair dryer, holding it at least 12 inches away, until the bristles are stiff. Lay the brush on its side and wait a few days until it's completely dry. Rinse the brush with cool water. The paint should come off, returning your brush to its original state. If the paint hasn't hardened on the brush, simply rinse it in cool water followed by a dip in dishwashing liquid and water. You may see a pigment change in the white nylon filaments from the color you were using. As long as your brush is clean, the color shouldn't bleed through the next time you paint.
