How to Keep Your Paint Brushes and Rollers Like New Without Wasting Paint or Time

December 26, 2025

Keep your brushes soft and rollers ready for next time — without wasting paint or ruining your tools.

Dulux pros swear by it: every great paint finish begins with how you treat your gear afterward. If you’ve ever spent half a morning scrubbing a stubborn brush or peeling dried paint off a roller, you know that frustration doesn’t just fade — it hardens, just like old acrylic.

Switching from guesswork to the right cleaning method takes you from crusty bristles and clogged sleeves to brushes that glide like new, even months later. And no, you don’t need fancy solvents or endless rinses — just a few smart habits make all the difference.

Why It Matters More Than You Think

Fresh paint is full of resin that binds to fibres — that’s what makes colours durable on walls, but disastrous for tools. Once that resin sets, no amount of scrubbing will bring softness back. Regular cleaning keeps the bristles flexible and prevents them from flaring, which means cleaner edges and fewer streaks next time you pick up the brush.

“When you respect your tools, they repay you in smooth coats and clean lines every time,” says Candeece from Strathalbyn H Hardware.

Step-by-Step: Cleaning Brushes the Right Way

The process doesn’t need to be messy or wasteful. Here’s a simple method that works whether you’ve used water-based or oil-based paints.

1. Wipe first. Scrape off as much paint as possible using the rim of the tin or a paint comb. This saves both water and time.
2. Rinse slowly. For acrylics, rinse brushes in a bucket of warm water — not under full-flow taps. Swish them and squeeze gently until water runs clear.
3. Soap up. Work a drop of mild dish soap through the bristles with your fingers or a brush comb to lift out deep colour.
4. Final rinse and shake dry. Shake out the excess and reshape the bristles back to their natural form.
5. Hang, don’t stand. Store brushes by hanging or lying flat — standing them on their tips bends bristles and shortens their life.

What About Paint Rollers?

Rollers collect far more paint than brushes, but cleaning them is simpler than it looks — especially if you do it before the paint dries.

1. Scrape. Use a roller scraper or an old kitchen spatula to press out any leftover paint into the tray.
2. Soak and spin. Rinse the sleeve in a bucket of warm water, rolling it between your palms to loosen colour. Repeat until water stays mostly clear.
3. Squeeze and hang dry. Squeeze gently and hang through the handle hole to air dry — avoid direct sun, which can harden fibres.

Smarter Storage Tips

Brushes and rollers should rest, not rust. Once dry, slip each brush into a sleeve or wrap in doubled-over newspaper to keep dust off. Tuck rollers upright in a clean bucket or hang inside your shed. Cold, dark, and dry spaces are best — South Australia’s sun is better for drying washing, not paint gear.

If you’re pausing mid-project for a day, don’t clean them yet — wrap them. Press the brush or roller head in plastic wrap, then seal inside a reused sandwich bag. Stored like this, they’ll stay usable for up to 48 hours without drying out.

A Little History Between the Bristles

Old-school painters used to say, “A brush lasts a lifetime if you treat it like a mate.” Back then, brushes were hand-tied with natural hair and cost more than a week’s wages. These days, synthetic fibres are tougher, but the principle holds — respect the tool, and it’ll stay faithful through many projects.

The Environmental Edge

Keeping tools alive longer isn’t just good for your wallet; it’s good for the planet. Every brush you save means less plastic waste and fewer microfibre bits shed into the water system. When cleaning, let paint solids settle before tipping dirty water. The clear water can be reused for initial rinses next time, while dried solids can go in the bin instead of down the drain.

The Shortcuts to Avoid

Leaving brushes soaking overnight sounds like a harmless hack, but it causes swelling near the ferrule (that metal part), loosening the glue and warping the handle. Hot water is just as sneaky — it softens bristles. Think gentle, not harsh — the goal is clean, not punished.

From Mess to Rest – The Feel-Good Finish

You started with a brush that felt like an old broom and ended with one that feels as smooth as the day you bought it. That’s the quiet reward of doing things the right way — small effort, big return. The next time you reach for your paint gear, ready and waiting, you’ll thank yourself for the care you gave today.

One takeaway: the best finish doesn’t happen on the wall; it starts in your clean-up bucket. Treat your tools well, and they’ll return the favour — coat after coat, year after year.

Happy painting,
Candeece