How to clean rollers & brushes

Cleaning might be the last thing you want to do when you’ve finished a hard day’s decorating but keeping your painting tools in good condition makes it much easier to get started next time. And it’s quicker and easier than you think. Here are a few easy-to-follow tips… 

You’ve finished the decorating: now it’s time for the clean-up. Whether it’s getting gunk out of rollers and trays, or tips on how to clean paintbrushes more efficiently, our advice will mean you’ll never have to bin unwashed equipment again.

First, the good news: you don’t need to clean your tools if you’ll be using them again the next day. Simply wrap the brush-heads or roller sleeve in compostable cling film, foil or a plastic bag and seal with masking tape. The paint should stay workable for a couple of days.

Once you’ve finished decorating, get your gloves on. The first task is to scrape as much paint as you can back into the tin from your tray, roller and brushes (an old comb comes in handy here). Not only does this mean less waste (a plus for the planet), it also makes for quicker cleaning. What happens next depends on the paint you’ve used. 

Most interior paints – even gloss – are water-based these days, which is good news for the environment and for you as it makes the clean-up job easier. 

Pop your scraped brush or roller in some warm, soapy water. Work your fingers through the bristles or fibre, then rinse and repeat until the water runs clear. If the paint has dried on, soak the brush or roller sleeve for a couple of hours before you begin. 

Dry thoroughly with a clean cloth and store for your next bout of decorating. 

If you’ve used a solvent- or oil-based paint, soapy water won’t do the trick. Instead, pour a little bit of solvent-based cleaner (white spirit or turpentine, for example) into a jar or small container and work the brush against the sides so the cleaner gets right inside the bristles.

When it’s paint-free, leave to dry and store (ideally in a vertical position so the bristles don’t get damaged). 

These are toxic, so you can’t pour them away down the sink. Transfer the used solvent from your roller tray into a smaller jar or container (it can be the same one you’ve used for your brushes). Seal with a lid and let it sit for 24 hours. Once the paint has sunk to the bottom, tip the remaining cleaner back in its bottle ready for next time (strain it through coffee filter paper to catch the bits). Once the paint residue in the jar is fully dry, throw it away in the bin. 

Top tip: if you’re using both water- and solvent-based products for your paint job, select one set of tools for each. This will make your rollers and brushes last longer and make cleaning easier. 

Little bits of leftover paint can be perfect for small paint jobs around the house – a splash of colour in an alcove or behind some shelves, for example. If you still have paint left, store it in the smallest container possible so it’s less likely to dry out. (Keep a few jam jars in the shed or cupboard for just such an occasion.) Label with all the info you need – the colour, the finish etc – so you’ll know what it is when you come back to it, and store somewhere dry. 

Any unwanted paint must be disposed of responsibly (not poured down the drain). Contact your local authority for guidance.