A Clean Paintbrush Will Last Longer

A high-quality paintbrush will last for years, but only if you clean it immediately after each use.

First, soak the brush bristles for an hour or two in either water (for latex paint) or mineral spirits (for oil-based paint). Then rake the bristles clean of any remaining paint using a large plastic comb. You can buy a steel-toothed comb specifically made for cleaning paintbrushes, but you can save a few dollars by using the hair comb, which works nearly as well. Be sure to pull the comb through several times on both sides of the brush to separate and straighten the bristles.

After raking out the bristles, hang up the brush to dry. Then wrap the bristles in paper towels or sections of a brown paper bag.