Dried paint brush :( It is water paint, but it is now hard as a rock.

[patricia92243]

It is a VERY good brush, and I could kick myself for letting it get in this shape.

Any suggestions on how I can get it to where I can use it again, or should I just write it off?

Oh, it is for painting walls - not an artist brush.

Any help on this will be greatly appreciated!

[Blue-Jay]

1. Soak it in turpentine. It'll soften up.

[patricia92243]

2. Even though the paint is a water based paint?? n/t

[Heidi]

11. NO! Emphatically, NO!

A brush that's used only for water-based paint should be washed gently with soap and water. Put some mild dish soap in the palm of your hand, and gently massage the bristles up and down across your palm. It'll give.

If you plan to ever again use this brush for water-based paint, do _not_ clean it with any petroleum based product.

Good luck.

P.S. If acrylic is the "water-based color" you're referring to, it's a water-workable medium, but it dries like plastic and probably can't be salvaged . . . not for fine-art purposes, anyway.

[Maddy McCall]

3. If it's latex paint, you might as well trash the brush.

The time it will take you to clean it will have been better spent going to lowes and buying a new one.

The latex will turn grainy and stick to the bristles. Unless you have time to separate each individual bristle and clean it, toss the bush and buy a new one.

[Doctor_J]

8. Yeah, it's a-goner

I used to paint semi-pro, and dried latex paint is a show-stopper. You should spend 15 minutes or so cleaning a good brush of latex paint immediately after use.

[miss_kitty]

4. call a paint store

I recall asking if there was something that broke down latex paint and they said yes. I never asked what it was

[Gidney N Cloyd]

5. "Goof Off"?

[miss_kitty]

7. I don't know

I was planning on using it on the 1930s emaneled light fixture in my bedroom the lazy asshole who used to manage this building PAINTED OVER. But I haven't gotten 'round to it.

[Doctor_J]

9. I think it's goo-gone

but that won't clean off the latex either.

[tridim]

6. Call George Costanza

He's in latex. :)

[NV Whino]

10. Toss it. Buy a new one.

And clean it immediately after you use it.

[Lilyhoney]

12. The art supply store should be able to help you.

I have had some brushes that came back to life by using the Pink Soap and by using a hard pat of brush cleaner.

I suck at taking care of my brushes and that is a price I pay.