- Cheap brushes have silky bristles that tend to break easily. Paint brush bristles should be springy and elastic. Hit the brush against your hand and fan the bristles to see if they come out easily. A good brush will get better with use.
- One way to judge the quality of a paintbrush is to examine its bristles for split ends known as "flags." These enable the brush to retain more paint and spread it more uniformly. On good brushes, at least half of the bristles are flagged.
- Use natural bristle brushes for alkyd, or oil-based paints, synthetic bristle brushes for latex, or water-based paints.
- To paint large surfaces (ceilings, floors, chimneys, shingles, boats, and pools): Use a wall brush, 7/8" to 1" thick and 3" to 6" wide; 4" wide flatting brushes are preferred. Lightweight 4" to 6" flatting brushes are ideal for large areas.
- To paint medium sized areas--cupboards, floors, eaves, large pipes, picket
fences and table tops: Use a flat dash brush, 2", 2-1/2" or 3" wide.
- For wood work and other trim, use a 1" to 2" angular trim brush. There are two kinds of sash brushes: flat and angular.
- When you buy a new oil paint brush, soak it for a day in a can of linseed oil before using it. The brush will last longer and be easier to clean.
- To clean a paint brush without making a mess of your hands, pour solvent into a strong, clean plastic bag, and insert the brush. Your hands will stay clean as you work the solvent into the bristles through the plastic bag.
- If you must leave a paint brush for a short time and don't want to clean it, wrap it in a foil or a plastic bag to keep it soft and pliable. Put it in the freezer and you can save it for a long time.
- After you have cleaned your brushes, dip them in a final rinse containing fabric softener. This will keep them as soft as if they were new.
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