Caring For Your Brushes

Color Me Mine underglazes are water based. After use, brushes should be cleaned with water. No need for soap or special solvents! All the brushes will really need is a few seconds of individual attention, two hands and a stream of water from a faucet.

With the brush handle in one hand, gently separate the brush bristles with the other hand while letting water run through the bristles removing the paint from the brush.
Observe the brush while washing it making sure that there is no color trapped at the base of the bristles. When the brush is completely clean, firmly press the access water out with your fingers.Form the brush into it’s original shape and lay it down to dry on a paper towel.
Drying brushes vertically will cause the brushes to dry into undesired shapes. You can wash a brush perfectly, but then stick it in a cup with bristles up to dry, and the water will run to the base of the bristles causing them to open up like a flower. This brush will be hard to use after it dries this way. Laying the brushes down to dry is the easiest way to preserve their original shapes.
Place a paper towel on a small tray, lay down a few brushes, place a paper towel on top and place more brushes on it. This way the brushes will dry fast and look good!

When paint dries on the brush bristles, it hardens and can feel like a rock or a piece of chalk to the touch. This does not destroy the brush because dry underglaze turns to liquid again after being submerged in water for a few minutes. Once the paint turns to liquid, the brush can be washed as normal.
We suggest that brushes are placed in a bowl of water after use – bristles down. It is very important however, not to let the part where the handle is connected to the metal farrow to stay under water. These parts of the brush are glued together. When entire brush is constantly submerged under water, the glue will eventually start to dissolve. This will cause the handle to separate from the rest of the brush making it impossible to use.

To ensure a long life of your paint brushes, never leave the handles soaking in water. The bristles can be submerged in water without any damage. It’s the handles that must not be soaked in water.