Before you replace a brush with bent, splayed or misshapen bristles, try restoring it. Trekell Pro Team Artist Stefani Rabideaux shares a simple brush-care routine using Trekell Brush Soap, simmering water and Trekell Brush Restorer to help synthetic brushes return to their original shape.
Paint brushes work hard. Over time, paint residue, frequent cleaning and ordinary studio use can leave synthetic bristles separated, curled outward or unable to hold a clean point or edge.
That does not always mean the brush is finished.
With the right cleaning and restoration routine, many synthetic brushes can be brought back into regular use. The process starts with removing residue, then uses brief exposure to simmering water to help reset splayed synthetic filaments before shaping them with Brush Restorer.
Watch Stefani’s quick brush-restoration process below.
Stefani Rabideaux demonstrates the restoration process in the video above. The supporting brush-restoration photos throughout this article are from fellow Trekell Pro Team Artist Kate Zambrano.
When Does a Brush Need Restoring?
A brush may need extra attention when it no longer holds the shape it was designed to have.
Rounds may lose their point. Flats and Brights may develop uneven edges. Filberts may become splayed or flattened. Synthetic bristles may also curl or spread outward after repeated use.
Before replacing the brush, inspect it closely. If the ferrule is secure and the bristles are still present but simply misshapen, it may be a good candidate for restoration.
Brush restoration is most effective when the brush is cleaned regularly. It can help reshape bristles and extend the working life of a favorite tool, but it cannot fully reverse severe physical damage, dried paint deep inside the ferrule or bristles that have broken away.
Step 1: Clean with Trekell Brush Soap
Begin by washing your brush thoroughly with Trekell Brush Soap. Work the soap gently through the bristles to remove paint residue, especially near the ferrule, which is the metal section that holds the brush hairs in place.
Paint left near the ferrule can stiffen as it dries and push bristles outward. Over time, that buildup can make it difficult for a brush to hold its original point, edge or profile.
Rinse the brush thoroughly with clean water. Continue rinsing until no paint or soap residue remains, then gently pat away excess moisture with a clean towel or lint-free cloth.
The brush should be clean and damp before moving on to the reshaping step.
Step 2: Reset Splayed Synthetic Bristles with Simmering Water
If a synthetic brush has splayed, curled or spread outward, brief exposure to simmering water can help the synthetic filaments return closer to their original alignment.
Bring clean water to a gentle simmer. Carefully dip only the bristles into the water for approximately 10 to 15 seconds.
Do not immerse the ferrule, handle or entire brush. Keep the metal ferrule above the water line, since prolonged exposure to water can affect the adhesive inside the brush over time.
Remove the brush and allow it to cool briefly. While the bristles are still warm and damp, gently guide them toward their intended shape with your fingers.
This heat-reset step is intended for synthetic brushes only. Do not use simmering water on natural-hair brushes.
Step 3: Shape the Brush with Trekell Brush Restorer
Once the brush has been cleaned and heat-reset, if needed, dip the bristles into Trekell Brush Restorer.
Use your fingers to gently finesse the bristles back into the brush’s intended profile. Shape a Round into a clean point, guide a Flat or Bright into a crisp edge and restore a Filbert to its rounded form.
Some brushes may need more attention than others, especially if the bristles have been bent or splayed for a long time. Work patiently. The goal is to guide the hairs into shape, not force them.
Brush Restorer helps hold the clean bristles in position while the brush dries, making it easier to preserve the form you have restored.
Step 4: Let the Brush Dry Overnight
After reshaping the brush, lay it flat and allow it to air dry overnight.
Drying the brush flat helps prevent water from settling inside the ferrule and gives the bristles time to set in their intended position. By the next day, the brush should be dry, reshaped and ready to return to your painting process.
Do not leave a wet brush standing upright on its bristles, and avoid storing wet brushes where the bristles can become bent or compressed.
Make Brush Care Part of Your Routine
Restoring a brush is helpful, but regular care is the best way to help brushes last longer.
- Clean brushes promptly after each painting session.
- Use Trekell Brush Soap to remove paint residue before it dries.
- Rinse carefully around the base of the bristles without soaking the ferrule for extended periods.
- Use the simmering-water method only when synthetic bristles have become splayed or curled.
- Use Trekell Brush Restorer to reshape bristles and help them dry in their intended form.
- Allow brushes to dry flat.
- Store dry brushes where their bristles will not be bent, crushed or compressed.
Taking a few minutes to clean and reshape your brushes can help preserve the tools you already know and love.
The Takeaway
A splayed synthetic brush is not always a lost brush.
Stefani Rabideaux’s process is simple: clean the brush with Trekell Brush Soap, use brief simmering water to help reset splayed synthetic bristles, shape the brush with Trekell Brush Restorer and let it dry overnight.
With Stefani’s video demonstration and Kate Zambrano’s visual brush-restoration guide, you have a simple process to try before replacing a favorite brush.
Clean it, reshape it and let it rest. You may be surprised by how much life it still has left.
Brush Care Tools
- Trekell Brush Soap
- Trekell Brush Restorer
- Clean water
- A heat-safe container of simmering water for synthetic brushes
- Clean towel or lint-free cloth
