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You are here: Home / HOW TO / How To Clean Polyurethane Brush in Quick and Easy Steps

How To Clean Polyurethane Brush in Quick and Easy Steps

April 10, 2022 by Pro Flooring Guide Leave a Comment

How To Clean Polyurethane Brush - Easy Step

Polyurethane is widely used as a finishing element for multiple surfaces as well as products. From working as an excellent waterproof sealer for wooden surfaces all the way to providing endless benefits as a surface finish, Polyurethane is one fundamentally crucial household element.

One of the biggest questions after using polyurethane is how to clean the polyurethane brush quickly. So, if you are looking for the same answer, you have landed in the right place.

Let’s proceed to address all the possible concerns regarding clean polyurethane brushes.

Why Do You Need To Clean A Polyurethane Brush?

Clean A Polyurethane Brush

You should consider cleaning your polyurethane brush after each usage for multiple reasons.

1. You Will Want To Work With Clean Tools

For sure, one of the most distressful and productivity-affecting aspects is a dirty and nasty-looking piece of equipment. A majority of home maintenance, betterment, and fixation tasks, like repairing the water damage of laminate flooring, etc., involve the use of polyurethane. Therefore, it is crucial to clean your brushes every time so that the product does not get dried out. If you do not do it, ultimately, it causes more trouble.

2. Dirty Brush Can Hugely Affect The Results

Working with a dirty brush or one containing residues from the previous project is meant to decrease the quality of your work. Going for an application with a stained brush will give rise to uneven strokes, product loss, and, of course, the waste of both time and money.

3. It’s A Matter Of Work Ethics And Convenience

If you’re a professional worker, then you must maintain perfect upkeep of all your tools to cast nice impressions on your clients. The convenience factor is required regardless of the person’s position.

Whether you’re a professional or a DIY-loving homeowner, you’d want to enjoy convenient and smooth working. So, always clean your polyurethane brush every time you start a new project.

4. You’re Ensuring The Durability Of Your Stuff

Every time you avoid cleaning your tools and specifically brushes after usage, you’re only compromising their efficiency and smoothness. In the same way, carrying out proper maintenance and cleaning of your stuff (brushes, of course!) ensures their durability.

As an interesting fact, if you manage the right maintenance for your synthetic work brushes, they can literally and easily last for more than decades.

5. It’s Crucial For The Health

Since you’re dealing with Polyurethane, which is, of course, a chemical and particularly the one containing toxic VOCs, prolonged exposure is likely to put your health at risk. This gives rise to the dire requirement for cleaning polyurethane application brushes thoroughly after each and every use.

How To Clean Polyurethane Brush? (Water Based And Oil Based)

How To Clean Polyurethane Brush - Easy Step

There are two types of polyurethane: one is water-based, and the second one is oil-based. Ultimately, the cleaning process of both of these types is different. So let’s explore them one by one.

How To Clean Water-based Polyurethane From A Brush?

Water-based polyurethane is generally the easiest to clean compared to oil-based polyurethane. In most cases, you don’t require a lot of stuff either in order to clean off Polyurethane from your brushes.

Materials You Will Need To Clean The Water-based Polyurethane

Gather the materials mentioned below to clean the water-based polyurethane from the brush.

  • Running Water
  • Liquid Dish Soap
  • Cups (2 or 3)
  • Gloves (optional)

Method No. 1 (With Soap and Water)

How To Clean Polyurethane Brush in Quick and Easy Steps

Below is the stepwise guide to clean the water-based polyurethane from the brushes. Let’s explore them:

1. Submerge The Brush Into the Water

Start by taking water into one cup at a time or within two or three cups. The quantity (and cup size) should be enough to provide room for submerging the brush till its ferrule point.

2. Soak The Brush in Water-filled Cups

Let the brush stay in the cup until the water changes its color before putting it into the next cup. The idea is to get rid of most of the product within water, so you’d essentially need to repeat this procedure up to 4 to 5 times within either a single cup or multiple cups.

Once you’re done shifting the brush to the point that the water in the last cup does not become dirty (most of the product has been washed off), put your brush under clean running water.

3. Pour Some Dish Soap Over The Brush 

Put a little dish soap on the brush while scrubbing it thoroughly with your fingers. You can also rub it against your palm so as to get rid of Poly till it’s totally clean.

4. Hang The Brush

Hang the brush at any suitable height for drying. The drying of the brush will take several hours.

Method No 2 (With Hot Water)

The second way to remove the water-based polyurethane is by using hot water. It is the least toxic and easiest way to get rid of the dry polyurethane process from the brush easily. Check the step-wise guide below.

1. Pour Hot Water Into The Container 

Wear gloves and pour hot water into any spacious container. The container can be a gait cup, bucket, or sink. Make sure that the brush bristle is easily cleaned in the container.

2. Submerged The Brushes

After pouring the water into the container. Take the dirty brushes and submerge them into the water. Leave it for at least 15 to 30 minutes.

3. Swirl The Brush

After submerging the brush for 15 to 30 minutes. Start to swirl it around the hot water. This approach will help to loosen dried water-based polyurethane from the brush’s bristle.

4. Repeat The Process

Repeat the swirling process at least two to three times for a thorough cleaning. In some cases, you may need to repeat it four to five times. Ultimately, all the water-based polyurethane will be removed from the brushes.

5. Use A Paper Towel To Dry It

Now, you need a paper towel to dry the brush completely. You can also hang the brush if you water. Once it dries completely, it is ready to be used for the next project. For instance if you applied a layer of polyurethane to make laminate flooring waterproof. Clean and dry the brush first, and then use it.

How To Clean Oil-based Polyurethane From A Brush

How To Clean Oil-based Polyurethane From A Brush

Cleaning oil-based Polyurethane off the brush is a little more tricky than water-based Polyurethane. The reason is that oil-based polyurethane has a heavier and more intense formula. However, it does not consume a lot of time, and with proper conduct, you can get done cleaning your brush in just a couple of minutes.

Supplies You’ll Need To Clean Oil-Based Polyurethane Off Brush

Here are the materials you will need to clean the brush from the oil-based polyurethane.

  • Running Water
  • Mineral Spirits/ Paint Thinner/ Turpentine
  • Liquid Dish Soap
  • Nylon Scrub Brush
  • Cups (2 or 3)
  • Gloves (optional)

Method No. 1 (With Mineral Spirit)

Check out the stepwise direction to clean the brush from oil-based polyurethane.

1. Take Mineral Spirit In Container

Start by taking Mineral Spirits into one cup at a time or within two or three cups. The quantity (and cup size) should be enough to provide room for submerging the brush till its ferrule point.

2. Leave the Brush In a Mineral Spirit Container For 10 Minutes

Let the brush stay in the cup until the Mineral Spirits turn brown before putting the brush into the next cup. The idea is to get rid of most of the product within Mineral Spirit (similar to the water-based Polyurethane removal), so you’d essentially need to repeat this procedure up to 4 to 5 times within either a single cup or multiple cups.

3. Rinse The Brush Under Running Water

While the mineral spirit is capable of removing almost all the polyurethane, there is still a need to wash the brush with clean water. Start rinsing the brush under running water, followed by applying a little amount of liquid dish soap to it, as well.

4. Scrubb The Brush

Give the brush a really good scrubbing with your fingers and against your palm until you see a clear lather running down from the soap. Besides, don’t go for excessive soap application; try cleaning off all the products with the same amount of soap.

5. Dry The Brush

Lastly, Hang the brush at any suitable height for drying. You can also keep it an airy place.

Method No 2 (With Paint Thinner)

How To Clean Polyurethane Brush In Quick And Easy Steps

The second way to clean oil-based polyurethane from the brush easily is by using paint thinner as a cleaning agent.

1. Pour Some Paint Thinner Into The Container

Start the process by pouring some paint thinner into the container. Use enough quantity to clean the brush easily. Avoid over-poring because it is a total waste of product.

2. Swirl The Brush Into The Paint Thinner

Now swirl the brush into the paint thinner in a way that its bristle is completely coated with the cleaner. Repeat swirling for at least two to three times.

3. Leave The Brush In Paint Thinner

After thoroughly swirling, leave the brush in the container containing cleanser for 10 to 15 minutes.

4. Rinse The Brush Under Water

Now, it is time to rinse the brush with warm water. It will help to remove the dirt and grime from the brush bristle. At this stage, you have to make sure that all the paint thinner is removed completely from the bristles.

5. Let the Brush Dry

Last but not least, let the brush dry completely by hanging it or using a paper towel. Never use a wet brush for any project.

What Type Of Brush Do You Need To Apply Polyurethane?

How To Clean Polyurethane Brush - Easy Step

A synthetic bristle brush is the ultimate best recommendation when it comes to Polyurethane application.

  • Such brushes are handy as they can easily reach all the otherwise tight or unapproachable spaces.
  • They hold lesser amounts of polyurethane than natural bristle brushes. Ultimately, less polyurethane coats on the floor are required.
  • They don’t absorb a lot of water and, therefore, retain their shape for long.

Final Words

That is all about how to clean polyurethane brushes. For flawless cleaning, first of all, analyze which type of polyurethane you are using: water-based or oil-based. After that, choose the method for cleaning the brush according to the availability of material, specifically cleaning solvent. We hope that this blog of Pro Flooring Guide will help you get all the information you need regarding cleaning the polyurethane brush.

Frequently Asked Question

Why Do I Get Brush Marks With Oil-Based Polyurethane?

The major cause of brush marks experienced with oil-based polyurethane is the finish not being adequately smoothed out after the application. In addition to that, if you’re making use of any of the viscous finishes, such as the typically available Oil Varnishes, you’re most likely to come across brush marks since those don’t come with an easy flow. Moreover, you can try thinning out the finish before it dries so as to avoid tacking up.

How To Clean Polyurethane Brush Without Mineral Spirits?

If you don’t have mineral spirits, you can still get the job done with the help of clean water and regular household dishwashing detergent. Besides, you also need to be careful about using a small amount of soap so as not to damage the brush bristles.

As for the cleaning, all you have to do is wash the brush under running water and apply the soap to it, followed by making the water and soap penetrate thoroughly across the bristles. Once completely cleaned, you can leave the brush to dry.

Can Vinegar Be Used To Remove Polyurethane?

Vinegar, fair enough, is an absolutely incredible alternative to strong chemicals, as it offers a similar extent of effectiveness when it comes to removing Polyurethane. Moreover, you can also enhance the efficiency of Vinegar by adding Baking Soda to it and using this mixture as a remover of Polyurethane from all the desired surfaces. This works greatly for almost all surfaces, specifically for wooden products.

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