Best Brushes & Rollers to Use (with tips on how to clean them!)
Before jumping into any paint job, it’s essential that you have the right tools to set you up for success. When it comes to brushes and rollers, each type serves its specific purpose, depending on the size and the intricacies of the job. No matter what, a high-quality paint brush will hold more paint, streak less, and lend to a better finish overall.
In this post, we’ve narrowed down the list and put together our favorites:
The Best Basic Brush
3” Purdy Glide Angeled Sash Paint Brush- this is the most versatile brush that works best on walls, ceilings, and trim. It pairs well with any kind of paint, and we like to use it for touch-ups and on medium-sized surfaces like cabinets, baseboards, shelves, and doors.
Best Brush for Oil-Based Paint
Purdy White Bristle Sprig Paint Brush- this natural bristle brush is great for oil-based products like paint, shellac, and varnish and applies a super smooth finish.
Best Overall Roller
Wooster Pro ⅜ inch nap- this is great for lightly textured surfaces including most interior walls. It provides an even spread and is easy to manuever.
Best Foam Roller
FoamPRO Fine Finisher Roller- this is a high-density foam roller that works great on cabinets and provides an ultra-smooth lint-free finish.
Best Large Roller
Wooster Brush R017-14- this is our go-to roller for painting large areas like interior or exterior walls. It’s also easy to handle and manuever for those large-scale paint jobs.
In order to increase the longevity of your painting tools and keep them in great condition, make sure you wash them correctly after each use.
Tips for cleaning water-based finishes and latex paint from brushes:
Scrape off excess paint on the rim of a can or onto a newspaper before cleaning in soapy water.
Clean in a pail of soapy water and work the paint free of the bristles with your hands or a brush comb.
Spin the brush in a pail.
Work the paint out of the bristles in a clean pail of water.
If you want to retain the shape of the brush, dry the brush out very well and store it in the original box/packaging to keep it safe.
Tips for cleaning oil-based paints from brushes (*we recommend doing this outdoors in a well-ventilated area)
Using chemical-resistant gloves, work the bristles through your hands while rinsing in paint thinner.
Spin the brush for 10 seconds to get all the paint solids out, and dip brush into clean paint thinner while agitating the bristles for about 2 minutes.
Spin the brush a second time.
Dip the brush into lacquer thinner agitating it for about 1 minute before shaking the brush on newspaper to remove the lacquer thinner and residue.
Clean the brush in a bucket of soapy water with laundry or dish soap for about a minute.
Tips for cleaning water-based paint off a roller:
Start by washing the roller with warm water and soap, and continue until all the paint is removed. A putty knife can help work off the stuck-on paint.
Rinse only with water until you’ve removed any lingering soap.
Squeeze out any excess water.
Once finished, refrain from laying the roller down flat, as that can damage the nap. String the roller through wire and hang up to dry.
Tips for cleaning oil-based paint off a roller:
Select the best solvent to use by following the recommended instructions per paint type. This could be a denatured alcohol or paint thinner.
Pour the solvent into a large enough container to fit your roller, then dip your tool in. You’ll want to switch out the solvent every so often until the roller comes out clean.
Shake off excess in the container, then pop the cover back on the roller to spin it dry and don’t forget to protect your eyes during this step!
If you have any additional questions about brushes or rollers, dont hesitate to reach out to us! If you're interested in complimentary quote, you can submit your information here.