Thread: Best way to eliminate excess water from a shaving brush

Maybe it's best if I squeeze the hairs and then shake the brush.

Years ago, after graduating high school I spent the summer working for a house painter. On the first morning, he made us buy our own quality brushes and whites and taught us how to clean our brushes. Brushes were cleaned before lunch and at the end of the day, both oil and water.

They were cleaned by dipping in solvent, mineral spirits or water wrung out by gently squeezing then flagging on an open hand, covered in a rag until clean and dry, then wrapped in brown paper and hung to dry. I still have those brushes today and they still produce fine finishes.

A clean paint brush is stored tips down, hung from a nail, which is why they have holes in the handle. Vintage shaving brushes with rotted knots were probably stored tips up.

I see this all the time with vintage Artist brushes, stored tip up in a cup. The knot is rotted, paint caked, ferrules rusted and finish peeling from the handle. They also loose bristles, the bane of an artist.

Microfiber towels are more absorbent, lightly tamping the tip on a microfiber flat on the counter will also remove most of the water. Then hang, once dry it can be stored tip up.