What sort of water do you use to clean your brushes?

[Paratrooper 42]

For ages I've been cleaning my brushes with plain tap water. It seems to do the job ok, but I was wondering, am I missing out on something?  Also, how many brushes do people own, I've got 3 which seems to cover what I'm painting (20mm WW2) but again I can't help thinking I'm missing out.

Any advice greatfully accepted.

[McYellowbelly]

I use tap water too, but add a drop of washing up liquid.
Helps to reduce any surface tension if you dilute paint with it.
I frequently use 'The Masters Brush Cleaner' to completely clean the brushes.
As for brushes I have......too many!
I find it hard to resist a new brush so have 40+!
Everything from 00 to one inch flats
I tend to favour a couple of brushes, usually a size 0 for most of my painting

[Malamute]

I use carbonated water especially when I’m painting my Sci Fi stuff. Seems to give the brushes an extra clean.

[Elbows]

I just use tap water, and every couple of sessions I'll use some of that brush soap (which, as best I can tell is really just shampoo).

I don't get brushes that last particularly long, but then again I'm pretty rough on them, and I paint quite a bit.  I tend to buy decent Rosemary & Co. brushes so I'm not averse to throwing them out when they go bad (or converting them into drybrushes or glue brushes).  $2-4 per brush that serves me several months is the least of my worries.  None of those silly $25 brushes for me.

[ithoriel]

Tap water - local water is soft, which helps I think. Like McYellowbelly, I add a drop (or two) of washing up liquid.

Brushes are cleaned with either water on it's own then wiped off on a paper towel, repeat as necessary, or additionally given a final clean with The Masters Brush Cleaner.

Brushes actively in use for painting - couple of dozen

Brushes reserved for glue and the like - half a dozen

"Reserve" brushes - three or four dozen or which two thirds are for painting and one third for glue

I am clearly very hard on brushes as I seem to go through them far faster than most report doing.

[vexillia]

Washing up liquid will strip the oils out of natural hair brushes.  I use plain tap water and brush soap at the end of every session.  Once in a while I use hair conditioner on my Kolinsky sable brushes; usually left on overnight.

[FramFramson]

What else? A swoosh in the filth in the water cup. 

(okay sometimes they get a proper shampoo with The Masters' Brush Cleaner)

[Tactalvanic]

What else? A swoosh in the filth in the water cup. 

(okay sometimes they get a proper shampoo with The Masters' Brush Cleaner)

This... and the tradition swig and spit if I mistake it for my cup of tea (similar colours and consistencies at times) - same for the brushes, they might go in the tea and get hot washed.. on rare special occasions.

But I guess both are technically tap water.

[Rick F]

Generally holy water or the tears of angels if available. No mate, plain tap water is plenty good enough. But you need to change it regularly and very occasionally give your brushes a treat with conditioner or Masters brush cleaner.

[ced1106]

Don't forget multiple rinse jars. I just use my empty vitamin and supplement bottles for them.

And, of course, a wipe on the paper towel afterwards, and conditioner.

I also use cheap synthetics, particularly for metallics, and cheap natural hairs for washes. Both metallics and washes tend to damage brushes. :/

[tikitang]

I swish mine in a pot of half-evaporated dirty tap-water, then wipe the excess on the palm of my hand. I use cheap brushes and replace them regularly.

[Paratrooper 42]

Thanks for all the comments.

I'd heard that washing up liquid can break down the glues used to fix the bristles in the ferrule, is that not the case then?

[syrinx0]

When I'm actually painting.. brushes are cleaned with either tap water & wiped off on a paper towel. When I'm done with a unit or don't plan on painting for awhile I given a final clean with brush cleaner.  Never saw an issue with the ferrules with the soaps I have used.

[westwaller]

I'd heard that washing up liquid can break down the glues used to fix the bristles in the ferrule, is that not the case then?

Maybe if the water is warm or hot - always use cold water as hot or warm water will kill your brushes. Oh and paint under the ferrule will kill them too.

[dadlamassu]

I use good quality Scottish tap water, change it regularly and add a drop or two of washing up liquid.  Usually have a separate pot for metallics when using them.

Every so often I deep clean my brushes with hand sanitiser - we have several left over bottles part used.  Other times a solution of isopropanol and water to refresh "tired" brushes.

I have about a dozen in regular use of which 2 are reserved for drybrushing and 2 for washes.  And a box of retired brushes that are used when making terrain.