This Habit That Makes Cleaning My Mixed Media Art Tools Super Easy

[@nabbyr8112]

This video should be required watching for anyone who works with acrylic paints. Thank you, thank you, thank you. (When I first got my little 8 x 10s, I had the brilliant thought of first using gesso to put a nice ground layer on a print. The gesso wouldn’t come off th plate. Denise Lush was kind enough to answer my comment and told me to try Murphy’s and, after two days’ soaking, hallelujah, it worked-but I haven’t used Murphy’s since, more’s the pity. I will now!). I’m definitely getting a wire brush for my brushes!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Murphys for the win!!! 🙌🎉🙌

[@brendacollinsdeeks7268]

I realize now that I threw out a few tools that I could have rescued if I’d seen this video!!! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

That’s too bad, but now you know😄 Murphy’s oil soap and patience fix everything 😂🥰

[@BB-nz5sk]

Such a useful video!!! Thank you for helping save our plumbing!!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

You're welcome, and I think plumbers everywhere are not so impressed. 😂🥰

[@janwar45]

The content of this video is TGE MOST HELPFUL video I have ever experienced! The combination of cleaners and tools for cleaning was spot on! I was so excited to reclaim the best condition of my brushes and brayers in just a day after seeing your guide. Thank you!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

I am so happy for you, Jan! Isn't it amazing when you're able to save the life of your favorite brushes, etc.?! I know that sounds dramatic, but seriously - I was so tired of throwing out supplies. I'm glad the video was helpful. 🥰

[@PaulWalesArt]

Man, it's satisfying to watch someone else clean painting supplies! LOL.... Great video Jackie!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

You made me laugh out loud! Thanks Paul 😂

[@lindatogliatti6463]

Trying to locate your directions on how to wash, prep and condition a new gelli plate. Thanks much! Love your videos!!!!!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Thank you, Linda! I see you signed up for the Gel Plate Video Guide - that information is in the "First Day with Your Gel Plate" section. 🥰

[@nabbyr8112]

Thanks! Just a drop in the bucket compared to what I’m going to save on brushes and tools henceforth!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Oh my goodness, Nabby - thank you very much for your generosity! 😍 I would guess that learning how to really clean my tools has saved me hundreds if not thousands, and im happy to share what I’ve learned. 🥰

[@deannahall2032]

That was a fabulous and highly informative experience, Jackie! I spent over $300 for a badger hair brush before the holidays and have yet to use it because i wasn't quite sure how to clean it, so now I've learned from the expert!! Many many thanks, my friend : ))). xoxoxoxox Deanna

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

I am so excited for you Deanna! You are going to LOVE the magic that brush makes every time you use it 😍

[@deannahall2032]

I can't wait to use it!!@@PaintedPaperStudio

[@r.k.2823]

This video is amazing and I am implementing all of your suggestions ASAP. Thank you!!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

That's awesome R.K. - your clean-up is about to become so easy! 🥰

[@lindarudes4511]

Got so motivated by watching you. Thanks. I wash brushes with unscented dove bar and my brushes are very conditioned.

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Linda - that's fascinating! I've never thought to try Dove, but I can absolutely see why it would condition so well. Thank you for sharing! 🥰

[@brittahansen8688]

Great tips, Jackie 😍 I found an equivalent in German Amazon which is not so expensive here like the original murphys oil soap. It´ s called Holzseife and usually used to clean precious wooden floors. Have a wonderful Sunday! And perhaps you like to tell some of us, who are not on insta, about what is going on in the 100days challenge. I would very much appreciate that. XO Britta 🥰

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Britta - thank you! I am trying to make a list of alternatives to Murphy’s for people outside of the US, I’ll add Holzseife to it (make sure to let me know if it works for you 😉. I’m a little stuck on the 100 day challenge - I’m behind by about a week & a half, but I’m not mad about it. I’ll continue on. I’ll try to remember to add some pics from the challenge to the next email. 🥰

[@brittahansen8688]

@@PaintedPaperStudio Holzseife is to be delivered this week. Then I´ll try it out on some stencils. And: I´d so much love to see some pics of your work in the challenge

[@bsucherman1]

Great tips. Thanks.

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

You're welcome, Barbara! Have fun cleaning 😂🥰

[@The_artistic_yogi]

Hahaha! So funny... I watched this video later than usual because I was spring cleaning my studio! Without knowing this video was about that!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Synchronicity baby! 🥰

[@MargiesCraftyCorner]

Hi Jacki I'm new here! I came over from PM Artist Studio!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Well hello, Margie! It's nice to meet you and I'm happy to have you over here. 🥰 Would you mind telling me which episode of PM Artist Studio they mentioned me in? I'd like to send them a proper thank you. 😊

[@ILoveMaltese]

Thank you

[@kellybeale1895]

Great tip!!! I just bought the magic soap and can’t wait to try it in my stencils Ty!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

You will become addicted! I'm experimenting with more soaps right now. MOS is not available in a lot of countries, so I am testing different soaps from everywhere. I am such a geek 😂 Hopefully I'll be able to post results soon.

[@PMartistStudio]

Yupo is 100% Polypropolene which is plastic so you can do the exact same cleaning techniques as you would any other material.... in fact might be even stronger than some mylars.

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Oh my gosh - this is so great to know! I will make sure to correct that in the next stencil video 🥰

[@Jeanmcb47]

Super helpful! Thank you

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

You're welcome, Jean! 🥰

[@TwoOldCrowsMixedMedia]

Appreciate this video, off to get some Murphy’s Oil Soap!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Have fun with it! 🥰

[@roamingqueen]

Thank you, Jackie, for kicking my tush with this helpful video 🙂! It reminded me painfully that my brushes need a lot more TLC. Yours are really taken great care of! Hope Archie's fine 🐶! Aloha from Berlin ❤🧡💛💚💜

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Archie watched - very patiently I might add. And no tush-kicking here, Queen. Just a gentle nudge to love on your tools 😍

[@denisevance1045]

Thanks Jackie! We need good practical advice sometimes, appreciate it!!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

You're welcome, Denise! Thank you for watching 🥰

[@lindadamon2453]

Thanks Jacqui the timing of this was spot on for me!😊

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Oh good, Linda - I hope it's helpful for you. 🥰

[@jennifersdoglife]

I needed this lesson! Thanks so much Jackie.

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

You’re welcome, Jennifer! 🥰

[@bilbobwn]

😂 I just this morning was cleaning a brayer I found in my basement that was absolutely covered in acrylic paint and gel medium. I used it at least 20 years ago maybe more. I soaked it for 5 days each day wiping off layers of paint ( in Murphy’s oil soap of course) I’m not going to say it’s perfect yet but it’s completely down to the rubber on one side. 😮 I’m going to rest it today and maybe use it and then soak it again to see if I can get the rest off. This was just an experiment for me but with every layer that came off I was awed.

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

WOW - The 20-year test and it’s working. It must feel so satisfying!🥰

[@bilbobwn]

@@PaintedPaperStudio Just crazy really. I didn’t figure anything too much would happen but needed to get the dust and grime off because I thought to use it as brayer for adding collage papers as it was a lumpy and bumpy but for that use it would be fine. There was a small brush too, rock hard, the top is soft now but down toward the heel it’s pretty hard, we’ll see. Anyway totally enjoyed your video as I always do 👏

[@sachet22]

Jackie, I am a new Subscriber and Very Much enjoyed this video. Do you have information on sources of favorite tools? In particular, I loved the roller that makes little dots shared in your translucent, transparent video share. Thanks in advance...Leslie

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Hi Leslie - it's nice to meet you! If you open up the description box below the video, and scroll down, you'll see a list of supplies with links to all the tools/materials. I do that in every video to make it easier for you. I appreciate you being here and taking the time to reach out. 🥰

[@Cheryl-m8b]

I thought that I signed up for your guide on cleaning your brand new gelli plate. Will you check to see if I am on the list?

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Hi Cheryl - I just checked, and I have 37 Cheryl's on the mailing list 😍. You can try signing up again and see if that works. 🥰

[@rusukebordones]

I love this art spring cleaning❤😊

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Thank you, Rusuke. 🥰

[@pf9298]

Great video. Thank you. I really needed this lesson. Question. What do you do with the dirty water from a painting session or a cleaning session? Do you pour that down the drain? I’ve heard about pouring the water into to kitty litter?

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Great question! No, I (try) to never let the waste water go down the drain. I do use kitty litter - I keep a bucket of it in my garage and pour the waste water in there. Golden Paints makes a system called "Crash" that separates the water from the paint solids chemically - I have it here, but haven't used it yet. There are other ways of treating the waster water so you could pour it down the drain - there are videos on YT that show you how, I just haven't tried them. I hope this helps. 🥰

[@PMartistStudio]

Great video!

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Thank you, ladies! 🥰

[@suzijorgensen6545]

Hey Jackie 😊... I'm in Australia, and I am having trouble finding Murphy's oil soap. Any ideas that won't cost the earth to be sent from the US?

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

I just went into a forum and someone suggested O'Cedar, but when I looked it up they only come in pods - you could give that a try on a couple of brushes and see if that works. You could also look for products that are made of potassium hydroxide (similar to lye) and vegetable oil - which is what MOS is made up of. If you find something that works, please let me know Suzi. 🥰

[@RobinGayl]

Awesome. I love having clean tools too! Do you dilute the Murphys oil soap with water or soak everything in it full strength?

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Hi Robin! The answer is "it depends." If I know that I'm not going to clean the brushes in the next 1 or 2 days, I put it in full strength. If I'm going to clean up right away I usually dilute it 50/50 with water. For the brayers, I almost always submerge them in full strength MOS. 🥰

[@CarolPan]

Thanks for the great video, lots of great information! I hesitate to leave my brushes in anything wet for too long because I've heard it loosens the bristles from the ferule. How much liquid are you soaking your brushes in? You've been doing this for a while and obviously you aren't having a praoblem with the bristles being loosened from the ferule but wondering if the brushes are soaking all the way up the brush or just the very bottom layer of the bristles...which would be hard to do with different size brushes...Any words to the wise?

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Hi Carol, this is a great question. I try not to leave them in liquids for long periods of time, but sometimes it does happen. To answer your question - I use different containers for different tools. Brushes get a small amount of liquid in depth, but that depth may still cover some of the ferrules. Most will get cleaned within 24 hours. However, some I misplace or forget about and get completely hardened (like you saw in the video). For those, I let them soak in the Murphy's for as long as it takes for the acrylics to break down. I use the Murphy's at full strength, so it's more like a gel than a liquid. Knock wood - I've never lost bristles from a brush using this technique. I hope this helps. 🥰

[@CarolPan]

@@PaintedPaperStudio Thank you!!! I've been learning a lot from you since I've discovered your channel!

[@JaneNatoli1]

Hi Jacki wow this Murphy oil look like a game changer!! Do you dilute it or is it always neat? Thankyou xx

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Hi Jane! If I am going to clean the brushes with a day of using them I'll dilute some MOS and put the brushes in it. If I think it will be a bit before I can get to them, I put them in undiluted. I hope that helps 🥰

[@JaneNatoli1]

@@PaintedPaperStudio hey Jacki oh yes that helps immensely! Even though I don’t paint at your scale I am manic with my brushes and tools like you! I just ordered from Amazon au the pink mat, the comb brush, the wire brush, the pink soap and the Murphy oil soap yayyyyyy Thank you so much for sharing these valuable tips and btw I love your art and if I lived closer I would be begging to spend a day with you in your studio! lolxxx

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

And I would love to have spend the day with me in my studio 😍 @@JaneNatoli1

[@JaneNatoli1]

@@PaintedPaperStudio you have made my day :-)))

[@brendacollinsdeeks7268]

Jackie how do you dispose of the paper towels after this? Do you bring them to the special disposal at the dump? Or can they go in the regular garbage?

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Great question, Brenda! I just throw it out with the regular waste because I've cleaned only acrylic-based paints off the brushes and tools. If I had a very large quantity (a gallon or more) I might take it to the hazardous waste collection site. 🥰

[@bilbobwn]

I checked with our local garbage and recycling department and was told to dispose of it in regular garbage. But of course everywhere is different.

[@sigrunasa]

Thanks, Really enjoy practical tips like that. Now I live in Iceland and we do not have Murphys oil soap. Can you explain what kind of soap it is? Then I am able to find something similar. Also never heard of the magic eraser! What is that?

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Hi Sigrun! I tried to find an alternative for Iceland and was not successful. Here is a link to the Murphy's Oil Soap website where you can find more information on the product - maybe you'll be able to compare it to something that you have in Iceland. The Magic Eraser is like a sponge but different. There is a link in the description to the eraser on Amazon, and there will be tons of info there. 🥰

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Sorry, I fogot to add the link - www.murphyoilsoap.com/products/original-oil-soap

[@sigrunasa]

Jackie, thanks a lot! You’re a star ❤

[@lynnhuntington3498]

Jackie, I have signed up twice but I have never received the guides you have mentioned or any notices of workshops. Lynn H

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Hi Lynn - I'm so sorry to hear this. Could you email me and let me know your email address so I can check on it? I'm sure we'll get this cleared up right away. 🥰

[@lynnhuntington3498]

@@PaintedPaperStudio how do I email you? I don’t really want to put my email in the comments where anyone could see it .

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

@@lynnhuntington3498 - no no, I wouldn't want you to put your email in here. I'll drop my email in here now, and will delete this message after I get a message from you. If I don't delete it, data miners can scrape the info, and then I'll get nothing but Viagra ads in my email 😂 - jackie @ paintedpaperstudio.com

[@dorotheebenichou7686]

Hello Jackie ...by any chance do you know an equivalent in France? It looks like what we call "black soap"...Thanks so much.Do in Paris😊🗼👋

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Hi Do! I have heard from others that there is a product called 151 Oil Soap in Europe that works well, and I just saw someone mention the black soap La Savonnerie Marius Fabre in a forum. You could give it a try. 🥰

[@dorotheebenichou7686]

@@PaintedPaperStudio Thank you very much for your reseach. I found the Marius fabre " Savon Noir "😉 on the french Amazon...i will get it tomorrow!!yeah! I ll give you an update.👌🤗👋😘

[@dorotheebenichou7686]

@dear Jackie...my tools were perfectly soften and clean with Black oil soap from Marius Fabre 🤗👍🙏so xited to see your next video (i missed you on Saturday😅)bye Do in🗼❤😉

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

@@dorotheebenichou7686 That's fantastic news, Do! I am adding the black oil soap to the list of Murphy's Oil Soap alternatives 😍

[@tracyburcham7350]

Where can I get sheets of plastic to put under my gel plate and put under my wet strength tissue paper, while painting on it?

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

Hi Tracy! The sheets of plastic that I use are plexiglass. You can find them at most hardware stores, or Amazon. I have a direct link to the ones I use in the description. 🥰

[@user-JoReimer]

I use medium size garbage bags and slip a sheet of cut to fit cardboard inside. Then I can put it away to dry. It’s reusable, on both sides, and it’s cheaper than a sheet of acrylic or plastic.

[@missjameequilts]

Thank you

[@PaintedPaperStudio]

You're welcome! 🥰