You pull a clean, fresh paintbrush out of the pile, and a smile stretches instantly across your face. There is simply no better feeling!

Once again wearing gloves, eye protection, and breathing protection, scrape away the wet paint with the putty knife. You may want to use improvised devices of different sizes to work into all of the areas: old screwdrivers, 5-in-1 tools, paint lid openers, and more. Steel wool is especially valuable for getting into small spaces. Saturate The Brush Bristles With Warm Soapy Water. First things first, let's get those brush bristles.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could keep your brushes in this good of shape for as long as possible? It may not come as a surprise, but all it takes is some regular care and maintenance.

But, while dirty brushes are the bane of every painter’s existence, they happen. Whether they are accidentally forgotten about after a long day in the studio or merely on their last leg, seasoned artists and brush makers have a few tricks up their sleeves for bringing your brushes back to life.

So, think twice before you pop that trashcan lid, and consider these twelve tips for caring for and salvaging your favorite brushes.

“Repeat the washing and rinsing process until the soap and water runs clear. Keep your water warm, but not hot, as hot water may cause any remaining paint to clot.” - Winsor & Newton

“Soaking your brushes in fabric softener periodically will help restore softness and pliability to their bristles, keeping them from becoming brittle and breaking off.” - Paint Nite

“You can use vegetable oil for cleaning a palette and dish soap and water for brushes. Just don’t let them sit in the water—it will ruin them. But, if they do lose shape, you can stick them in boiling water for a few seconds and they will reshape.” - Lori McNee, Fine Art Tips

“ Remove all excess paint with a soft rag or paper towel. Never let your brush rest on its head. There are many accessories available that will suspend your brush.” - Princeton Artist Brush Co.

“The most important thing to remember with regard to caring for your acrylic brushes is not to let the paint dry following use, as the paint is not soluble in this state and will produce a plastic-like dried texture.” - Winsor & Newton

“Soak oil paint-covered brushes for 5-10 minutes in baby oil (yes, baby oil). This gets a lot of paint and medium off before washing thoroughly with mild soap and warm water. “ - Teri Granger Martin

“The area near the ferrule is often the hardest to clean, but it's actually just as important for maintaining a brush's shape as the tip. Any paint residue that coats the bristles at their base will prevent them from coming together at the top.” - Craftsy

“If the ferrell gets gummed up, I was told that you can soak your brushes in rubbing alcohol for a couple of days and that will solve the problem.” - Carol McIntyre

“After washing with dish soap and water I finish the job as a usual rule with olive oil! You fight oil base with oil! Won't believe how much oil paint is removed from what I thought was a clean brush! The olive oil keeps the bristles soft as well!”

“Grab a glass cup and fill it about 1-2 inches deep with distilled white vinegar. Heat it in the microwave for 1-1.5 minutes then submerge your nasty paintbrushes into it… Take some dish soap (Dawn, Palmolive, etc.) and rinse off the brushes in warm soapy water.” - Crafty Morning

“If you have a painting project in mind, but the only paintbrushes you have are old, hard, and frayed, don’t go through the trouble of buying new ones. Revive old acrylic brushes with hair gel instead! Coat frayed bristles with any hair gel to mend the tips, then wash and soak them in fabric softener. They’ll be good as new!” - Paint Nite

“No matter what works for you, ensure that you reshape your brushes to the way they first looked when you bought them before you let them dry.” - Rosemary and Co

Hungry for more painting tips? Check out this smart advice for all painters we scored at the Plein Air Convention this year!

*Tips may work differently for acrylic and oil paint brushes. Make sure you double check any recommendations with the type of brush and paint you are using, as it varies with paint types.

Best Acrylic Paint Brushes

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While some people prefer using stain or oiling products to paint their deck because they want to protect the surface, they do not all help with the aesthetics. In this respect, paint is a very viable option instead of classic oiling or staining products, especially if you’re looking to cover an old color and add a thicker finish to your deck. A deck paint also comes in handy when you’re looking to brighten your deck’s coloring while still help it retain some of its natural wooden colors. With this in mind, let us find out what are the ten best deck paint products the market has to offer at this point in time.

10. Rust-Oleum 287327 Rust Rextore Advanced

This paint offers a superior weather-resistance and water repellency, the type only high-quality deck paint can offer. Given its ingenious formula, it can be used on wood, most composite, and broom swept concrete surfaces with no limitations to speak of. It is also about ten times thicker than regular paint, which is always something to look for when buying deck paint, not only for aesthetic but also for practical reasons.

9. Interlux YJB000/QT Interdeck Slip-Resistant Deck Paint

With this slip-resistant deck paint, you get the certainty that you will be able to use it on all substrates with maximum efficiency. This is because it contains a fine mineral additive for a hard wearing, non-slip surface. At the same time, it provides a low-sheen finish to prevent sunlight glare as much as possible. Furthermore, you will find this paint to be extremely easy to spread.

Paint And Paint Brushes

8. Rust-Oleum 244163 Porch Floor Paint

It is important for a deck paint to be scuff and scrape resistant which are the exact attributes that make this particular paint stand out. As such, this paint resists fading, cracking, and peeling to an extent that most paints simply do not. Not only that but it can also be cleaned with soap and water, which is definitely something you want from a deck paint. More so, this paint is rather easy to apply either with a brush, roller, or pad.

7. Deck Flex Elastomeric Roof Coating

With this particular deck paint, you get an almost 90 percent solar reflectance, thus protecting the deck or roof you paint with it against UV damage. This is obtained by lowering the temperature of your deck and reflecting harmful rays in the process. It is also weather resistant to an impressive standard and guaranteed to last you for years without scraping off. On a related note, we should also point out that it is extremely easy to apply.

6. Chalk Mountain Brushes – Hemp Seed Oil Furniture Sealer

This all-natural hemp oil sealer is guaranteed to protect your deck against water damage for years after a single layer application. The sealer does this by penetrating the surface of your deck without the risk of scraping, flaking or falling off in any way. Interestingly enough, this sealer also works for indoor projects just as well as it does for decks or outdoor furniture, a property not many sealers have.

5. RTG Deck, Porch, & Patio Anti-Slip Paint

RTG Deck, Porch, and Patio Anti-Slip Paint is one of the fastest drying deck paints out there, one that provides an attractive finish while securing a good footing on any exterior surfaces that tend to be rendered slippery when they’re wet. As far as deck paint goes, this one is very easy to apply either with a brush or roller. It is also guaranteed to provide a durable coating that will withstand heavy foot traffic and extreme weather conditions.

4. KILZ L377711 1-Part Epoxy Acrylic Interior/Exterior Paint

Restoring Old Paint Brushes

You want a deck paint to be versatile in its application which is precisely what makes this particular deck paint stand out. Although not formulated as a deck paint, its all-round versatility makes it perfect not only for painting decks but roofs and floors as well. We should also point out that this paint delivers an impressively durable coating, the type that will help your deck withstand years of heavy foot traffic.

3. Durabak 18 Non Slip Coating, Bedliner, Deck Paint

This is a one-part moisture cured, poly protective coating with unlimited applications. Given its unique formula, this deck paint is suitable for outdoor use or for applications in direct sunlight. It is also quite tough, flexible, slip resistant, and 100% waterproof, just like any other high-end deck paint. As such, it can be applied with a roller, brush, or spray, with the certainty that it will bond to concrete, wood, fiberglass, or metal.

2. Anvil Paints & Coatings Deck-A-New

This ingeniously formulated coating can revive old weathered wood or concrete in a way no other deck paint can. With its unique formula based on 100% Acrylic ingredients, it offers a superior resistance to cracking. This makes it easy to apply when repairing or restoring any surface through a decorative light texture for good measure. Intended for both horizontal and vertical applications, this coating is perfect for restoring composite decks.

1. KILZ Interior/Exterior Enamel Porch & Patio Latex Floor Paint

There is perhaps no better deck paint when it comes to coating and protecting virtually any type of porch, patio, floor, or deck. Highly durable and easy to clean, this paint is guaranteed to resist scuffing, fading, cracking, and peeling of any kind. This is owed to a low-luster acrylic formula that is sure to protect any surface while protecting them against heavy foot traffic and extreme weather conditions. At the same time, this paint delivers a low-luster finish that applies smoothly and evenly on any rough surfaces that might otherwise not blend well with traditional deck paint products.

How To Paint A Deck

Painting a deck is a great way for a homeowner to improve their home. It not only makes the area nicer to use but also helps to make the entire house look better. However, that’s only true if the deck is painted correctly. We’ve seen plenty of deck paint jobs that were bad and made the entire outdoor area look worse, so it’s important to do the best job possible to achieve the best results possible.

Although most deck paints available nowadays are generally easy to use, the homeowner does need to take following a few good practices to ensure that they do a professional job. And that’s precisely why we decided to write this guide. We not only want homeowners to buy the best deck paints available, but we also want to make sure that they achieve the best results with that paint as possible. So let’s get started and find out how to paint a deck, shall we?

Step One: Prepare The Deck

It’s probably obvious that the first step before painting the deck is to clean it, but enough people skip this step that we feel we have to include it. It’s very important to start with a clean deck before you attempt to paint it, otherwise, you’re just painting over dirt and debris. And that’s never a good thing.

The first thing should be is to remove all of the furniture from the deck and then thoroughly sweep it with a broom. When that’s been done from top to bottom, it’s time to pull out your power washer and power-wash the deck. If a power-washer isn’t available, then soapy water and a scrub brush should do just as well, just be very thorough in your cleaning so that you can achieve the best results possible.

Step Two: Use A Mold Deterrent (Optional)

Although this step is completely optional and can be skipped over if you don’t deem it necessary, it is something for people with low decks or decks prone to mold to consider. If you do decide to use a mold deterrent on your deck, be sure to buy a high-quality one and use it properly. According to the product’s directions, work the mold deterrent into the wood and then rinse any excess off with clean water.

Step Three: Allow The Deck To Fully Dry

Before you move on to the next step of painting your deck, it’s important to allow it to dry for at least 12 to 24-hours. Once it’s completely dry, you can then proceed to scrape and sand the deck. You may be tempted to skip this step, but that’s not advisable because it could result in uneven scraping and sanding of the deck’s surface.

Step Four: Scrape & Sand

If your deck isn’t painted, then you can move to the next paragraph and begin sanding your deck, otherwise, you have to scrape off any peeling or flaking paint. While scraping the deck, be sure to use even strokes and avoid scraping the wood that’s underneath the deck’s paint. Make sure that you remove all of it before you continue.

Now it’s time to sand the deck. Using an 80 to 100-grit sandpaper, go over the wood and make sure it’s smooth. Make sure to cover both rough spots and edges, but be sure, not to rub too hard. Use just enough pressure to remove smooth the surface of the deck, not enough to sand down the wood itself. When the deck has been completely done, go over it again with 120-grit sandpaper.

Step Five: Inspect The Deck’s Surface

Your next priority is to go over the entire deck and check it for problems that have to be fixed. You should go over the deck and drive down any nails, remove any loose pieces of wood, or fill any cracks in with wood filler. If the deck is stained, this is the time to use a quality stain-remover, too. Just make sure that the deck is as near to perfect as you can get it.

Step Six: Use Painter’s Tape & Plastic Sheeting

Now it’s time to protect the areas that you aren’t going to paint. Using your painter’s tape, make sure to tape off the edges of railings, windows, or trim with painter’s tape. Make sure that you also protect your walls using plastic sheeting. It’s also a good idea to cover any plants or grass around the deck with plastic sheeting to protect it from the deck paint.

Step Seven: Paint Your Deck

It’s now time to paint your deck. It’s usually best to paint the deck in the early morning or late evening so that the deck isn’t in direct sunlight while you’re painting it. You should make sure to start at the top of your deck and then work down the deck for the best results. It’s also a good idea to do small sections at a time. If you do all of this, then you’ll end up with a painted deck that will look good for quite some time to come.