How do I clean acrylic brushes? Water and dishwashing detergent doesn't
seem to be working very well. It gets a little off, but very little. Is
there a special thinner or something? Should I be using soap instead of
dishwashing detergent? Thanks.

Ben

I use isopropyl alcohol to remove acrylic paint from brushes.

The Acrylic haired brushes I own have always been cleaned with mineral spirits
followed by a rinse with soap and water.

Cheers,
Max Bryant

Soap & water (dish or hand soap) will work if the acrylic paint hasn't
dried yet.

If the paint has dried, you'll have to use something that'll dissolve
it. Alcohol works; ammonia-based glass cleaner may work; if you don't
mind using stronger solvents, paint thinners & lacquer thinners will
work too.

Has the paint already hardened?

Cleaning brushes with hardened paint is far harder than wiping out and
cleaning fresh wet paint from brush. I personally find acrylics harder
to clean than enamel, but water and virtually ANY kind of detergent
should do it. Use a paper towel and remove as much paint as possible
BEFORE using the water detergent combo.

Always clean brushes as soon as you are done painting. Dryed acrylics
are VERY resistant to solvents or cleaning fluids. Best bet is to
prevent hardening.

First of all, when using acrylic paints, you need to constantly kepp wetting
your brush with water to avoid having the paint dry on the brush while you're
still painting. Then when you're finished with your painting session, clean
the brush immediately. Sometimes jsut warm water will be enough if the paint
hasn't built up too much, or you can use isopropyl alcohol.

suave shampoo accually works wonders too if you work it in if the paint is hardend