Green Artist Tip: 4 Steps to Turpentine Recycling

Use Turpentine To Clean Oil Paint Brushes

Read post about Cleaning Brushes here.

How To Save and Re-use Turpentine:

You will need two jars with lids and a rag /paper towel

1. Swirl Dirty Brush in Clean Turpentine in Jar #1
2. Let Paint Settle to Bottom of Jar #1
3. Pour Turpentine from Jar #1 to Jar #2- Put lid on jar #2 and store recycled turpentine.
4. Wipe Out Jar #1 (while paint is still wet) and reuse jar later.




Swirl Dirty Brush in Turpentine

  

Let Paint Settle to Bottom

 

It takes several hours for paint to settle.  Just put a lid on it and go back to it later.

 

Carefully Pour Clean Turpentine from Jar #1 to Jar #2

Once paint has settled, be careful not to agitate jar.  Pour clean turp into clean empty jar.





Jar #2 Containing Recycled Turp



       

Clean Turp in jar #2 can be stored for later use. Store with tight fitting lid.



Wipe Out Paint from Jar #1 to Re-use Jar

Wipe out jar #1- this now becomes your empty clean jar for next time.  Let rag or paper towel dry and then throw in trash.

Green Artist Tip: Cleaning Paint Brushes

Keep Paint Out of Drains and Ground Water!

• Save paint to palette for reuse, if possible. (or to paint can or paint bucket).
• Wipe as much paint off of brush onto cloth rag or paper towel before using any water or solvent.  
• Use smallest amount of water or other solvent needed to wipe off additional paint to rag. If you put this in a recycled disposable container, and keep dipping, you keep even more paint out of the drain. 
• ~ In the case of water, you can then let it evaporate from container and wipe out loose paint. This container is then ready to clean brushes again. 
• ~ In the case of turpentine, you can then let paint settle and pour off clean fluid to a clean jar. The paint sediment can be wiped out of dirty jar with a rag. 
• Allow the rag or paper to dry completely before putting it in the trash.

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