Safety Matters

Here is an excerpt from an article I came across from FacePaintingSchool.com that gives some detailed instructions on how to clean your brushes during a gig and after to make sure they stay germ free.

How to Clean Face Paint Brushes Between Clients:

1. A three-pot washing system is the most popular — one main container with a sanitizing and washing product such as Silly Farm Brush Bath, a second plain water to rinse off and a third for activating paint with clean brushes.
   

• 3 separate pots allow you to quickly empty and refill each one as you need or you can use a brush bath with three separate sections. Sometimes a 4th pot for the initial wash-off of paint helps to reduce the muddying of the main 3 pot system.

1. Change your water regularly between clients. Muddy looking water doesn’t look professional, and a quick water change shows that you take hygiene seriously.

2. Dry your cleaned brushes slightly on a dry, clean cloth so that you’re not leaving water dripping down under the ferrule and ruining the brushes.

3. Use a storage system to hold your cleaned brushes OTJ until you need them next — silicone brush holders, pool noodles, brush wallets are preferred as they keep the brushes away from each other and are quick and easy to access.

4. Make sure that the bristles are not touching each other or any other surfaces, so they do not bend and always have a sharp shape.

5. NEVER leave your brushes soaking in water bending the bristles, and do not leave them flat on a towel where they can pick up germs or be easily grabbed by grubby hands!

How to Clean Face Paint Brushes After the Job:

1. Wash every brush separately with soap and running warm water after every single gig and let them air dry flat in a cool dry place overnight. You may also leave them to dry hanging with their bristles down.

2. You can wash and sanitize your brushes at the same time using a product called Brush Bath by Silly Farm to sanitize my brushes, as this product is specially designed for face painters and maintains its sanitizing effect when diluted with water.

3. If you are sanitizing when your brushes are clean and dry, Beauty So Clean sanitizer also works great but is more expensive and is effective only when applied on dry brushes and makeup.

4. NEVER leave your brushes soaking in water.

5. Do not store wet brushes with their bristles up, as it may cause water leaking under the ferrule and ruining the brushes.

6. Always store your brushes clean and dry.

7. Make sure that the bristles are not touching each other or any other surfaces, so they do not bend and always have a sharp shape. Invest in a quality brush wallet to keep your clean and dry brushes in great shape between jobs!

How to Clean Face Paint Sponges:

• Use one sponge per one child.

• Never leave sponges soaking in water during work.

• Wash the sponges with antibacterial soap under running water or through them in a special bag in washing machine or dishwasher at 90°C (194°F).

• Leave the sponges to dry out well on a clean towel overnight.

• Sanitize your sponges with Brush Bath or Beauty So Clean sanitizers.

• Store and carry the sponges dry and I never leave them in airtight places when they are wet because this can lead to bacteria and mold growth.

Hope this gives you some important tips to keep your brushes and sponges clean and safe for your next event!