Bent or misshapen brushes are a common frustration for both beginner and professional artists. But the good news? There’s a super simple way to prevent it, using materials you probably already have at home. In this YouTube video, we show you exactly how to make a DIY plastic brush holder to stop bent brushes using easy to recycle items from your home.
Why Do Paint Brush Bristles Get Bent?
It’s surprisingly easy to damage your brushes — especially if they’re left sitting in a jar of water or jammed into a container after a painting session. Over time, this can cause the bristles to fan out or bend, ruining the shape and making it harder to achieve clean, precise brushstrokes.
This is especially common with acrylic and watercolour brushes, where soft bristles are more vulnerable to losing their shape.
How Our DIY Brush Holder Helps
This DIY brush holder solves the problem by allowing your brushes to dry properly (bristles down) and hang freely without resting on a surface or being squished. Not only does this prevent bending, it also helps your brushes last longer and perform better.
And the best part? This is a cheap solution made from recycled materials — old plastic milk bottles!
What You’ll Need
A clean, empty plastic container (we use 1 litre milk bottles)
A marker pen (we use an Artline Permanent Marker)
A sharp tool to make holes (we use a box cutter)
- A stapler
- Hot water
Your paint brushes
Watch the full youtube tutorial here:
STOP Bent Brushes! How To Make An Easy DIY Plastic Brush Holder
Whether you’re a beginner or experienced artist, caring for your brushes is one of the best habits you can build. Proper brush storage means smoother brushwork and cleaner lines.
At our art school, we encourage all students to look after their brushes and learn the little things that make a big difference. We use brush holders like this one, in our art classes.