Cleaning your oil painting palette doesn’t need to be a chore — it can actually be quick, and even help you save money on paint! In this YouTube tutorial, we walk you through the easiest way to clean your oil paint palette and share a clever tip for preserving your leftover paint for next time.
Oil paint isn’t cheap! And if you’ve spent time mixing up the perfect colour, the last thing you want to do is wipe it all away.
Why Palette Cleaning Matters
If you let oil paint dry on your palette, it becomes much harder to remove — and can interfere with your colour mixing in future sessions.
What You’ll Need
You only need a few items for this oil painting tutorial, which you should easily find at home or in a hardware store.
Palette knives (both small and broad types)
Airtight plastic containers (takeaway sauce containers work great)
Tissues (or paper towels)
A soft cloth or rag
Mineral Turpentine (turps)
Step-by-Step: Clean & Save Your Oil Paint
Here’s how we do it:
1. Save usable paint first!
Before cleaning, scrape off any mixed colours you’d like to keep. Scoop them into small, airtight containers with your palette knife. If you’re not painting again soon, pop the container into the freezer — this will stop the paint from drying out.
2. Scrape the surface
Use a larger, broader palette knife to remove excess paint from your board. Follow up with a smaller knife for tricky corners and leftover spots.
3. Wipe down
Grab a tissue or paper towel to wipe off the remaining paint. This makes the next step easier and keeps things tidy.
4. Use turps to clean thoroughly
Dampen a rag with mineral turpentine and gently wipe over the surface. It’ll lift the last of the paint and leave your palette looking fresh. (Don’t forget to wash your hands afterwards!)
5. Optional deep clean
If you’ve got old, stubborn paint stuck on the palette, you can use paint stripper — but only if absolutely necessary.
This cleaning method is perfect for anyone learning how to paint with oils, especially beginners. We recommend cleaning your palette after each session — it only takes a few minutes and makes a big difference!