No need to wash every time…just make sure to put your wax brush into a ziplock bag or wrap in foil or plastic wrap when not in use. If bristles are stiff when you come back, swirl in a bit of wax which will soften them again.

Use a gentle bar soap and hot water to clean your brush. Always wash with bristles facing down to prevent water getting into the ferrule. Lather gently while trying to work the wax out of the brush with your hands. Mild dishwashing soap will also work, although alternate with a bar soap, as it’s gentler on the bristles.

To dry, put Madeline onto a cloth or paper towel with bristles facing downwards.

If wax seems stuck in the bristles, try rubbing vegetable oil through the bristles which should loosen the wax. Then wash again with soap. For a deeper clean, mineral spirits can be used.

Madeline’s bristles are glued with deep set epoxy, but don’t forget that some bristle loss is normal on all natural bristle brushes. Before you first use your Madeline Wax Brush, comb through a few times with your fingers, pulling out any loose bristles.

Why should you keep your wax brushes separate?

We recommend using Madeline for clear wax, and Madeline Medium or Madeline Mini for dark wax.

Small particles of dark wax can remain in the bristles even after a thorough cleaning. If you eventually wax a piece of furniture where no or limited amounts of dark wax are needed, you may end up with a darker finish than you intended (especially when using white paint).

It’s also nice to have a smaller brush to really perfect that beautiful antiquing look. If you plan on using dark wax on larger areas, Madeline Medium is your best choice. For more precise areas like fine details and corners, Madeline Mini will do the trick.