Oil paint can be messy. If cleanup is put off, it gets harder and harder (and can even ruin your paint brushes).

There’s no trade secret here—mineral spirits are a universal solvent for oil-based paint. They emit less odor than paint thinner and are considered more effective as a paint brush cleaner.

If oil is allowed to harden in the bristles, it leads to gunky paint can be nearly impossible to remove. It may not be an issue for cheap brushes, but some types of brushes can be quite costly.