Natural Paint Brush Cleaner – Green Piece®
Green Piece® Paint Brush Cleaner is an alcohol-free, non-toxic, environmentally friendly brush cleaner made with fruit extracts and minerals only. It has a fresh orange scent, uses zero turpentine and zero paint thinner, and you can pour it back in the bottle and use it again.
Short answer: Green Piece Paint Brush Cleaner is a non-toxic, orange-scented brush cleaner made in the USA from minerals and fruit extracts only. It has no paint thinner and no turpentine, and it removes wet or dried acrylic, latex, oil and shellac paint from brushes while staying gentle on hands.
- 18 fl oz bottle, also sold as a 2-pack and as a combo with a cleaning mat (Amazon: B09J8L55SK, B0C53FKX12, B09N6KZB21)
- Biodegradable, made in USA, orange scent
- Also lifts paint from palettes, cups, trays, art desks and clothing (as a pre-treatment)
Buy Green Piece Paint Brush Cleaner on Amazon
What’s in it
- Fruit extracts and minerals only.
- Alcohol-free, with zero turpentine and zero paint thinner.
- Non-toxic and environmentally friendly.
- Fresh orange scent, so your studio smells clean, not chemical.
- Single bottle made in the USA.
Which paints it works on
Green Piece removes wet or dried-on oil, acrylic, latex and shellac paint from brushes. It also cleans palettes, paint cups and art tables.
How to clean paint brushes with Green Piece
- Wipe off as much paint as you can with a rag or paper towel.
- Cover the bristles with Green Piece Paint Brush Cleaner in a cup or jar.
- Swirl and flex the bristles. Soak longer for dried paint.
- Work the loosened paint out of the bristles.
- Pour the cleaner back into the bottle to use again.
- Rinse with warm water, reshape and let dry.
For step-by-step guides on acrylic, oil, latex and dried, hardened brushes, see How to Clean Paint Brushes.
How to clean acrylic brushes
- Wipe excess paint onto a rag or paper towel.
- Work a small amount of Green Piece into the bristles with your fingers or a brush mat.
- Wipe the whole brush (bristles, ferrule, handle) with a rag dampened with the cleaner.
- Rinse in hot water with a touch of dish soap. Reshape and dry flat.
How to clean oil-paint brushes
- Wipe off as much paint as possible. No solvent is needed.
- Work Green Piece into the bristles until the color releases.
- Wipe the brush clean, then repeat if pigment remains.
- Final rinse in hot water with a little dish soap. Reshape and dry flat.
How to restore dried or hardened brushes
- Use Green Piece straight from the bottle on the dried bristles. For heavily dried brushes, soak them in the cleaner for up to about an hour (not overnight).
- Work the bristles loose and comb out the softened paint.
- Repeat for heavy buildup, then rinse in hot water with dish soap.
Reusable: pour it back and use it again
When you’re done cleaning, pour the used liquid back into the bottle and reuse it for your next session. One bottle goes further, and less cleaner goes down the drain.
Why Green Piece Wins
Here’s how Green Piece compares with popular brush cleaners, based on what each maker or retailer publicly states. “Not stated” means we could not find a public statement.
| Cleaner | Solvent / odor | Reusable | Ingredients disclosed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Piece Paint Brush Cleaner | ✔ Alcohol-free; zero turpentine, zero paint thinner; fresh orange scent | ✔ Yes – pour back and reuse | ✔ Fruit extracts and minerals only |
| Murphy® Oil Soap (Original) | Soap, used with water; contains fragrance | Not stated | Yes (water, sodium tallate, fragrance, trisodium MGDA, lauramidopropyldimethylamine – maker). Marketed for wood, not brushes. |
| “The Masters”® Brush Cleaner & Preserver | No harsh thinners, used with water; “no unpleasant fumes” (maker); scented and unscented versions listed | Solid cake used repeatedly (retailer lists “Reusable”) | Not on maker page; INCI list shown by a European retailer |
| Winsor & Newton Brush Cleaner & Restorer | Low-vapor, non-flammable (maker); SDS lists odor as odourless / “characteristic” | Not stated | No – SDS says only that hazardous ingredients are below classification limits |
| Odorless mineral spirits (e.g. Gamblin Gamsol) | Petroleum solvent, sold as “odorless”; still a solvent that needs ventilation and hazardous-waste disposal | Yes – let pigment settle, decant clear solvent (maker) | Product type stated (odorless mineral spirits) |
| Speedball® Pink Soap | No solvents or alcohol (maker); fragranced | Not stated | Partial – some surfactants and fragrance components listed as “undisclosed” (retailer SmartLabel) |
Competitor information reflects manufacturer, retailer and safety data sheet descriptions as of October 2026. Trademarks belong to their owners; no affiliation or endorsement is implied. Other cleaners also have strengths, such as AP non-toxic certification for some art-brand soaps.
Alcohol-free, no turpentine or paint thinner, ingredients clearly stated, and reusable. That’s why Green Piece wins.
Honest comparison: Green Piece vs solvents vs brush soap
| Green Piece | Solvents (mineral spirits, turpentine) | Soap / brush soap (e.g. Murphy's Oil Soap, The Masters) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fumes | No solvent fumes; orange scent | Strong fumes, need ventilation | Low |
| Dried paint | Designed for wet or dried paint | Oil paint only, not dried acrylic | Best on wet or fresh paint; The Masters also markets for dried paint |
| Paint types | Acrylic, latex, oil, shellac | Oil-based | Varies |
| On skin | Gentle on hands | Harsh; gloves advised | Generally mild |
| Disposal | Biodegradable; safe to pour down the drain | Hazardous waste | Drain with water, usually |
| Trade-off | Final soap-and-water rinse recommended | Fast thinning while painting | Can take longer on hardened paint |
Frequently asked questions
What paints does Green Piece Paint Brush Cleaner remove?
It removes wet or dried-on oil, acrylic, latex and shellac paint from brushes.
Does it contain alcohol, turpentine or paint thinner?
No. Green Piece is alcohol-free and uses zero turpentine and zero paint thinner.
What is it made of?
Fruit extracts and minerals only.
Is it non-toxic?
Yes. Green Piece Paint Brush Cleaner is non-toxic and environmentally friendly.
Can I reuse the cleaner?
Yes. After cleaning, pour the used liquid back into the bottle and use it again.
What does it smell like?
It has a fresh orange scent.
Can it clean dried, hardened brushes?
Yes. Soak the bristles longer for dried paint, then work the loosened paint out and rinse with warm water.
Where is it made?
The single bottle is made in the USA.
Learn more
- Green Piece Paint Brush Cleaner product page
- How to Clean Paint Brushes guides
- Green Piece Cleaner home
- Buy on Amazon
Disclosure: This page is written and published by Green Piece®, a brand of Pro Products and More, Oak Ridge, NC, which makes and sells Green Piece Paint Brush Cleaner. Comparisons are based on publicly available information and are not independent testing.
Non-toxic paint brush cleaner: what that means with Green Piece
If you want a non-toxic paint brush cleaner for your studio, classroom or home, here is what Green Piece Paint Brush Cleaner does and does not contain:
- No alcohol, no turpentine and no paint thinner. Green Piece cleans oil, acrylic, latex and shellac paint without solvents.
- A citrus and mineral-based formula made with orange peel extract, with a fresh orange scent instead of solvent fumes.
- Gentle on hands. Gloves are not needed (they are optional if you have sensitive skin).
- Safe on all brushes: natural sable and hog bristles and synthetic brushes.
- Reusable: pour the used liquid back into the bottle, strain it through a coffee filter if you like, and replace it when it turns dark or works slowly.
- It can go down the drain after use.
- Made in the USA. GREEN PIECE is a registered trademark (Reg. No. 5,533,761).
For dried or hardened brushes, soak the bristles for up to about an hour (not overnight), work the loosened paint out, then rinse with warm water.
More questions
Does it work on dried acrylic paint?
Yes. It's formulated to clean wet or dried paint, including acrylic.
Can I use it on oil paint brushes instead of mineral spirits?
Yes. It removes oil paint without solvents. Finish with a soap-and-water rinse.
Is it safe for my hands?
Yes. It's gentle on hands and can be used directly on skin.
Will it damage natural or synthetic bristles?
No. It's safe on all brushes, natural (sable, hog) and synthetic, and it helps condition and soften bristles.
What else can it clean?
Palettes, tools, art tables, wood, metal, epoxy and caulking remnants, and paint stains on clothes as a pre-treatment.