I have the Bob Ross conditioner, and a friend of mine has told me to try the Masters Brush cleaner. When I look at all the dir tigons, everything I find says to use the conditioner' shape and mold the brush, then rinse in warm water. But when you read all the directions with Bob Ross brushes it states clearly, never use water. So, are you suppose to use water with the conditioner or not? What is the appropriate method?
Thank you in advance,
Joseph
It depends 
. don't you just love answers like this? Anyways.. conditioner is not a cleaner. I use both.. the cleaner requires a wash in water then re-application and let dry. You then scrub the bristles a bit to knock the dried cleaner off before use. I do this only a few times a year. My "conditioner/cleaner" is baby oil. The stuff is magic at getting out relatively fresh paint out and keeping the brush soft. Its not a deep clean and old paint will stay put. Hence the need for a real cleaner. With the baby oil, just wipe the brush on a paper towel before using it and you are good to go. I've read that Lavender Spike oil ( Lavender essential oil) will clean old paint out well but it's pricy to use that way. I've read that gum turpentine also will clean well but its got a strong smell and I would rather not use it in that way unless I have to. The brush cleaner reminds me a lot of saddle soap.. same texture, feel and smell. The stuff I use is The Masters Brush Cleaner and Rejuvenator. This is made by General Pencil company and according to the safety data sheet, zero hazardous chemicals are used in the product. Its considered a detergent. As a side bar, San Francisco gave it their "Green approved" seal 
Gotta love my home town.
As some more info.. the BR stuff is considered non-toxic.. so it's a soap/detergent also
Martin/F. Weber Company is a member of the Art & Creative Materials Institute, (ACMI) 1280 Main Street, 2nd Floor, PO Box 479, Hanson, MA 02341 USA. ACMI is a non-profit, international organization which tests and evaluates product formulations for toxicity, recommends and requires appropriate labeling. Our art and craft materials are certified by the institute to be labeled in accordance with the voluntary chronic hazard labeling standard, ASTM D-4236 of the American Society for Testing & Materials. This standard is incorporated into the US Federal Hazard Substances Act and it's LHAMA (Labeling for Hazardous Art Materials) amendment.
This product is appropriately labeled with the AP Non-Toxic Seal of ACMI. It has been certified in a program of toxicological evaluation by a medical expert, subject to review by the institute's Toxicological Advisory Board to contain no materials in sufficie
How often do you condition your brushes??
I use baby oil after every painting since there can be a week or two between painting efforts
I appreciate the input. I did a painting the other day and sat down and cleaned my brushes once I was finished. I use the bob ross cleaner/ conditioner.
