A long handle bitumen brush can be essential if you need to paint a new layer of tar or bitumen on a roof, a driveway or a variety of other places. However, the bitumen can stick to the brush, and if you want to reuse the brush, you need to have a cleaning process in place. Here are some tips to help you out.

1. Try Bitumen Tar Remover

To make the cleaning process as easy as possible, you should look into a product designed specifically to remove tar and bitumen. These cleaners contain a mixture of solvents, emulsifiers and corrosion inhibitors that work together to dissolve the bitumen from your brush.

2. Experiment with Other Cleaners

If you work in an industrial setting, you can invest in a lot of bitumen remover to meet your needs, but if you're simply using a long-handled bitumen brush at your home or once in a while at your business, you may not have the time or money to devote to special cleaners. In that situation, you may want to experiment with other cleaners.

To remove water-based materials, you can usually rely on plain old soap and water. But for oil-based elements, you need paint thinner. Some people even have luck with brake cleaner.

3. Clean as Soon as Possible

To make cleaning your bitumen brushes most effective, you should clean them as soon as possible. If you let the bitumen sit on the brushes for too long, it may become impossible to remove. You may even want to clean the brush as you do the work. That helps to prevent old tar from building up on the bristles and disrupting your application process.

4. Use a Toothbrush

A toothbrush can be a very effective tool when you're trying to clean your bitumen brushes. Simply dip the toothbrush into the cleaning product you are using. Then, apply the cleaner liberally to the bristles using the toothbrush.

5. Soak Carefully

Alternatively, you can try soaking your brushes in the cleaner of your choice. However, you need to soak your brush carefully. If you soak the brush for too long, the cleaner may inadvertently dissolve the glue holding the bristles in place. To be on the safe side, start by soaking for a minute or two at a time. Then try scrubbing off the bitumen, and soak again if necessary. Pay attention to how your brush responds to the soaking process so that you know what to do in the future.