How to Clean an Airbrush: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners and Experienced Modellers

Keeping your airbrush clean is one of the most important parts of model painting. A well-maintained airbrush will give you smoother finishes, better control and far fewer frustrating blockages.

In this guide, we will walk through a simple step-by-step process for cleaning your airbrush using the right products and techniques. Whether you are using acrylic paints for miniatures, scale models or airbrushing larger surfaces, this routine will help keep your equipment performing at its best.

What You Will Need

Before you start, gather a few essentials:

• Airbrush cleaner such as AMMO MIG2062 Acrylic Cleaner 500ml or MIG Cleaner 100ml
• Thinner and cleaner like MIG Ammo ATOM20530 Atom Acrylic Thinner and Cleaner 500ml
• Cleaning brushes such as AB524 Expo Pack of 20 Fine Airbrush Cleaning Brushes
• A cleaning station like the Airbrush Clean Pot – Essential Airbrush Cleaning Station with Holder AB525
• Optional: Spraycraft Airbrush Cleaning Spray BA9120 for quick flushes

Having everything ready makes the process much easier and avoids rushing between steps.

Step 1: Empty the Airbrush

Start by pouring out any remaining paint from your airbrush cup. Use a cloth or paper towel to wipe out as much residue as possible.

This simple step reduces how much paint you need to clean out later and makes the process quicker.

Step 2: Initial Flush

Add a small amount of cleaner or thinner to the cup. A product like MIG Ammo ATOM20530 Atom Acrylic Thinner and Cleaner 500ml works well here.

Spray the cleaner through the airbrush into a cleaning pot such as the AB525 Airbrush Clean Pot. This helps remove most of the leftover paint from inside the airbrush.

Repeat this step until the spray runs mostly clear.

Step 3: Backflow Cleaning

Add a little more cleaner to the cup. Gently cover the nozzle with your finger or a cloth and lightly press the trigger.

This creates bubbles in the cup, which helps loosen paint stuck inside the nozzle and internal passages.

Do not use too much pressure here. A gentle backflow is all you need.

Step 4: Spray Through Again

Once you have loosened any remaining paint, spray the cleaner through the airbrush again into your cleaning pot.

At this point, you should see a clear spray with no colour coming through.

If not, repeat the flushing and backflow steps until it is clean.

Step 5: Deep Clean with Brushes

For a more thorough clean, especially after longer sessions, use fine cleaning brushes like the AB524 Expo Pack of 20 Fine Airbrush Cleaning Brushes.

Carefully insert the brushes into the nozzle and paint channel to remove any stubborn residue.

Be gentle here. You want to clean the airbrush, not damage delicate parts like the needle or nozzle.

Step 6: Final Rinse

Finish with a final rinse using a dedicated cleaner such as AMMO MIG2062 Acrylic Cleaner 500ml or MIG Cleaner 100ml.

Spray this through the airbrush to ensure everything is fully clean and ready for your next session.

Step 7: Quick Clean Between Colours

If you are switching colours during a painting session, you do not need to do a full clean every time.

A quick flush using something like Spraycraft Airbrush Cleaning Spray BA9120 or a small amount of thinner will usually be enough to keep things flowing smoothly.

Tips for Better Airbrush Maintenance

• Clean your airbrush after every session, even short ones
• Do not let paint dry inside the airbrush
• Use proper airbrush cleaners rather than water alone
• Regular cleaning prevents blockages and improves spray quality

Final Thoughts

Learning how to clean your airbrush properly will save you time, money and frustration in the long run. It also makes a huge difference to the quality of your finishes, especially when working on detailed miniatures and scale models.

With the right products and a simple routine, keeping your airbrush in top condition becomes quick and easy.