You have your rock, supplies and finally some spare time and now you’re ready to start work on your rock Rembrandt! But besides gathering your supplies there’s an important step to prepare your rocks for painting – cleaning!
By nature, rocks can be dirty and they will need to be cleaned before they are suitable for painting. It is easy to forget this step until you are applying paint and find that the paint is not adhering to the rock and instead is flaking off with the dirt and debris that is coming off of the rock. I am going to give you a few tips and tricks on how to clean rocks for rock painting so you can see some easy ways to accomplish this.
Supplies:
Bucket or sink
Warm Water
Soap – bottled dish soap is recommended
Sponge, scrub brush, or old toothbrush
Towel or drying mat
Cleaning rocks can be done either indoors or outdoors. I would normally clean outdoors if the weather is nice and I want to clean several at once. If I am just cleaning a few rocks or the weather is not good, I will clean them inside at the sink.
Cleaning Rocks for Painting – Indoors
Let’s start by setting up the area. Run some warm water in the sink. You want to plug the sink and then add the rocks. Allow the water to just cover the rocks. Add a couple of drops of dish soap to the sink while the water is running.
Let the rocks soak for a few minutes in warm water and soap. This will help loosen up any stuck-on debris. I like using bottled dish soap to clean rocks. It is inexpensive and normally something I have on hand. Dish soap will help unstick anything that might be stuck to the rock. It will also rinse off cleanly. Some soaps will leave a film on the rock and that might affect how paint adheres to your rock.
Remove the rocks from the soapy water one at a time. Examine it on all sides and use a sponge, scrub brush or old toothbrush to remove anything that is giving you a problem. If you have a troublesome rock that is just not coming clean, return to the water and let it soak a bit longer.
I will set up a towel on the counter next to the sink for drying. Once the rock has been washed and rinsed, dry off with the towel and set on the towel to dry completely. Do not start painting until the rock is dry. A wet rock will cause acrylic paint to run and ruin your design.
Cleaning Rocks for Painting – Outdoors
First, I will get a bucket and fill it with water from the hose. If you have a bucket that you use to wash your car, that will be just fine. Add a couple of drops of dish soap to the bucket while the water is running. You want to have the rocks at the bottom of the bucket and fill with enough water to cover the rocks.
Rinse each rock thoroughly under running water. Use a sponge, scrub brush or old toothbrush to help with any trouble spots. As above, return the rock to the water if you are having trouble getting it cleaned. I like to spread out a towel in the sunshine and put the rocks on the towel in a single layer to let them dry.
Hope this helps. If you’re looking for more helpful tips on rock painting be sure to check out my Beginner’s Guide below.
Happy Painting!
