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Paint Sprayer Guide
  • HELP!
  • BEST FOR
    • Best Sprayers for Interior Walls
    • Best Sprayers for Exterior Walls
    • Best Paint Sprayers for Latex
    • Best Paint Sprayers for Furniture
    • Best for Staining a Fence
    • Best Paint Sprayers for Cabinets
    • Best Paint Sprayers for Cars
    • Best Plasti Dip Spray Guns
    • Best Spray Paints for Plastic
  • BY TYPE
    • Best Airless Paint Sprayers
    • Best HVLP Spray Guns
    • Best Handheld Paint Sprayers
    • Best Professional Paint Sprayers
  • BY BRAND
    • Best Wagner Sprayers
    • Best Graco Sprayers
  • ACCESSORIES
    • Essential Painting Gear
    • Best Paint Strippers
    • Best Painters Tape Reviews
    • Best DIY Ladders
    • Best Telescoping Ladders
    • Best Paint Edgers
    • Best Oil Based Primers
    • Best Power Rollers
    • Best Respirators for Spraying
    • Best Heat Guns
  • GUIDES
    • Paint Sprayer vs Roller
    • Types of Paint Sprayers
    • How to Prepare Walls
    • How To Use Painter’s Tape
    • How to Use a Paint Sprayer
    • How to Prime a Paint Sprayer
    • How To Thin Paint for a Sprayer
    • Understanding Spray Tip Sizes
    • How to Clean an Airless Sprayer
    • How to Remove Paint From Wood
  • PAINT TYPES
    • Best Oil Based Primer
    • Best Spray Paints for Metals
    • Best Spray Paints for Plastic
    • Best Wheel Paint for Rims
    • Enamel vs Latex Paint

How to Clean an Airless Paint Sprayer

by Charles Ritchie June 29, 2019
by Charles Ritchie

Airless paint sprayers get the job done quicker but they also require more cleaning and aftercare. It is important for their functionality and lifespan that you always take the time to properly clean after use.

So maybe you are wondering how to clean the airless paint sprayer that you have just bought.

Well, the first time you do this might be confusing because you are dealing with many different parts. However, once you have done it a few times it should feel like a straightforward routine.

This is how to properly clean the most popular airless paint sprayers but models do vary. Just Remember a clean paint sprayer is a good sprayer.

Attending to the Different Parts

Contents

  • Attending to the Different Parts
  • Water or Thinner?
  • Steps on How to Clean an Airless Paint Sprayer
    • Step 1: Set Up Your Buckets
    • Step 2: Clear Out the Remaining Paint
    • Step 3: Cleaning the Various Filters
    • Step 4: Clean the Nozzles
    • Step 5: Scrub the Spray Gun
    • Step 6: Wipe Dry
  • Extra Maintenance

Though each model might differ slightly, the main components are generally the same. When cleaning a paint sprayer, it is better to take it apart so that you ensure that you are getting into all the crevices where your material and debris might be.

The 3 main parts to clean are the device as a whole, the nozzle, and the gun. At the start of the cleaning, you can keep the tool assembled to remove the majority of the materials but later on, you will need to pull off the gun and nozzles for closer handling.

Clean with Water or Paint Thinner

Water or Thinner?

Do you need a specialist airless paint sprayer cleaner? This is an easy question to answer. Use tap water to clean water-based materials if you’ve been spraying materials such as latex and use paint thinner to remove oil-based paints like lacquer.

Never confuse the two types of paint remover required because it can damage the device if the wrong one is used. Also, don’t use heavy corrosive liquids because that too may cause damage.

Steps on How to Clean an Airless Paint Sprayer

Follow the cleaning steps in the correct order when cleaning airless paint sprayer. Start with removing any excess and then carefully clean the filters, nozzle, and gun.

Cleaning Out an Airless Sprayer

Step 1: Set Up Your Buckets

Depending on whether you’re spraying oil-based such as lacquer, or water-based paints such as emulsion, you’ll need to vary your paint sprayer cleaner.

You need one bucket filled with water or thinner (depending on the material type, see above) and one empty bucket to empty the dirty liquid cleaner into.

Step 2: Clear Out the Remaining Paint

Place the suction in your clean bucket and aim the gun at your empty bucket. Use both the prime mode and spray mode to push out any remaining material.

Cleaning Filters on an Airless Paint Sprayer

Typical filters found in an airless paint sprayer

Step 3: Cleaning the Various Filters

This is an important step in the how to clean a paint sprayer guide. Once it is cleared, you can start cleaning the smaller parts of the airless sprayer. Start with the filters.

Because of how airless paint sprayers work, there are normally 2 or 3 filters on semi-professional to professional sprayers, they are:

  • Suction filter – found on the end of the suction hose that is submerged into the material
  • Manifold filter – found in the machine itself, normally on the left or right side
  • Pencil gun filter – found in the handle of the airless spray gun

You should be able to refer to your user manual to see the various components of your spray gun. Here’s an example of the Graco user manual that accompanies most Graco paint sprayers.

Take the pencil filter out of the gun, the manifold filter out of the machine and the suction filter off the end of the suction hose, then place them in the empty bucket to soak in the solvent or water. Do not place the entire gun in the solvent because this can be abrasive, only put the filters into soak.

Put on a pair of gloves and start wiping away anything left over. For the stubborn bits use an old stiff brush and scrub away gently.

How to Clean an Airless Paint Sprayer

Step 4: Clean the Nozzles

This is the tedious part when cleaning a paint sprayer but there are a few tools that can make it easier for you. The best way is to use an old toothbrush, small pipe cleaners and if required, a very thin needle.

Below is an example of the exact spray gun found on the bestselling Graco X5 & Graco Magnum X7, among others.

Submerse the spray tip in water or thinners for a few minutes, then use the toothbrush to scrub either side of the tungsten carbide spray nozzle. Be sure to inspect it up close before calling it a day and storing it.

You should be able to see a pin-prick of daylight through the nozzle when you hold it up to the light.

Only use the needle as a last resort if the hole is completely blocked with any materials or debris.

Taking Apart an Airless Spray Gun

An example of the various components found in a stock Graco airless spray gun

Step 5: Scrub the Spray Gun

Now it is time to get into the small parts of the sprayer gun itself. Since you are dealing with different sized parts, you also need different sized cleaning brushes to get into all the tiny spaces.

Some of the parts are more fragile than others so it is also a good idea to keep a few softer brushes on hand. For example, the plastic and rubber seals are easily broken so you want to use a softer more gentle brush.

You’ll want to take the spray guard off and clean that separately, you’ll also need to flush it under a faucet.

With the spray tip, spray guard, hose and gun filter removed, hold the gun upside down under a fast flow of water and hold the trigger down. You want the water to be flowing into where the filter previously was and out of the spray area.

Do this for around 60 seconds to ensure it is clear.  

Wipe clean with solvent wipes

Step 6: Wipe Dry

Once all the parts are completely clean, you can wipe off the solvent or water until completely dry. Use a clean dry cloth for this.

Extra Maintenance

Besides learning how to clean your new paint sprayer thoroughly once you’ve read all our paint sprayer reviews, you also need to do some maintenance. One of the most important things to take care of is the piston and packing kit.

The pump system is particular to specific brands so always read the manual to check what needs to be oiled and how often. The piston pump can do with regular greasing before each job, just to make sure that the device continues to run smoothly.

If you’re using a rental paint sprayer, keeping it clean is of the utmost importance if you don’t want to be hit with unexpected cleaning and repair costs, so keep it clean!!

That is our guide on how to clean airless paint sprayer, we hope it has helped with any questions you might have had, happy spraying.

Charles Ritchie

For the past 9 years, I’ve worked as a professional paint sprayer on both small home projects and large commercial buildings. Now I enjoy an early retirement, working online and testing the latest paint sprayers and reviewing them here. It's a dream come true, as I now get to spend more time with my wife and 2 girls. If you have any questions, just drop a comment and I'll do my best to help you directly.

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12 comments

MILLET DEANGLES December 18, 2019 - 4:02 am

GRACO 390 OR TITAN 410,WHICH ONE IS BETTER. THANKS CHARLES FOR YOUR PRO ADVICE!

Charles Ritchie January 7, 2020 - 9:51 am

Hi Millet, sorry for the delay in my response!

I personally prefer Graco over Titan, but mainly because it’s easier to get replacement parts and get the machine serviced. Performance wise, there’s not much in it. Just bear in mind that once you buy one machine, you’re buying into that brands ‘eco-system’ so will likely be buying their products for years to come (especially commerically).

Hope this helps, Charles!

Derrick Cooper January 11, 2020 - 4:18 am

How did you get into testing sprayers? I’m interested. I’ve been doing construction (all phases) for 18 years. I’m 35 now. I own my own remodeling business and I’m already getting tired. I’d like to do reviews for a living. Advice?

Charles Ritchie January 11, 2020 - 10:33 am

Hey Derrick, you sound like you’re in the right position and have the experience do to it, but there is a ton to learn to be able to actually make money online. It’s extremely competitive in Google and you need to invest money into site design, links .etc.

In an extremely short version, you need to learn SEO (you can read this basic beginners guide), but you’ll also need to get some WordPress experience under your belt.

If you want to dip your toe in the water, you’re more than welcome to write a post for Paint Sprayer Guide and as long as it’s good enough, I’ll happily post it 🙂 Let me know

Ram February 22, 2020 - 4:17 pm

are there any alternatives to lacquer thinner for cleaning hoses naturally?

Charles Ritchie February 28, 2020 - 9:40 am

Hi Ram, not if you’re using oil based paints, unfortunately 🙁

You have to use the same chemicals that makes up their compound, so for latex paint, it’s water, for oil based paints, it’s thinner.

If you don’t want to use laquer thinners, you’ll need to find a suitable water-based replacement paint to use.

Hope this helps,
Charles

Matthew walker April 14, 2020 - 10:29 pm

Hey Charles I have a magnum series Graco, an my worker used Zion clad in the machine an now its clogged any recommendations? Thanks 😊

Charles Ritchie April 24, 2020 - 10:39 am

Hi Matthew, sorry for the delay in my response!

Urm, the Magnum series are quite difficult to take apart and repair yourself, especially when blocked with solid paint. I mean, you’ve already void any warranty so all you can do is try.

Honestly, if you’re a professional sprayer and need to replace the machine, consider something like the Graco 390 which can be stripped down to its last nut and bolt and cleaned/repaired.

Mary April 23, 2020 - 4:30 pm

Is it safe to pour the water and paint mixture down the sink drain

Charles Ritchie April 24, 2020 - 10:27 am

Hi Mary,

Yes as long as it’s water based paint (latex .etc) that’s normally fine, just make sure you leave the tap running for a few mins after to clear the system. With that said, I’d use an outdoor drain if possible, especially if it’s a large quantity so that it skips your internal plumbing (just to be safe).

Hope that helps,
David

Erik piper May 22, 2020 - 1:41 am

Hello I have a graco 695 was heavily used for latex would u suggest using dish soap with water to clean

Charles Ritchie May 24, 2020 - 5:48 pm

Hi Erik, sorry for the delayed response (probably too late now).

Soap and water would be fine for latex as it’s water based, with that said you should buy the proper Graco pump armorGraco pump armor to flush it out with if you don’t want rust building up inside.

Comments are closed.

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