Test Drive | EasyClean Paintbrush is a stroke of genius

I rarely reuse a paintbrush. Despite the best of intentions, after repeatedly washing a brush and then separating the bristles to dry, the remaining dried-out paint usually left it stiff as a board.

Pros: Not so with the EasyClean Paintbrush, made by Bellevue-based EZ Paint Tools Inc. The brush is hollow on the inside, so when you're finished painting, cleaning is as simple as attaching the brush to a hose. After running the water through the brush for a few minutes and massaging the bristles, I left it out to dry. When I checked later, the tapered polyester bristles were just as soft as when brand new.

Also, I noticed no difference in the finish between the EasyClean Paintbrush and other good-quality bristled brushes. It's a bit more expensive, but that's a small price to pay for a paintbrush I can use over and over again.

Cons: The company's Web site claims the brush can be cleaned in less than a minute. I found that cleanup time took a bit longer than that but was still far less compared to how long it has taken me to clean our other paintbrushes.

Joy's verdict: Thumbs up.

Cost: A three-piece trial pack is $29.95 at www.easycleanpaintbrush.com or amazon.com.

This is an occasional feature in NW Home&Life to help readers become more informed consumers. The Seattle Times purchases the items.