In short
- First, press the extra ink out of the brush on scrap paper and wipe the inkstone.
- Wash the large brush in cool or lukewarm water, squeezing from the root toward the tip until the water runs clear. No hot water, and no soap needed.
- Dry it with the hair pointing down and the cap off, and let it dry completely before you put it away.
After writing
In Japanese classrooms, cleaning up is part of the lesson. Before anything goes near the sink, get the extra ink off.
- Press the brush on scrap paper
Gently press the hair on a piece of newspaper or scrap paper, from the root toward the tip, until little ink comes out. This also reduces the amount of ink you send down the drain.
- Wipe the inkstone
Use newspaper or a paper towel to soak up the leftover ink. Do not pour leftover ink back into the bottle.
Washing the large brush
- Rinse in cool or lukewarm water
Hold the brush under gently running water, or swish it in a bowl of water. Do not use hot water, which can loosen the glue that holds the hair in the handle.
- Squeeze from the root toward the tip
Gently squeeze the hair between your fingers, working from the root toward the tip, until the water runs clear. Ink hides near the root, so take your time there.
- Skip the soap
You do not need soap for everyday cleaning. If you choose to use a little mild soap now and then, rinse it out completely.
- Shape the point
Squeeze out the water softly and shape the hair back into a neat point with your fingers.
The small brush
Many calligraphers do not wash the small brush after every use. Instead, they gently wipe the ink off the tip with soft paper, pressing and turning it until it is clean, and reshape the point.
If you prefer to wash it, rinse only the front part of the hair, where the ink is.
Drying and storing
Dry brushes with the hair pointing down. Water that runs into the root can damage the brush.
Standing a wet brush upright with the hair at the top. Water runs into the root and can damage it.
Hair pointing down, hanging from a brush hanger, or lying flat on a towel.
Putting the plastic cap back on a wet brush.
Let the brush dry completely, then store it where air can reach it, for example rolled in a bamboo brush mat.
Inkstone, ink stick, felt pad, and paper
Inkstone硯suzuri
Wash it with water, without soap, and wipe it dry. Ink that dries in the inkstone is hard to remove and can affect the next batch of ink.
Ink stick墨sumi
Dry the end of the stick, and keep it out of direct sunlight.
Felt pad下敷きshitajiki
If it is damp, let it dry flat. Shake off any dust.
Paper半紙hanshi
Store it flat, in its package, away from damp and direct sunlight.
If ink gets on your clothes
Sumi ink is made to last, so it can be very hard to remove from fabric. Prevention is the best cure: wear old clothes or an apron, and roll up your sleeves.
If ink does get on fabric, rinse the spot with cold water as soon as possible and wash it with soap or laundry detergent before it dries. Some stains will fade but not disappear completely.
Questions
How do you clean a Japanese calligraphy brush?
Press the extra ink out on scrap paper first. Then rinse the brush in cool or lukewarm water, squeezing the hair from the root toward the tip until the water runs clear. Squeeze out the water softly, shape the point, and dry the brush with the hair pointing down.
Can I use soap or hot water on a calligraphy brush?
You do not need soap for everyday cleaning. If you use a little mild soap now and then, rinse it out completely. Do not use hot water, which can loosen the glue that holds the hair in the handle.
How do you get sumi ink out of clothes?
Rinse the spot with cold water as soon as possible and wash it with soap or laundry detergent before the ink dries. Sumi ink is made to last, so some stains will fade but not disappear completely.
