I have always had great luck with the brush cleaner. I use a 1-4 ratio, meaning 1 tbsp cleaner to 4 tbsps filtered water. I mix that all together in a mug or cup and then let my brushes soak for a little while, maybe 30 sec-1min. Then I massage the cleaner through the brush and rinse in cool-lukewarm water. If I am not cleaning a lot of brushes, I'll just pour a very small amount into my hand, swish my brush through it, massage, and rinse. I think its great stuff! I used a small amount of shampoo once and lost so many hairs from my brushes, never get that with the brush cleaner.