Normally I "deep clean" my makeup brushes about once per month, this is when I wash the brushes with a mixture of either dish soap or hand soap and olive oil. I like using this combination because the soap is good for removing all the makeup residue and buildup, plus it helps get rid of any bacteria, while the olive oil keeps the brush bristles from becoming stripped and drying out too much. If you don't have olive oil on hand you could also use a moisturizing body wash. In the time between "deep cleans" I like to "spot clean" my brushes. For this I like to use MAC's Brush Cleanser ($15 for 8 oz) which I have transferred to a little spray bottle from Target. Having the cleanser in a spray bottle helps to evenly disperse the product and avoid using too much / wasting it. I just take a dirty brush, spritz it with cleanser a couple times on each side, then rub the brush back and forth and in circles on a clean wash cloth - adding more cleanser as needed - until the bristles are clean. Tip: if possible use a white washcloth so it is easy to tell when the brush is clean!
Alright, now on to deep cleaning! Here's a (semi) quick step by step of the deep cleaning process (pictures below!): first I mix together the olive oil and soap using a bit more soap than oil (about 3 parts soap to 1 part olive oil) because otherwise the bristles will remain oily after drying, then dip your brush in the mixture and swirl it around, next run the brush under cool or warm water (not too hot or it can dry out the brush hairs) always making sure to keep the handle upwards and bristles angled down because if you get water too far up on the brush handle it can loosen the glue that holds the ferrule (the metal part which holds the brush hairs together and connects them to the base of the brush) to the handle - and your brush might fall apart! While rinsing the brush at a downward angle run the hairs back and forth over your palm - like you're painting your hand - to help remove any dirt, continue this process until the water from the brush runs clear and is no longer soapy or bubbly. Squeeze or shake out any excess water, then put on a brush guard! Brush guards are something I came across about a year ago at Walmart and have been loving them ever since, in addition to brush drying they are great for traveling you can find them here: on Amazon. To put the brush guard on: slide the plastic mesh on to the handle in first then pull it down over the brush hairs. Last, put the brush bristle side down in a cup or jar - this way any remaining water will drip downwards so the glue holding the brush together is not loosened by the moisture. If you are not able to find the brush guards or do not want to purchase them, you can also roll up a washcloth or small towel and prop the brushes on this to dry (with the handle on the rolled up cloth and the bristles pointing down), which I have done many times before I found the brush guards. Although this technique doesn't allow the brushes to dry completely upside down, it is definitely a good option for those who don't have access to brush guards.
xoxo emma
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