Abstract: A paint brush holder for use in preserving a paint brush after it has been used. The holder includes a lid capable of tightly fitting a can, such as a fruit juice can or a quart or gallon oil can, which is customarily discarded in normal household practice. The lid has an opening capable of accommodating the handles of brushes of different sizes. Across the opening, there is freely supported a generally U-shaped spring capable of engaging the handle of a brush and holding the brush suspended from the lid in a paint solvent in the can. The opening around the brush is sealed by a tape penetrated by the handle. The brush is suspended with the lower ends of its bristles above the base of the can.There is also disclosed apparatus for preserving a paint brush including a can with a paint solvent and an emulsifier, to aid in cleaning a brush for permanent or very long-time storage such as periods of many months or years, having a lid as disclosed above.