Touch-up paint with a built-in brush: how it works

Fixing one little scuff shouldn't turn into a project. But the usual way means finding the old paint can, prying it open with a screwdriver, stirring it, digging out a brush, and then washing everything when you're done. For a mark the size of a quarter.

Touch-up paint with a built-in brush skips all of that. The paint and the brush live in one bottle. You squeeze, brush and cap it. That's the whole idea behind Mr. Brushable™.

What is touch-up paint with a built-in brush?

It's a squeeze bottle filled with paint, with a brush attached to the end. Squeezing the bottle pushes paint through the base of the bristles, so the brush loads itself. There's no can to open and no separate brush to buy, clean or throw away.

How it works

1. Take off the cap. The clear cap protects the brush and keeps it from drying out.
2. Give it a gentle squeeze. Just enough to dampen the bristles. A little goes a long way.
3. Brush the mark. Use light strokes and feather the edges so the new paint blends in.
4. Cap it and put it away. No rinsing, no tray, no mess. It's ready for the next scuff.

Paint touch-ups without a separate brush: why it matters

• Faster. Fix a mark in under a minute, the moment you see it.
• Cleaner. No open can to tip over and no paint on the floor.
• Less waste. You're not buying a whole quart or gallon for one chip, or tossing a brush after one use.
• Always ready. It fits in a drawer, so touch-ups actually get done.

Brush or roller: which one do you need?

Mr. Brushable comes in two styles:

• Built-in brush: best for cabinets, trim, baseboards, doors, corners and small chips. Brush bottle, from $8.99 →
• Built-in roller: best for the flat part of a wall, because a roller matches the wall's texture and the patch blends in. Roller bottle, $12.99 →

Not sure why that matters? Read Why You Shouldn't Brush a Touch-Up on Your Wall.

Wall and cabinet touch-up paint

Walls and cabinets need different paint. Walls are usually flat or eggshell. Cabinets, trim and doors are usually semi-gloss, which is harder and easier to wipe clean. For white cabinets, doors and trim, use White Cabinet & Trim Enamel. For wood furniture and cabinets, there's Wood Stain + Poly Touch-Up in Espresso and Golden Oak.

Easy wall repair for renters

If you rent, small marks can cost you part of your deposit. A touch-up bottle lets you fix scuffs, chips and scratches in minutes before move-out, with no tools and no mess left behind.

• Scuffs and marks: brush or roller bottle in your wall color.
• Nail holes and dents: the Nail Hole & Wall Repair Kit fills, smooths and paints in one bottle.
• Marker, crayon or water stains: cover them first with Stain Blocker so they don't bleed through.

Step-by-step guide: How to Fix Nail Holes in Walls Before You Move Out.

Getting the right color

Pick from our ready-made colors, or get your exact wall color:

• Color Match: snap a photo of your wall with the free Mr. Brushable Color Match app, and we'll mix your shade into a bottle.
• Use your own leftover paint: fill an empty refillable bottle for a perfect color and sheen match.

Mr. Brushable: invented by Sparks

Mr. Brushable was invented by David Sparks, an inventor in Raleigh, North Carolina, who has been working on one idea since 2005: put the brush inside the bottle. It started as a rough 3D-printed prototype on his workbench and became a full line of touch-up products. Patent pending.

Frequently asked questions

Does the paint dry out in the bottle?

No. The cap seals the brush, so the paint stays ready between uses.

Do I need to clean the brush?

No. Just wipe off any extra paint and put the cap back on.

What surfaces does it work on?

Painted walls, trim, baseboards, doors and cabinets. The wood stain version works on wood furniture, floors and cabinets.

How much does it cost?

Brush bottles start at $8.99 (4 oz) and $11.99 (6 oz), and roller bottles are $12.99. Shipping is free on orders of $25 or more.

Shop Mr. Brushable touch-up paint →