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I just got my HP-CS in the mail today, and I'm super-excited to try it out. In the instructions, it keeps talking about "appropriate cleaning solution," but I can't find a single mention of what that is.

Do I need to go out and buy "Airbrush Cleaning Solution," or is there a household alternative like rubbing alcohol I could use?

Do a search, you will find TONS of hits on this and many other airbrush topics.

However, the short answer - I use:

Alcohol for most cleaning.
If I painted something really nasty (some primers) I may use laquer thinner or generic paint thinner.

You also can buy dedicated airbrush cleaner from various paint manufacturers.

mostly first water and then some ethanol or for serious action isopropyl alcohol will do.

however be aware that different cleaning solutions have different effect on different paints. for example even small residues of tamiya airbrush cleaner will gum up vallejo air paint... found that out the hard way -.-

I use water for flush outs and colour changes and Createx 'Airbrush Cleaner' when I finish up for the day.

Createx also do 'Airbrush Restorer' for when you've accidentally let paint dry in your brush, it will shift it.

I run water into the paint cup, then 1/4 cup of tamiya airbrush cleaner through after.

Beware if you're brush get dirty or you have a catastrophic failure and paint blasts back through the airbrush - remove anything that has an o-ring and soak for 20 minutes.

Windex or anything with ammonia will remove some of the finish on the inside of your airbrush, and this tamiya cleaner will swell your o-rings so just beware. If you encounter swollen rings, leave them for a day.