I bought my sister the cleaner when I bought her a MAC brush collection, but she is not that thrilled about it. I guess you are supposed to put some cleaner on a clean tissue and then swipe your brush on it. Ugh. That doesn't sound like it gets it really clean, or you would have to use a LOT of that fluid. ( can be diluted with water 1:1) Anyways, I like to reaaally wet mu brush when i clean it, just like my hair. I use a gentle clarifying shampoo, since it is designed to remove build up from hair anyways. But I still swipe it back and forth with shampoo on the tissue, but then rinse it under flowing water.