In a method of cleaning a paint application
system when switching between two different types or colors of paint, at least a predominant portion of the first paint (35) remaining in a paint line (3) is caused to flow back into its paint supply container (5). Then the entire paint line is flushed out using a flushing medium, before supplying the second paint through the paint line. In this manner, the paint remaining in the painting
system at the end of a painting cycle is not wasted, but rather is saved to later be reused. A paint application apparatus includes a paint supply switching device (4), at least two paint supply containers (5 to 8), a paint
spray nozzle (2), and a paint line (3) connecting the color switching device (4) to the
spray nozzle (2). Two
receiver stations (28) and (31) are interposed in the paint line (3), and a shuttle element in the form of a
pipe cleaner swab (29) is arranged in the paint line (3) so as to be able to shuttle back and forth between the two
receiver stations. A pressure medium or flushing medium can be introduced into the paint line (3) between the first
receiver station (28) and the spraying
nozzle (2), so as to push the
pipe cleaner swab (29) through the paint line (3) to the second receiver
station (31). Thereby, the paint remaining in the paint line (3) is pushed back into the paint supply container.