It may come as a shock to hear that we should NOT be washing paint down the sink. Wastewater treatment plants can't remove paint from our water supply. Paint contains multiple toxins, so it's usually seen as toxic waste and even the smallest amounts can be problematic. Paint can make its way to lakes and streams, causing issues for wildlife and the environment. Instead, let any paint dry out before taking it to your local tip or recycling centre.

If you need to wash brushes, experts advise the greenest way to do this is using two buckets of water, one with soap and one to rinse. This can be disposed of in a waste management or paint recycling centre. If that's not practical, you can use cat litter, sawdust or even recycled cardboard to absorb the liquid and then put it in the general rubbish bin for collection.

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