With a little care Harris products should give years of faithful service, re-paying the original investment many times over.

After use in oil based paint, your brushes, rollers or pads should be soaked in a proprietary brush cleaner or white spirit and then washed out with warm running water and a little washing-up liquid. Brushes can then be shaken to discharge excess water, left until dry and then stored horizontally with the bristles wrapped in paper to preserve their shape. Roller sleeves and pads should also be left to dry naturally.

If you wish to use a paint brush with oil-based paint again within a day or so, you can leave the brush head tightly wrapped in clingfilm, or alternatively, in a jar of water up to the line of the paint.

TRADE TIP: Do not leave brushes in water for long period of time however, as this will invariably ruin them.

After use with emulsion paints, brushes, rollers or pads should be washed thoroughly in warm running water until all trace of paint has been removed. A Harris 6 in 1 Painters Tool is especially good for removing excess liquid from paint rollers. Dry and store your decorating tools as described in the oil-based instructions.

TRADE TIP: Never wash brushes in hot water, or expose them to direct sunlight for long periods, as this may cause the bristles to curl.

All steel bladed decorating tools have a protective film of lacquer that is applied to them as a barrier against rust before they leave the factory.

However, once the tools are put into use, the lacquer is quickly worn away, which can leave tools susceptible to rust if mistreated. Always clean and dry your decorating equipment after use and keep it stored in a dry place.

TRADE TIP: Shavehooks can be lightly oiled to help keep rust free.