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A good brush is a good investment, it will give better results than a cheap brush, it will be easier to use and it will last longer. Cheap brushes tend to be stiff which make sit difficult to avoid leaving brush marks. They also pick up less paint and so tempt you to immerse them more deeply in the paint and this results in the brush being clogged up, difficult to clean and likely to drop flecks of old paint on to the next painting job.

Cheap brushes also tend to shed bristles as you paint, at least a couple of which you may not notice until your otherwise immaculate surface has dried.

The way to tell a good brush is to check the bristles. These should be plump, soft to touch and long. The best brushes are made of natural bristle which is usually hair of boar or hog. Synthetic fibers are thinner and smoother and hold paint less efficiently. If in doubt the price of the brush is a good guide to its quality.

Paint brushes come in many sizes, some with unusual handles for getting into corners. For most indoor uses and large expanses of furniture a 2 inch brush is the easiest to handle. Use a 1 inch brush for more detailed work such as drawer handles and narrow edges. Larger brushes and rollers and sprays, are not appropriate for painting most wooden surfaces.

Before using a new brush prepare it by breaking it in. New brushes always shed some hairs and usually hold odd bits of dust and dirt. Flick the bristles against your hand to clear these out. Then wash the brush in warm, soapy water and rinse it thoroughly in clean water. Lay it flat to dry out. The first use for a brush should be on undercoat or primer so that any stray bristles that may fall out can be dealt with easily where they matter least.

Care of brushes is essential or they wear out and give shoddy work. It is always best to finish a coat of paint completely before breaking off work, even for a meal, as there will probably be an uneven result when you resume. But if you have to leave a job unfinished a plastic bag will keep the brush from drying out for up to an hour.

Clean brushes thoroughly when you finish painting. Working from the handle towards the tip, scrape off excess paint with the back of a knife. Clean emulsion brushes in water and a mild detergent, rinsing in clean water. Rinse other brushes in white spirit or a commercial brush cleaner. Scrape excess liquid from all brushes by wiping on the edge of a board, then pat with newspaper.

When completely dry wrap brushes in plastic bags to protect them and store them flat.

Proper cleaning of brushes does not take a great deal of time, and the effort will be repaid handsomely next time you paint.