Having the right tools and equipment

Rollers
Shorter nap rollers are best for oil based paints and medium nap rollers for water based paints. Short nap rollers are ideal for gloss paints or for painting onto smooth surfaces. Medium nap rollers are used for water based paints onto plaster. Long nap rollers are best for rough or textured surfaces.
 
What Size Roller is Best?
Select your roller size based on the job you are planning to do.

*    230 - 270mm for walls, ceilings, floors and paths.
*    130 - 180mm for large cupboards, doors and furniture
*    80 - 130mm for trims and small surface and Wrought Iron.

Preparing Roller Covers:
For water based paints spin the roller to remove any dust. Rinse in water to remove any loose fibres. For oil based paints rinse the roller in mineral turpentine and spin it dry.
 
         
    
     
Paint brushes
Selecting the right size paintbrush
Paintbrushes come in many shapes and sizes. Choosing the right one can be a daunting task. Think about the size of job you are doing, the type of surface you are painting and the type of paint you are using. As a rule, the better quality the brush, the better the final finish. Cheap brushes can be a barrier to achieving a good finish.
When using water based paints, synthetic bristle brushes are best and tend to be less prone to leaving brushmarks. Natural bristle brushes are best for oil or solvent based paints.
A 100mm or wider brush is ideal for large surfaces such as walls, ceilings, floors, roofs and chimneys. They can hold a lot of paint and so can become heavy to the inexperienced user.
A 65 to 75mm brush is suitable for medium to large areas like cupboards, floorboards, steps, fascias, guttering, eaves, door, skirting, large pipes, picket fences and outdoor furniture.
A 38 to 50mm brush is best for small to medium jobs like doors, screens, table tops, pickets, cabinets, furniture, small panels, window frames, trestles, mouldings, shutters, downpipe and garden tools.
Small brushes, 12 to 25mm, are great for small jobs, touch up work and hard to get at areas. They are also good for toys, chairs and other small areas.
 
              
     
Cleaning Up and Disposing of excess paint
Rollers:
Use a paint roller cleaner. Hold the roller frame vertically and place it on the paint tray. Slip the loop of the wire paint roller cleaner over the top of the roller. Hold firmly and slide the cleaner slowly down the cover. Repeat this two or three times.
 
Oil paints:
Pour mineral turpentine into the tray. Soak the roller cover in solvent working the mineral turpentine in with your fingers (it is advisable to wear solvent resistant gloves). Work the roller up and down the tray, drain and repeat the process. Rinse the cover with warm soapy water and spin dry. Repeat until the roller is clean then stand on it's end to dry.

Paint Disposal:
When purchasing paint try to estimate the exact amount of paint required to reduce waste. The best and easiest way to dispose of paints is to use it up. Apply another coat or keep for touch up as necessary rather than disposing of excess.

Water based paint can be left to dry by removing the lid and allowing the paint to harden in an area away from children and animals. Dried water based paint is suitable for disposal in household rubbish collections.
Do not pour leftover paint down the drain.  Unwanted paint should be brushed out on newspaper, allowed to dry and then disposed of via domestic waste collections. Empty paint containers should be left open in a well-ventilated area to dry out.  When dry, recycle steel containers via steel can recycling programs. Disposal of empty paint containers via domestic recycling programs may differ between local authorities. Check with your local council first.

Solvent based paint should never be poured down drains or on the ground.

Solvent based paints should kept safe and secure until they can be disposed of as a household hazardous waste. Wait for a "Hazardous Waste Collection Day". Contact your local Council or State Government Environmental Protection Agency for advice.
Do not pour unwanted paint down the drain. Keep unwanted paint in sealed containers for disposal via special chemical waste collections. Empty paint
containers should be left open in a well ventilated area to dry out. When dry, recycle steel containers via steel can recycling programs. Disposal of empty
paint containers via domestic recycling programs may differ between local authorities.  Check with your local council first.

Thinners and solvents have an almost unlimited shelf life if kept in a sealed container .

Store away safely for future use. Never pour down drains or a storm water sewer.