Developed with professional decorators, all of our tools are either compostable, biodegradable, reusable, or recyclable. 

Making sustainable decisions when it comes to our range of tools was a #1 priority: roller frames with bamboo handles from a managed forest, sugarcane pulp paint trays, and eco-friendly packaging. 

The time has come, you’re finally redecorating. You’ve downed tools after a full day’s painting when it dawns on you: how am I \never\n going to clean these brushes? There are few things less appealing after a day of DIY than cleaning up the mess you’ve made. Fortunately, Lick’s \nwater-based paints\n aren’t just easier on the environment, they’re easier to clean full stop. Meaning you won’t be stuck standing over the kitchen sink.\n\nThat’s because all of our \ndecorating supplies\n are either compostable, biodegradable, reusable, or recyclable. Made from sustainably sourced bamboo, our \npaintbrushes\n and \nrollers\n are designed to have a long lifespan and be easily recyclable or biodegradable once you’re finished with them. As easy to reuse and recycle as they are to use, that’s the idea.

So, if you’re wondering how to clean your paintbrush or how to get your paint roller spotless, read on:\nHow to clean and care for your paint brush and roller\n\nStep 1.\n Remove larger amounts of paint from the brush or roller by scraping it against the inside of the tin. \n\nStep 2.\n Grab your marigolds and prepare some warm, (ideally eco) soapy water in a clean container – rather than in your sink directly).\n\nStep 3.\n Dip the paintbrush or roller into the water, working the soap through the brush’s bristles or roller. \n\nStep 4.\n Rinse and repeat until the water runs clear. \n\nStep 5.\n Pat your brush and roller dry with a kitchen towel or clean, old cloth. Store until your next use.\nTop time-saving tip: \nthere’s no need to clean your brushes and rollers if you're using them the following day. Just wrap the bristles or roller head in clingfilm and seal with masking tape to prevent them from drying out. 

So, now you know how to clean your paint roller and brushes – no excuses. You don’t even have to wash out our \npaint trays\n! Just wait for them to dry until their next use.\nHow to store supplies and leftover paint\n\nOnce you’ve finished with your supplies, store them somewhere they won’t get too mucky. If you have any leftover paint use the plastic bung provided to secure the tin. If the metal screw cap has become clogged with paint, the plastic bung alone is enough to preserve it. Or if you fancy getting creative, take a look at some of our ideas for \nwhat to do with leftover paint\n. \n\nOne for wallpapering rather than painting? Why not take a look at Lick’s \nguide to decorating sustainably with wallpaper\n. We’ve got all the \nsupplies\n and know-how you need to hang it like a pro. \n\nSo, whether you’re painting or papering, happy decorating!

Want to do your bit for the planet while painting? Stay eco-friendly with our eco-friendly decorating tools from our newly launched range of \nLickPro Tools\n. Including brushes, trays, rollers, and more - you know, all that essential gear that makes painting possible.\n\nAll the products listed below are made entirely from sustainably sourced materials such as bamboo and sugarcane and are either compostable, biodegradable, reusable or recyclable. They are tools you'll be proud to work with. Plus, they're all super durable–because what's more sustainable than products that last?\n\nRead on for the full low-down:\nEco-friendly decorating tools: paint brushes \nMeet our brand new bamboo brushes, manufactured using sustainably farmed bamboo. Why bamboo? Well, it grows a couple of feet every day, and you never cut it at the root - which means no deforestation. To top it off, it keeps our air clean by producing up to 35% more oxygen than its alternatives.\n\nIt’s not all just bamboo though. The recycled natural bristles are designed for durability and precise painting, and all the metal used is recycled too.

Eco-friendly decorating tools: paint rollers\nWe've perfected every element of the humble roller, designed to make decorating easier. These \neco-friendly rollers\n have ergonomic handles for your comfort, recycled sleeves to streamline loading up, and quality frames for an effortlessly even finish everywhere.

Eco-friendly decorating tools: biodegradable dust sheet\nYou can’t paint without making a little mess along the way. Protect your floors, furniture and fave things with our  100% recycled plastic, biodegradable dust sheet. Not only is it resistant to spills and splodges, this sheet is also oxo-biodegradable. This means that it can be recycled, and if it isn’t recycled, it will biodegrade in landfill much faster than biodegradable sheets. These sheets only need oxygen to degrade, and will disappear to a safe microscopic level, even safe for marine environments. Good for your wallet, great for the environment.

Eco-friendly decorating tools: painters masking tape\nYep, you can even get masking tape that’s better for the environment. Our masking tape can be disposed of in your at-home recycling bin. For the cleanest, crispest edges, this tape will help you paint inside the lines. It won't damage your walls – just be sure to peel off when the paint is slightly wet to the touch for a perfect finish. Perfect for protecting those skirting boards from splatters. Learn \nhow to use masking tape when decorating\n.

Eco-friendly decorating tools: sugarcane pulp paint trays\nFrom farm to front room, our sugarcane \npaint tray\n has actually been nominated for an award or two. It’s made from organic sugarcane, a by-product of the food industry, and sourced from a collective in Thailand where they train local farmers to cultivate crops sustainably, creating seed banks for future generations.\n\nBonus: the tray is biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable, so you don’t even have to bother with washing it when you're finished. Add paint, use and dry, add more paint, use and dry, add more paint. And it'll stay just as strong after every use until you finally dispose of it, knowing the tray will decompose in no time at all.

But what about your paint and wallpaper? \nGood question. When you buy paint and wallpaper from Lick, we give a little back to try and minimise any environmental damage:\nFor every tin of Lick paint we sell, we’ll remove 18g of plastic from the ocean (the equivalent of 2 plastic bottles), thanks to our friends at \n4ocean\n. \nFor every roll of wallpaper sold, we’re partnering with the incredible \nOneTreePlanted\n to plant a tree.\nNot sure what to do with that leftover paint? Read our guide on \nhow to dispose of paint\n sustainably or even better, all the eco-friendly and creative things you can do with \nleftover paint\n! For more on our sustainability efforts, visit our all-new \nSustainability hub\n.

Bought yourself a stack of stylish wallpaper rolls and not sure where to even start?  You’ve landed in the right place. But first, you’ll need a lot more than just the wallpaper itself to hang it up on your walls.

Prepare to paper a room by arming yourself with all the tools you need for hanging wallpaper (read our guides on \nhow to prepare walls for wallpaper\n, \nhow to use a wallpaper steamer\n, \nhow to hang wallpaper\n and \nhow to wallpaper around a corner\n). Whether it’s your first time or your tenth, gather these essential tools and you’re one step closer to mastering how to hang wallpaper like a professional.
\nThe basics\n
Before you get to the prep and the actual hanging, you'll need a few key items.\nIf you haven’t already got this, start by picking up a roll (or two) of wallpaper. Not sure exactly how much you’ll need*? Always live by the mantra 'measure twice, cut once' meaning be extra sure of your wall or room dimensions before getting started.\nA tape measure and a pencil to work out where to trim. \nA sharp utility knife and scissors. Steer clear of old and dull blades to avoid rips when \ntrimming wallpaper edges\n. \nA stripping knife if you need to remove any scraps of old wallpaper. Get a \nwallpaper removal steamer\n if you’ve got \nlots\n to remove. \nA filler and filling knife to deal with any holes or gaps. You need a smooth surface if you want a flawless finish. \nA piece of sandpaper to sand down any bumpy bits. Smooth surface, remember?

(*Tip: To work out how much wallpaper you'll need, first calculate how many 'panels' of wallpaper you'll need according to the width of the room (i.e. if the wall is 5m in width, and the wallpaper is 1m in width = you'll need 5 'panels'). Then get the length of the room to see how many panels you'll get from each roll. Just be mindful if papering around windows, as you'll need to take those measurements out of the equation. We'd also recommend getting about 10% extra, just in case.)\n\n

What you'll need for the prep\n
Hanging wallpaper can be a messy affair; but with a few prep items - you'll keep any lasting stains or issues at bay.\nSponge, soap and a bucket. Scrub those surfaces to get rid of any grease or grime before you start to hang wallpaper. Dirt can make it more difficult for wallpaper to stick and it can also lead to a bumpy look. Avoid it by creating a mixture of soap and warm water in a bucket and using a clean sponge to wipe your surfaces.  Leave to dry overnight before you get to hanging. \nProtective sheets for your flooring and furnishing. If you like your stuff, move it far, far away before you start hanging wallpaper. If it’s a little too heavy to move out of the room, cover it up with canvas or cotton dust sheets. Throw down some protective sheets on your floor too. Unless you fancy a mammoth scrubbing session after?\nWhat you'll need for the hanging\n
Now, onto the actual hanging.\nProtective mask and safety glasses. Protect your eyes from dust and your lungs from paste fumes by covering them up.\nWallpaper paste and application wallpaper brush. Get a pre-mixed paste to save yourselves a bit of time. \nA clean cloth for smoothing purposes. Smooth as you go to avoid bubbles and blisters.\nPlumb line measuring tool. Get things straight with this handy little tool. \nA stepladder to reach ceilings and other hard-to-reach nooks and crannies. \n--\nGather the goods above and you’re all set to wallpaper up a storm. On to the papering….\nReady to get decorating? Check out \nhow to put up wallpaper\n and \nhow to wallpaper a feature wall\n.

We’re all about eco – eco \npaint\n, eco \ndecorating tools\n, and eco-initiatives. Long gone are the days where sustainability was just a bit of a buzzword; brands all over the world are waking up to the fact that it’s a must-have, and in the world of decorating supplies, it means way more than a line of water-based paint (though it’s a good place to start). So here it is, an eco lowdown on what’s going on in the world of Lick.\nFirst up, facts, figures and setting the sustainable scene\n2020 wasn’t all doom and gloom you know. Searches for the term ‘sustainable brands’ reached its highest peak in five years – if that’s not a beacon of hope and a sign of positive change then we don’t know what is. 32% of adults in Britain state that sustainability now plays a part in deciding what products they buy and which brands they shop from. Half of the adults in the UK have already taken action whether that’s buying less plastic or swapping to speedy showers.

\nHere at Lick, we’ve wanted in on the eco-conscious action from day one. In fact, we’ve made it our mission to influence the global interiors industry’s environmental footprint for the better. To shake it up and to cause a stir, starting with our audit and 2020 \nsustainability report \nwhich you can find on our \nSustainability Hub\n.

In the words of our CEO and co-founder Lucas: “We are living in unprecedented times. Deforestation, ‘forever chemicals’, and greenhouse gasses – there’s no denying that the global decor industry is responsible for some damaging effects on the planet – and now we find ourselves in the midst of a global pandemic. We want to provide stylish interiors without compromising on sustainability, so we bring the decor department to the doors of our consumers, without it costing the earth. From sustainable sourcing and manufacturing to carbon-conscious distribution channels and support of charities that create change, at Lick we are more than just committed to reducing our environmental impact: it is at the forefront of what we do.”\n“At Lick we are more than just committed to reducing our environmental impact: it is at the forefront of what we do.”\nLow VOC paint – say what?\nVolatile Organic Compounds – you can see why they’re referred to as VOCs for short. Aside from choosing \nwater-based paint\n, those with low VOC levels are the next eco box to tick. The fundamental reason \nwhy you should use low VOC paint\n is that it’ll contain fewer harmful substances. VOC solvents create paints that take longer to dry. They’re easier to work with, but their environmental disadvantages far outweigh their plus points. 

Sustainable decorating supplies as standard\nWhen our founders Sam and Lucas set out to create Lick, they were starting from scratch, so why wouldn’t they try to put their best foot forward from the offset? That’s why our line of \ndecorating tools\n is anything but a quick ‘off-the-shelf’ job. Far from it, we work with the first B-corp supplier in Europe.\n\nThat means whatever you pick out from our supplies section will have been manufactured to the highest environmental standards using sustainably sourced bamboo and sugarcane. Everything is either compostable, biodegradable, reusable, or recyclable because we recognise that we could make a difference not just through our paints. \n\nPsst…bedtime \nreading for the eco-conscious decorator right this way\n.

Tools you'll be proud to work with. We've got eco-friendly brushes, rollers, pots and more, all destined to deliver a perfectly smooth & even finish. Plus, they're all super durable–because what's more sustainable than products that last?

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Decorate sustainably with Lick's eco paint, wallpaper and tools