How do I clean a paint spillage?

All surfaces nearby painting should be covered prior to painting. However, if paint does spill, action must be taken immediately as if it is left too late there is little that can be done. Use a hard flat surface (e.g. spoon, piece of card, edge of dustpan) to scrape up as much surface paint as possible. Then with old cloth, wipe up the residual paint. If the paint is water-based (i.e. brushes can be washed out in water) clean the area well with water, repeating until clean. If the spill occurs outside, hose down with water and scrub until clean. If the paint is solvent-based try and lift to lift up and wipe off as much paint as possible as above, washing down preferably with a detergent. If the spillage is outside, wash down preferably with a detergent and rinse with water. Contaminated rags should be disposed of safely. Where solvent-based paints have been used, rags should be damped down with water and sealed in a metal container, to avoid self-combustion.