I don't know if the old paint on my skirting boards is oil based or Water based. How do I find out?

If you rub some methylated spirits onto the paint, using a cloth that is a very different colour to your skirtings, then if the old paint is water based, you will notice some colour come off and onto the cloth.

If you rub some methylated spirits onto the paint, using a cloth that is a very different colour to your skirtings, then if the old paint is water based, you will notice some colour come off and onto the cloth. If the old paint is oil based then you will just clean the surface but not dissolve the paint.