Painting a room is one of the simplest ways to completely renovate and transform a room. It’s a versatile way to breathe life onto a room that had otherwise maybe become a bit dull and lacklustre. However, life is not always inherently spotless, and certain parts of the house are more susceptible to getting grubby than others – notably, kitchens, hallways and bathrooms.
Picture the scene; maybe you’ve recently painted your kitchen, and you’ve got a delightful new colour scheme in which to cook. You’re preparing your first meal, when suddenly that tomato sauce you had simmering bubbles and spatters onto your freshly-painted wall behind the hobs. Disaster.
Fortunately, there is a way around this infomercial-style scene, and that is washable paint. Conventionally, scrubbing or wiping is not always conducive to the lifespan of painted surfaces. However, recognising that some parts of the home are just a bit more mess-prone than others leads us to washable paint, which is designed to wipe clean without the risk of wearing the paint away where you’ve scrubbed too hard. With that in mind, we’ve sifted through what’s out there on the market and condensed it down to the top 5 washable paint options for you to buy today.
| Name | Coverage | Dry Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dulux Easycare Kitchen Matt | 13 m2 /l | 5 hours | £££ |
| Johnstone’s Vinyl Soft Sheen | 12 m2 /l | 4 hours | ££ |
| Dulux Easycare Washable and Tough | 13 m2 /l | 4 hours | £££ |
| Johnstone’s Kitchen and Bathroom Emulsion | 12 m2 /l | 2 hours | £££ |
| Ronseal Anti Mould Paint | 13 m2 /l | 4 hours | ££ |
Dulux Easycare Kitchen Matt
This paint from Dulux although aimed at kitchens can be used throughout the home. It is designed to be tough and resistant and liquids penetrating the surface. This makes it a treat to wipe down with a soft cloth and watch marks disappear.
It is great at resisting grease which is a common issue in the kitchen. It is available in a range of colours including the ever popular pure brilliant white. If you have kids, a dog or anything a bit clumsy this paint is a treat. It isn’t the cheapest but if it saves you having to put new coats of paint on in the future it could well save you money in the long run and certainly time.
Pros
- Wipeable
- Long-lasting
- Great finish
Cons
- Price
Johnstone’s Vinyl Soft Sheen
Vinyl paint like this one from Johnstone’s is a good choice if you want to be able to wipe your walls (or ceiling) without rubbing the paint off. The structure of the paint is more durable than normal emulsion paint because resin has been added to it.
Johnstone’s version is available in many different colours and provides a mid sheen finish. Most washable paints leave this finish, it is what makes them washable. It has a low odour so you don’t have to worry too much about when you paint. It is well priced, likely because it is not marketed specifically as a washable paint. Many people wouldn’t know unless they ready the specifics.
Pros
- Low odour
- Good price
- Colour choice
Cons
- Large tin
Dulux Easycare Washable and Tough
This Easycare paint from Dulux is designed from the ground up with easy maintenance in mind. You might have a busy kitchen, muddy pets (or children), whatever you might be able to throw at it, and this washable and tough paint will handle it. A big advantage is the wide range of colours available, with 12 different shades in a lovely, smooth matt finish, sure to complement any household.
It’s been designed to be 20x tougher than standard emulsion, as claimed by Dulux, paired with their own proprietary stain-repelling technology, to stand up to the kind of cleaning that would wear away other paints. With a nice consistency that makes it easily applied, it dries in a matter of four hours, meaning bringing splashes of colour into your home needn’t be a huge undertaking.
Pros
- Lots of colours
- Stain-repelling design
- Easy to use
Cons
- Moderately expensive
Johnstone’s Kitchen and Bathroom Emulsion
Available in 11 striking yet subtle mid-sheen finishes (the pictured ‘lime crush’ is a particular favourite), Johnstone’s purpose-designed Kitchen and Bathroom paint has been made with everyday living firmly in mind. Understanding that dirt and muck shouldn’t stop you from having beautiful colours in your home, this paint formula is moisture, stain, grease and scrub-resistant so that wherever you put it, you can keep the area clean with ease.
It’s versatile enough to be used on both walls and ceilings, and is low-odour by design to make your life that bit easier while painting. When compared with other emulsion paints, this offers 10x the protection so is guaranteed to give you brighter rooms for longer. Coming in a 2.5-litre tin, it also represents very slid value for money.
Pros
- Lots of colours
- Good value
- Highly resistant
- Versatile
Cons
- Tricky to clean brushes
Ronseal Anti Mould Paint
This paint from Ronseal embodies the brand itself; no-nonsense and highly effective. As the name might suggest, it’s been designed as an anti-mould paint and as such is highly resistant to moisture, steam and humidity in areas of the house such as kitchens or bathrooms. The emulsion paint is also wipe-clean for any dirt or grease that may get onto it.
Ronseal pride themselves on offering protection with longevity, which they stand their ground on here with a 6-year guarantee on protection from surface mould growth. The formula is quick-drying, with 2 coats needed and only a couple of hours necessary between them. While it’s a little more on the pricey side for the size of the tin, it’s hard to argue with the quality of mould and general grime protection that this offers.
Pros
- Exceptional protection
- Easy to apply
- Good consistency
Cons
- Only one colour
Which Washable Paint To Go For?
Unfortunately, day to day life comes with grime and dirt; it’s just one of those things. However, by investing in some washable paint for especially high-traffic areas, you can make life so much easier for future you by saving them plenty of time and exasperation when it comes to cleaning. We’ve summed up the best options for you when it comes to washable paint, in terms of the overall best as well as the best value for money.
Best Washable Paint – It’s hard not to recommend Dulux Easycare Washable and Tough for the best washable paint. Off the bat, Dulux’s proprietary stain and moisture resistant technology that was used in the making of this paint is a big plus, but the sheer number of different colours available makes it an even better choice for all-out quality.
Best Value – For value, go for Johnstone’s Vinyl Soft Sheen. What you’d pay is on a par with the other paints here, however the fact of the matter is that you get so much more. You’d be hard-pushed to find better value for money, especially considering the range of colours available.
Washable Paint FAQ
What wall paint is washable?
Not all paint is washable, and so if you’re looking for something to spruce up a high-traffic area, make sure to check on the packaging whether to product is wipe-clean or not. There are some generic paints that are wipeable, as well as more specialist paints designed for such an application.
How do you get washable paint out of clothes?
The first suggestion is to wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty! However, accidents happen, but don’t panic. Check clothing labels for any washing guidelines (temperature etc), and soak the affected area in warm water before it dries for best results. If any has dried, try carefully scraping it off first before washing.
How to clean washable paint walls
Usually, cleaning washable walls is a straightforward process. As most are designed to be water-repellent, a simple concoction of washing up liquid and water with a clean cloth is going to capably deal with most grease and dirt.
How to make matt paint washable
If a room is already painted a non-washable matt paint and you don’t want to go through the process of removing, then re-painting, fear not! The best solution is usually to find an appropriate clear varnish and apply sufficiently as per manufacturer guidelines.
How to remove washable paint
Removing washable paint follows a similar process to removing any paint; try and scrape away as much as you can, and use denatured alcohols (making sure to test a small area first) to gently wipe it away.
What kind of paint is washable?
Not every type of paint is washable! The finish of the paint is not something that will affect its washability, but instead whether the manufacturer has designed it that way. So, keep an eye on the packaging to make sure that you can indeed wash the walls.