11 best washable paints for stain-free walls

Score: 87/100

If you’re looking for a classic chalk finish, you don’t need to scroll any further. Frenchic’s colours were a good match to its on-the-tin colour, although you may need a few coats to achieve your desired finish. The paint was effortless to apply (both brushes and rollers achieved a smooth finish), it had only the mildest of odours and it dried to the touch within an hour.

As for its washability? Despite a lack of cleaning guidance, we found stains wiped off easily when tackled quickly – in fact, felt tip pens left no residue. After 24 hours, it was trickier to remove wine, tea and foundation (although we managed to eventually), while biro wouldn’t budge. We were, however, impressed with its scuff resistance as no marks were left after cleaning.

Samples available for £0.47

Score: 85/100

Here’s the paint to go for if you need one that’s child-proof. While it doesn’t come with much guidance, cleaning immediately after staining was simple and only a slightly visible biro mark was left. In fact, it was the only paint that removed foundation entirely.

A day later, it was trickier to remove stains, but we did lift most with just faint wine, coffee and tea marks left. It also withstood scuff marks well, with no change in appearance after scrubbing.

When we opened the tin, the paint had separated, so you may need to mix it before application. It dried to the touch within one hour though, and the colour references were accurate. Apply with a paint brush for the smoothest finish.

Samples available for £1.99

Score: 84/100

With 172 colours on offer, Mylands is sure to have your perfect shade. The blue and white paints we used matched our colour expectations; however, the green was darker than displayed on the tin and online.

It was easy to apply, and dried to the touch in just over one hour, with a smell closer to a reed diffuser than traditional paint. Ketchup, mud, toothpaste and vegetable oil all lifted off straight after staining and 24 hours later, making it one you can rely on for the kitchen, bathroom and hall.

Be careful with the likes of wine, curry sauce and foundation, however, as we struggled to remove them.

Samples available for £5.50

Score: 84/100

For hallways and areas of your home prone to scuffing, this paint is a game-changer. It only dropped one mark for its scuff resistance, with no marks appearing on the wall. Most stains wiped off easily too, with ketchup and red wine in particular scoring full marks, both straight after staining and after 24 hours.

Colour references are online only, rather than on the tin, but there’s ample information online including instructions on how to clean stains. We found the paint easy to apply but we had to mix it quite a bit before use, and it was a bit bubbly on the wall when we used both a roller and brush. It dried to the touch in just over an hour.

Samples available for £5.40

Score: 83/100

This paint tin opens easily and we only needed a small amount to achieve a single coat. It was smooth to apply and dried quickly – to touch within an hour – and our tester found its subtle smell pleasant. There’s a large selection of colours to choose from and we found the paint matched our expectations.

It was impressively resistant to scuffing; no marks were left behind and just a little paint came off when we scrubbed it clean. Felt tip, ketchup, mud, wine, oil and toothpaste all cleaned off well but tea and coffee did cause some slight discolouration, and while it was easier to clean pen marks, there was still some remaining. A reliable choice with ample colours available.

Samples available in store at B&Q

Score: 78/100

This great-value paint slicked on evenly, without being too wet or sticky, and provided brilliant coverage with just a single coat. The majority of stains came off fully if the walls were washed immediately but it wasn't particularly scuff-resistant.

Some of the colours dried a touch darker on the wall than expected, with the white looking greyer on the label, but we were pleased that cleaning didn't alter or dull the finish. The can is made from 50% recycled materials, too.

Samples available for £2.25

Score: 75/100

Famous for its true-to-colour shades with whimsical names, Farrow & Ball's paints are pricey yet prestigious and the same can be said for its washable range. It rolled on easily, leaving no obvious brush strokes where a brush had been used, and it was dry to the touch in two hours.

With the exception of greasy cooking oil and foundation, stains lifted off easily without impacting the finish. It dulled slightly where scuffed, but that's a common problem with a matt finish.

Samples available for £5.50

Score: 74/100

This washable paint is easily applied with both a roller and a brush, has just the right consistency and goes a long way. Unfortunately, despite its stain-repellent claims, most stains left a faint mark, even when wiped off immediately.

When we tried to scrub off foundation, some paint came off on our sponge too, and the matt finish looked slightly shiny after scuffing. It's affordable but not the best quality, so be prepared to touch it up frequently.

Samples available for £2.50

Score: 74/100

The bright white shade in Crown's washable range is a perfect colour match to the hue shown on the can when dry. Happily, it remains just as fresh and vibrant after washing. It claims to be stain-resistant but roughly half of the stains we applied left a mark, even when washed off instantly.

It showed signs of dulling when scuffed and our brush strokes were obvious after a touch-up. Families may be unable to look past these flaws, but the modern matt finish is striking for lower traffic areas.

Samples available for £2.25

Score: 73/100

Packaged in tins made from recycled materials, this true-to-colour paint has a good consistency (not too thick or thin) that makes achieving even coverage a doddle. Washing the walls didn’t impact their colour or finish and stains were easily removed if cleaned immediately.

Scuffing did leave a slightly dulled patch but our touch-up brush strokes weren't obvious, so that's an option if you've got the time. We got through quite a lot of paint while testing, refilling our roller more frequently than usual, making this high-end brand best for those with bigger budgets.

Samples available for £5.50

Score: 72/100

This lower-priced option comes with comprehensive instructions and looks the same on the wall as it does on the pot. It's quite sticky, resulting in patchy coverage in places and obvious brush strokes, but we liked how easy it was to open and re-seal.

Bar red wine and tea, most stains were successfully banished if washed off immediately. Unfortunately, some paint came off on our sponge when we tried to remove older, dried-on stains, so move quickly when disaster strikes!

Samples available for £2.25