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Let’s be honest—walls take a bit of a beating. From muddy paw prints and food splashes to sticky little fingers and the odd mystery scuff (we’ve all been there), it’s no wonder so many of us are on the hunt for a paint that’s easy to clean and built to last.
That’s where scrubbable paint comes in.
You might have seen it mentioned on a tin or heard decorators recommend it, but what actually makes a paint scrubbable? And more importantly, is it worth it?
Spoiler alert: yes. Scrubbable paint is one of our decorating must-haves—especially in busy homes, high-traffic areas, or anywhere life’s little messes are likely to show up.
Let’s break it down…
- What is Scrubbable Paint?
- What Makes a Paint Scrubbable?
- A quick guide of all the scrubbable paints
- Why Scrubbable Paint is Worth It!
What is Scrubbable Paint?
Scrubbable paint is a specially formulated finish designed to stand up to cleaning—without rubbing off, going patchy, or leaving shiny marks behind.
In technical terms, it has a higher scrub resistance than standard emulsion paint, meaning you can wipe or clean it repeatedly without damaging the colour or finish. Whether it’s fingerprints on your hallway walls, cooking splashes in the kitchen, or grubby marks around light switches, a scrubbable finish can handle it.
What Makes a Paint Scrubbable?
It all comes down to the paint’s formulation. Scrubbable paints contain more durable binders and higher-quality resins, which create a tougher surface film once dry. This makes them less porous, so stains sit on the surface rather than soaking in—and that’s what allows you to clean them without affecting the paint.
But how do you know how scrubbable a paint really is? That’s where the Class 1 scrub rating comes in.
Scrubbable paints are tested under an industry standard called EN 13300, which measures how well the paint holds up to repeated cleaning. To achieve a Class 1 scrub rating (the highest rating), the paint must lose less than 5 microns of film thickness after 200 scrubs. That’s a lot of wiping—and a great sign the paint will stand up to real-life wear and tear.
In plain terms? A Class 1 paint can be scrubbed frequently without damaging the finish or pulling the colour off—making it ideal for busy spaces like kitchens, hallways, children’s bedrooms and utility rooms.
Scrubbable Paint at a Glance:
- Class 1 Scrub Rating = maximum durability
- Resists staining, marking and repeated cleaning
- Holds up better than standard emulsion
- Great for family homes, pets, and high-traffic areas
- Most often is also suitable for use on interior woodwork or metal (think radiators!) when appropriately primed!
The DCO Top Scrubbable Paints for Real Homes
Whether you're redecorating a busy family hallway, giving your kitchen a refresh or just want walls that can handle real life, here are the finishes we recommend time and time again...
Johnstone’s Acrylic Durable Matt
A real decorator favourite! This Class 1 rated paint is ideal for walls and ceilings in high-traffic areas like hallways, kitchens and kids' bedrooms. It has a lovely flat matt finish that doesn’t compromise on wipeability. Great coverage, hardwearing, and our key feedback…it’s budget-friendly. Available in sizes 2.5L right up to 10L and suitable to be colour matched to thousands of shades, this is a fantastic choice when decorating!
Best for: Busy family spaces that need regular cleaning.
Johnstone’s Cleanable Matt
This clever finish is the next step up from their Acrylic Durable Matt (which is reflected in the price!) but the stain resistance and durability in this product are next level. The Cleanable Matt has been designed for high traffic areas which require frequent cleaning and has technology which prevents stains from seeping into the paint making it far easier to clean. This one is a particular favourite if one of your biggest bug bears is greasy hand stains around light switches! As with the other Johnstone’s products, its available in multiple sizes and thousands of colours including designer colour matches.
Best for: Hallways, kitchens, and any spot prone to daily wear and tear where a super-clean finish is a must.
Leyland Trade Hardwearing Matt
A fantastic trade-quality option that delivers a durable, low-sheen finish. It's easy to apply and dries to a tough, scrubbable surface that resists everyday marks. A go-to for landlords, DIYers and decorators alike. Similar to the Johnstone’s Acrylic Durable Matt, the Hardwearing Matt is available in sizes 2.5L through to 10L and can be colour matched into thousands of shades!
Best for: High-use rooms where value and durability matter.
Crown Clean Extreme Scrubbable Matt
As the name suggests—this one’s tough! This ultra-durable emulsion resists stains, moisture and cleaning without compromising on its smooth matt look. It’s even got some resistance to mould and bacteria, making it perfect for kitchens and bathrooms. One of my favourite benefits of the Clean Extreme Matt is its the only durable matt finish that comes in a tester pot size so you can fully test your product before buying. It's available up to 10L size so great for bigger projects too and can be colour matched to thousands of shades!
Best for: Kitchens, bathrooms and utility rooms.
Macpherson Durable Matt
A trusted, affordable trade paint that punches well above its price. It offers a good scrub rating and a true matt finish, perfect for everyday family life without the fuss. Available in sizes 2.5L up to 10L to fit with your home needs and available to be tinted into thousands of colour options.
Best for: General redecorating where durability is a must.
Dulux Trade Diamond Matt
A premium option with exceptional durability. This Class 1 scrub-rated paint offers stain resistance and a beautiful matt finish that’s easy to clean. Ideal for elegant interiors that still need to be practical. Once again this trade quality paint is available in sizes up to 10L and can be mixed into thousands of colours including some designer colour match shades.
Best for: Stylish living rooms, dining rooms and open-plan spaces.
Dulux Heritage Velvet Matt Emulsion
As beautiful as it sounds, Velvet Matt offers a soft, powdery finish with a luxurious feel—perfect for creating calm, elegant interiors. But it’s not just about the look: this emulsion is scrubbable and stain-resistant, meaning it holds up brilliantly in busy family spaces. Its subtle matt sheen (around 5%) brings depth to colour without adding shine, making it ideal for both classic and contemporary homes. One of our favourite characteristics, there is a beautifully crafted range of heritage colours in their colour collection or alternatively, you can select this paint as a colour match product and have any shade you wish!
Best for: Living rooms, bedrooms, dining spaces and anywhere you want a high-end look with everyday durability.
Little Greene Intelligent Matt Emulsion
A designer favourite that’s as practical as it is beautiful. This environmentally friendly finish is washable, scrubbable, and available in Little Greene’s full heritage-inspired colour palette. Family-proof with a premium feel, the Intelligent Matt emulsion is now self priming and suitable for use on many surfaces, not just your walls! Available in sizes 1L right up to 10L, this superior quality paint finish really is worth the investment.
Best for: High-end interiors that need to stand up to life.
Farrow & Ball Dead Flat
This ultra-matt finish has come a long way—it’s washable and scuff-resistant, making it the most durable finish F&B have ever created. It delivers that signature chalky look that people have come to love with the Farrow and Ball brand but with surprising toughness, taking the market by storm since its launch in 2024. Suitable for use on your interior woodwork also, this is a great choice when opting for the hugely popular colour drenching trend or for your high traffic areas.
Best for: Period homes or anyone wanting a luxe, flat look with hidden strength.
Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion
Don’t be fooled by its soft, chalky look—Modern Emulsion is far tougher than it seems. It’s washable, wipeable, and even scuff-resistant, making it the more durable choice in Farrow & Ball’s wall paint range. With a slightly higher sheen than Dead Flat (around 7%), it’s perfect for busy spaces that need a bit of extra resilience without compromising on that signature Farrow & Ball finish.
Best for: Kitchens, hallways, children's rooms and anywhere that needs both beauty and practicality.
Tikkurila Optiva 5
A flat matt finish that strikes the balance between style and scrubbability. It’s got excellent stain resistance and a smooth, wipeable surface—ideal for homes with little ones or four-legged friends. A hugely popular product with professional decorators and available in smaller 500ml tins so you can test the product before investing in a full sized tin. Available to be colour matched in a multitude of colours and sizes.
Best for: Family kitchens, playrooms and high-traffic living spaces.
Tikkurila Optiva 3
This one’s a beautiful flat matt (the 3 depicts the sheen level!) but it still has impressive scrub resistance and long-lasting colour. It offers great durability in a beautifully low-sheen finish making it an incredibly popular choice when customers are seeking the flattest matt possible. Available to be colour matched in a multitude of colours and sizes.
Best for: Stylish bedrooms, lounges or calm, colour-rich spaces that need to stay fresh.
Scrubbable Paints at a Glance: Quick Comparison Guide
Short on time? No problem! This handy table rounds up all our top scrubbable paint recommendations in one place—perfect for those who need a quick overview without reading through the full blog. Because let's be honest... life gets busy!
| Paint Name | Sheen Level (approx) | Suitable Substrates | Sizes | Colours |
| Johnstone’s Acrylic Durable Matt | 5% | Walls, Ceilings, primed Wood & Metal | 2.5L, 5L and 10L | Thousands including colour matching. |
|
Johnstone’s Cleanable Matt |
<5% |
Walls, Ceilings, primed Wood & Metal | 2.5L, 5L and 10L | Thousands including colour matching. |
| Leyland Hardwearing Matt | 6% | Walls, Ceilings, primed Wood & Metal | 2.5L, 5L and 10L | Thousands including colour matching. |
| Crown Clean Extreme Matt | 3-7% | Walls, Ceilings, primed Wood & Metal | 250ml, 2.5L, 5L and 10L | Thousands including colour matching. |
| Dulux Diamond Matt | 5% | Walls, Ceilings, primed Wood & Metal | 2.5L, 5L and 10L | Thousands including colour matching. |
| Dulux Heritage Velvet Matt | 5% | Walls, Ceilings, primed Wood & Metal | 100ml, 2.5L and 5L | 112 colour collection and colour matching. |
| Macpherson Durable Matt | 5-6% | Walls, Ceilings, primed Wood & Metal | 2.5L, 5L and 10L | Thousands including colour matching. |
| Little Greene Intelligent Matt | 5% | Walls, Ceilings, primed Wood & Metal | 1L, 2.5L, 5L and 10L |
196 colours |
| Farrow & Ball Dead Flat | 2-3% | Walls, Ceilings, primed Wood & Metal | 750ml, 2.5L and 5L | 132 colours + their archive |
| Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion |
Walls & Ceilings |
2.5L and 5L | 132 colours + their archive | |
| Tikkurila Optiva 5 | 5% | Walls & Ceilings | 500ml, 3L and 10L | Thousands including colour matching. |
| Tikkurila Optiva 3 | 3% | Walls, Ceilings, primed Wood & Metal | 500ml, 3L and 10L | Thousands including colour matching. |
*anything with >10% sheen is classed as a matt finish.
Why Scrubbable Paint is Worth It!
With so many scrubbable finishes now available—from trade favourites to designer brands—it can feel like a bit of a minefield when choosing the right one. But the key takeaway? Durability is always worth the investment.
While scrubbable paints may cost a little more upfront than standard matt emulsions, they’re made to withstand real life—meaning fewer touch-ups, less frequent decorating, and walls that look fresher for longer…they’re walls that work! In a busy household, that adds up to a whole lot of time, effort and money saved in the long run.
And trust me—I get it! I’ve opted for a scrubbable finish in every room of my home because, with a daughter (soon to be 2!), a Labrador and a husband in the mix, there’s always something to wipe off the walls. With busy schedules and family life (fur babies included), our walls take a beating—so having a paint that can handle it all really makes a difference.
If you're not quite sure which paint is right for your project—whether it's about colour, budget, tin sizes or which finish will hold up best—we're always happy to help. Just drop us a message, give us a call, or send us a DM and we’ll talk you through your options.
Because choosing paint should feel exciting—not overwhelming! Happy Decorating!
Helen xx
