In terms of application, it goes on very nicely and has decent enough coverage so a drop of paint goes a long way. It is a pricey product and unless you were going to be painting large areas, you might be better off giving this a miss as smaller quantities are simply too expensive. Johnstone’s durable matt is pretty much any professional painter’s dream paint. It goes on interior walls and ceilings like a dream which means you don’t need to worry about any unevenness or brush marks. It’s also very low odour which is a particular selling point, especially if you’re working with paint all day. Please note - Scribble Mat pens are specially designed to be used only for these reusable silicone mats. If used incorrectly they may stain areas of the mats and little one's clothes. Please supervise your child's use of the pens.

So why do professional painters opt for a trade paint like Crown Clean Extreme over ‘washable’ retail paints? Well, you will reduce overall maintenance costs in labour and material due to the longevity and prolonged aesthetics of the paint over a longer period. So whilst the initial cost of a paint like Crown Clean Extreme might seem high, overall it will provide you with more value over the long run. Over the last few years, I’ve noticed more and more professional painters embracing Johnstone’s new products with the Aqua Guard (satinwood) being another favourite of tradesmen. So what’s all the fuss about?

It should go without saying but the clue is in the question. Washable matt is (obviously) washable which means it will typically be easier to clean than regular matt paints. But that’s not the only advantage it enjoys – washable matt paint tends to be better at resisting stains and grease too so that you don’t have to deal with them in the first place. Optiva 3 is great paint. I’ve been using it solidly now for about 2 years and used Optiva 5 before that. It’s very durable too. Taking the 4th and 5th spots are Tikkurila 5 and Tikkurila 3 with the professionals seemingly at loggerheads as to which one is the best washable matt paint.

Optiva 5 was clearly a big favourite amongst many decorators but it seems their recent batch isn’t up to standard. It’s very possible that they’ll tweak the formula in the coming weeks, however. Optiva 3 with its flat matt finish is an interior designer’s dream. Worth a buy if you’ve got the money. Whilst we’ve used the paint a couple of times, we thought we’d reach out to self-employed professional decorator Chris Marsh for his opinion:

Reviews

Are your products safe? Our pens are safety compliant non toxic erasable whiteboard markers. We have test reports that meet the U.S. Canada, EU, UK and AUS/NZ safety standards. The silicone mats are FDA approved BPA free food grade silicone. We consult ACCC documents. I regularly use Macpherson’s Acrylic Matt because it’s ridiculously durable. Yes, it dries with a soft sheen but it’s a good trade off in my opinion. It covers in most colours in 2 coats which is a bonus. Leyland Hard-wearing Matt (Joe Sexton)

With 35% of the vote share from the 136 participants in our poll, Johnstone’s Acrylic Durable Matt is a clear winner, getting almost twice as many votes as 2nd place. To be honest, this doesn’t totally surprise me. Yes, I’ve noticed a big difference in it. It used to be brilliant and my go to paint. Now looking at changing again as there’s flashing happening above door facings, had it picture frame (even doing 1 wall at a time) and now showing up the slightest imperfections in walls. Why are there limited pens? When we started we selected four main pen colours. The pens slot into the felt pouch with the mat making a complete portable product for storage and ease. More pens = more to lose, overwhelming for children, and less focus on the process of colouring. This way children can just colour without worrying about needing specific pens for the mat characters. Rainbow and stripy animals are fun! Is Scribble Mat™ suitable for children under 3? Scribble Mat is ideal for children over the age of three as they can comfortably hold the pens and are usually out of the mouthing stage. Young children must always be supervised with pens due to the potential for choking on a pen lid. Coming in second place is the Crown Clean Extreme scrubbable matt which is estimated to withstand up to 10,000 scrubs. In terms of durability, it doesn’t get much better than that.

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Beyond the practicality of the paint, the Optiva 3 has a variety of stunning colours, especially with the current interior decor trends in 2021 (think dark blues and greens). Furthermore, the Optiva 3 has a dead flat finish (compared to the Optiva 5 which has a slight sheen to it) which is definitely “in” at the moment. It’s also an incredibly versatile paint. It is suitable for use anywhere around the home and due to its remarkable durability, it can withstand many washes as well as withstand the environmental demands of kitchens and bathrooms. Perhaps the best feature fo the Diamond Matt (apart from it being washable of course) is the smooth finish you can achieve. Due to the consistency, it’s very rare that you’d get any brush or roller marks, especially if you’re using decent equipment. Whilst professionals have loved the Optiva 5 over the last few years, in May 2021 Tikkurila recalled the Optiva 5 due to complaints from many in the trade. The general consensus as of June 2021 is that the Optiva 5 has lost a lot of its quality due to changing the formulation of the paint.

Dulux’s Diamond Matt is one of the best washable matt paints on the market and is perfect for any DIYer. Are your pens washable? Our pens are specially designed erasable whiteboard markers and we suggest only using our pens on the mats. They will wipe off the mats and hard surfaces such as wooden tables and walls but may be absorbed into fabrics. We cannot guarantee they will wash out of clothes; please supervise children when using pens. Taking 3rd place as voted for by 15% of the professional painters and decorators we surveyed is Dulux’s consistently reliable Diamond Matt. This isn’t all too surprising to us. Dulux’s Diamond matt has a good reputation among tradesmen as a reliable, durable and stain-resistant emulsion. Whilst the Optiva 5 is causing some headaches for Tikkurila, the same can’t be said about the Optiva 3. As of June 2021, it’s a big favourite amongst decorators due to the ceramic technology within the paint which makes it easy to wash. The information presented may include pricing or technical inaccuracies, may be incomplete, inaccurate or out of date, and may contain typographical or other errors. Fantastic – No Plastic takes no responsibility and will not be liable for such inaccuracies.It’s very possible that respondents to our poll hadn’t used the latest iteration of the Optiva 5 so it’s tough to say if the Optiva 5 deserves its place on this list. We asked AS Decorating for some more specifics on whether they’ve noticed a change. Here’s what they had to say: