To wash or not to wash painted walls?

A random stain on the wall can spoil both your mood and your interior. To never fall victim to such troubles, many people choose washable interior paints. Soapy water, a sponge—and the stain is gone. But are these paints truly resistant to washing, or should you be careful with cleaning? Let’s look into the details.

To wash or not to wash?

One of the distinguishing features of coatings is their degree of gloss. Glossy paints create a smooth surface that does not absorb dirt easily and is easy to clean.

Matte surfaces are more textured and somewhat harder to clean. This is something to consider when planning your future room interior.

Speaking of the technical characteristics of the coating, each interior paint has its own level of resistance to wet scrubbing. This indicates how often and in what way you can wash the painted surface. All paints are tested in laboratories for wear resistance, and as a result, they are assigned a resistance class from 1 to 5.

• Paints of class 1 have the highest resistance to wear. These include silk-matte and semi-matte TRIORA paint. Walls painted with these can be washed frequently and vigorously without fear of losing color or damaging the paint.

In addition to interior paints, facade paints also belong to class 1. So, if the room serves technical purposes or is likely to get dirty often, facade paint is suitable for creating a durable coating.

• Class 2 paints are the most common in interiors. They are suitable for rooms that are used actively and require frequent cleaning. Matte TRIORA paint belongs to this category. Such surfaces can be washed as needed—for example, if you accidentally dirty a wall in the hallway.
• Class 3 paints: these coatings are more sensitive to scrubbing than class 2 and are recommended for bedrooms, libraries—rooms that are not used as intensively.
• Class 4 and 5 paints are not suitable for wet cleaning. At most, you can wipe them with a dry cloth to remove dust.

The possibility of wet cleaning and the degree of durability are indicated by manufacturers together with the class on the product label so you know from the start how to care for the surface.

How to wash painted surfaces?

It is best to clean surfaces gently, without using abrasive cleaning agents, stiff brushes, or scouring pads. A soft cloth and soapy solution are optimal for washing.

How often can you wash interior paints? It’s unlikely that you’ll thoroughly wash your walls every week. Rather, washable coatings allow you to painlessly remove occasional stains and freshen up a room. When planning cleaning, always take into account the manufacturer’s recommendations for caring for the coating. This way, your paint will retain its original attractive appearance and your room will delight you with cleanliness.