THE WASHABILITY AND DURABILITY TEST OF THE MONTH

Five Products that were tested in the month of June for washability and durability

The following products are all low VOC, interior latex matte finish paints.


CONTESTANTS


Aura - Benjamin Moore                         Luxe  -  C2 Paint              Eurolux - Fine Paints of Europe

              Emerald - Sherwin Williams                                   Aqua borne Ceramic -  Graham    

TESTS

Hershey's Syrup Test - (Which is when we place Hershey's Syrup on the test samples, rub the syrup
into the board, and let the surface dry for 5 minutes.  Then, take the scrubbing side of a sponge and attempt to take off the Syrup).

Gulden's Mustard Test - (Rub the mustard into the surface, let dry for 5 minutes, then scrub off.  This tends to be a harder to beat test than some of the others).

Heinz Ketchup Test - (Rub the ketchup into the surface and let dry for 5 minutes.  This tends to be the test that most paint coverings will do well on).

Colorant Test - (Place a small amount of colorant on the board, let dry for about one minute, then scrub off.  This tends to be one of the most challenging tests for paint products).

Sharpie Marker Test - (Draw a line through the middle of the test board, let dry for twenty seconds, then scrub off.  This test is one of the most challenging tests for paint products).

GRADING

If a product passes a test, there will be an  "O".  If a product fails to pass a test, there will be an "X".  If a product does so-so, there will be a  "/".

RESULTS


Emerald - Sherwin Williams

Heinz Ketchup Test:       O
Hershey's Syrup Test:      /
Gulden's Mustard Test:   X
Colorant Test:                 X
Sharpie Marker Test:      X

Overall, not too great of a result.  The Emerald Matte finish product only seamed to really wash the ketchup test off.  The Hershey's Syrup Test is so-so because, yes, the syrup washed off but there was still a little black color stained on parts of the board where the syrup was applied.


Aura - Benjamin Moore

Heinz Ketchup Test:       O
Hershey's Syrup Test:     O
Gulden's Mustard Test:   O
Colorant Test:                 X
Sharpie Marker Test:      X

Overall, not a bad score.  This product was washable but did not wash off our colorant or marker test.


Aqua Borne Ceramic - Graham

Heinz Ketchup Test:        O
Hershey's Syrup Test:      O
Gulden's Mustard Test:    O
Colorant Test:                  X
Sharpie Marker Test:       X

Overall, not a bad score.  The difference between Graham and Ben Moore's Aura is that the sharpie marker eventually did come off after vigorous scrubbing of the Graham paint.  But, the paint itself came off as well.


Luxe - C2 Paint

Heinz Ketchup Test:        O
Hershey's Syrup Test:      O
Gulden's Mustard Test:    O
Colorant Test:                  O
Sharpie Marker Test:        /

Overall, very good score.  This product was really washable and did actually pass our colorant test.  The sharpie marker test came at a so-so because some of the paint came off when scrubbing the marker.  The marker did come off but so did a little bit of the paint.


Eurolux - Fine Paints of Europe

Heinz Ketchup Test:        O
Hershey's Syrup Test:      O
Gulden's Mustard Test:    O
Colorant Test:                  O
Sharpie Marker Test:       O

Overall, perfect score.  Eurolux passed every test with all of the paint still on the sample board.  This stuff is tough!