Chalk paint really marking up - is it just shite?

[Indecisivelurcher]

Hi folks, well subject says it all really. What can I do?! I spent hours sanding my table top and painting the legs and the chairs. Used rustoleum chalk paint and a coat of lacquer. It looked great, for about a day. It seems to mark up really easily, black finger print marks, food stains (2 young kids). If I tried to clean it, the paint just came off! I've just repainted all the chairs. How can I stop it just happening repeatedly?! Should I put some proper varnish over it maybe?! I'm not expecting it to stay perfect forever... But it's blummin awful so far! I wish I'd never bothered!

Bump

You could try a proper varnish top coat or they make quite a few colours in their satin range which I think isn't as nice as the chalk but could be more hard wearing. I used some of the B&Q own brand chalk/Matt furniture paint recently, it wasn't on a table, it was on a mirror so obviously won't be getting knocked etc but I was really impressed by it and personally I think it's better than rustoleum, it seemed to go on less patchy, maybe worth a re paint with this brand instead? X

Chalk paint by it's nature isn't hard-wearing at all, it's just chalk on a surface, a good trade varnish might stop the wear but you lose the matt effect, but the only way to get a good, lasting finish is to prep, undercoat and paint with an eggshell paint.

Thanks people. I haven't got it in me to strip the lot and start again. I've applied 2 coats of polyurethane and will just have to accept its not going to last.