How do I get ash from my fireplace off the walls?

I've tried everything! Soap & water, bleach, and other stain/cleaners but nothing is taking off the ash above my fireplace. I have white walls, and don't want to paint to cover it up.

It is soot, not ash.... thanks to everyone who reminded me about the Mr. Clean Magic Sponge! I've used it for crayon marks, and will give it a try!

Scott was rude. Ignore that. Is it actually ash or is it soot? There's a little difference. Soot is kind of greasy. Ash should just brush away. I recently sooted up a wall at my office by leaving a candle burning overnight. I just knew my boss was going to kill me. I used this fairly new product (the one I bought was by Mr. Clean, but some more have come out since then). It's called a miracle eraser. It looks like a white sponge but you don't put any chemicals on it. You just dampen it and wipe. No elbow grease needed. It's well named because I was able to get that mess off the wall and my boss never noticed it, I use it all the time at home now, GREAT for cleaning the bathroom - the porcelain, the chrome fixtures, everything. It also works great on those places on the wall that always seem to gather hand prints like going around a corner or at the light switch or just above the doorknob. Hope this works for you.

If you have tried all of this you are going to have to repaint. If you have a gas fireplace try not turning it up to high. I have had that happen from doing that. You might want to try a Mr clean magic eraser. Those things work well unless your wall is very textured. Test a small spot and see what happens. Good luck.