How to remove mould before painting your bathroom

When you start to spot dark spots and mould in your bathroom, it can be as good an encouragement as any to have a thorough spring clean and re-paint to get your bathroom feeling brand new and welcoming again. Mould is a fungicidal problem that can sometimes lead to health issues. As such, it is always ideal to remove mould and keep it at bay – and investigate any causes that might be leading to it – especially if you have young children in your home. So what are the key steps to remove mould?

Remove mould from walls

Before you paint your bathroom, you will need to remove mould from any areas that will be covered. You can use bleach or a bleach-based product to remove mould stains. However, for something less harsh, you may prefer to use another household cleaner, such as sodium borate. These cleaning methods will help to kill the mould and prevent it from growing further. You must try to kill all the mould that you can reach.

Identify ways to prevent mould from reoccurring

Mould occurs when there is excess moisture in a room and not enough ventilation. Mould spores are microscopic, so you can’t see them being released by the mould on your walls. However, it floats invisibly in the air, causing health problems for those who breathe them in. They also settle on other surfaces in the room to grow further.

There are some key ways of ensuring they don’t return. This can include replacing your bathroom fan to one that provides better ventilation. When cleaning and using your bathroom, you should keep your fan running. You should also open a window if possible whenever your bathroom is steamed up to let any excess moisture out. You should also do this for any nearby rooms once you have opened the door if it penetrates elsewhere through the house.

It is also a good idea to keep items off the wall as these can collect moisture behind them. This means removing paintings, shelves, racks, and so on. If you have any cupboards, allow enough room between them and the wall for them to stay ventilated. Also, check for any leaking plumbing that could be causing excess moisture, and ensure there are no areas of mould remaining that will continue to grow.

Prepare the walls

Once you have worked to remove mould from your bathroom and it is completely free from any fungal properties, you will then need to prepare the walls and/or ceilings for painting. You will need to make any necessary wall repairs, filling in holes or dents. Then sand the walls with a medium-grit sandpaper and brush off any dust. Vacuum the floor to get rid of any mess.

You may want to add a mould-sealing primer before your final coat of paint, paying key attention to areas where you’ve experienced mould stains. When it comes to paint, we recommend adding our Star Paint Food Grade Enamel over the top as the final coat. It is ideal for areas where there is constant humidity. The coating helps to prevent any mould and mildew from growing within the dried paint film.