What Should I Do if My Bathroom Paint Is Moldy and I Would Like to Repaint?

Identifying Mold

• Before deciding what to do about stained, painted bathroom walls, first ensure that you really have mold. Spots or areas that have changed color -- to white, red, orange, black, yellow, blue or violet -- may signal mold, but not every color change comes from mold. A telltale musty or earthy scent or visible signs of water buildup or leaks likely mean you should suspect mold. Place a drop of plain bleach on a spot to see if it loses its color quickly. If it does, you likely have mold; if it does not, the stain probably comes from another source.

Cleaning up Mold

• You can scour mold off most hard surfaces with a mixture of water and detergent if the affected area covers 10 square feet or less. Wear a protective mask or respirator and rubber gloves to prevent health issues while removing mold. If you have larger areas of mold, or mold that returns after cleaning, you likely need to call in a professional mold abatement company or contractor. Discard and replace moldy drywall, ceiling tiles or other soft or paper-based items.

Preventing Bathroom Mold

• Keeping water and moisture off your walls and other surfaces helps prevent the growth of mold in your bathroom, which includes finding and repairing any leaks and removing all moisture as soon as possible. Mold often reappears in bathrooms with improper ventilation. Increase the ventilation with a good ceiling fan, and use it regularly during and after showers to cut down on the possibility of mold growth. Opening a window also helps increase air circulation. Regular cleaning and drying the walls and other surfaces also will help.

Repainting the Walls

• Never try to paint directly over moldy spots or patches. The mold will continue growing under the paint, causing it to peel off. You must remove all mold, and cure the source of the problem before repainting your bathroom walls. If, however, the mold has penetrated the painted surface of your wall, you will need to remove the drywall and anything that has gotten moldy behind it before you can repair the wall and paint. This extent of work requires the help of a contractor qualified to handle mold cleanup.