How to remove mold before painting your bathroom
When you start to detect dark stains and mold in your bathroom, it can be as good an incentive as any to do a thorough spring cleaning and repainting to make your bathroom feel brand new and welcoming again.
Mold is a major problem that can sometimes lead to health problems, so it is always ideal to remove and keep mold at bay and investigate the causes that may be causing it, especially if you have young children in your home.
So what are the basic steps to removing mold?
Remove mold from walls
Before painting your bathroom, you will need to remove any mold from all areas that will be covered. You can use bleach or a bleach-based product to remove mold stains.
However, for something less harsh, you may want to use another household cleaner like sodium borate. These cleaning methods will help kill mold and prevent further growth. You should try to kill all the mold that you can reach.
Identify ways to prevent mold from reoccurring
Mold forms when there is too much moisture in a room and not enough ventilation. Mold is microscopic, so you can’t see it being released by mold on your walls. But it floats invisibly in the air and causes health problems for those who breathe it in. They can also settle on other surfaces in the room and grow even larger.
Bathroom Ventilation
There are some important ways to make sure they don’t come back. This could include replacing your bathroom fan with one that provides better ventilation. You should keep your fan running while you clean and use your bathroom. You should also open a window if possible when your bathroom is foggy to let the excess moisture out. If they come into another part of the house after you open the door, you should do the same for nearby rooms.
Behind Items
It’s also a good idea to keep items away from the walls, as moisture can collect behind them. This means removing paintings, shelves, racks, etc. If you have cabinets, leave enough space between them and the wall for ventilation. Also, check for leaky plumbing, which could be causing excess moisture, and make sure there are no areas where mold will continue to grow.
Prepare the walls
Once you have worked to remove mold from your bathroom and have completely cleared it of fungal features, you will need to prepare the walls and/or ceilings for painting. You will need to fill any necessary wall repairs, holes or gouges. Then, sand the walls with medium-grit sandpaper and brush away any dust. Vacuum the floor to get rid of any mess.
Before your final coat of paint, you may want to add a mold sealant, paying special attention to areas where you are experiencing mold stains. The coating helps prevent any mold and mildew from growing within the dried paint film.
