Can You Paint Over Mold in The Bathroom?

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By Blake Lockwood | Curated by Blake Lockwood | Reviewed by Blake Lockwood

Blake Lockwood, the seasoned interior designer behind Decor Snob, has made a name for himself with over 30 years of industry experience. As a member of esteemed associations such as the NCIDQ, CIDA, NAAB, and CCIDC, he upholds high standards in his work.  His content is always people-first, reliable, and engaging.

Can You Paint Over Mold in The Bathroom

Mold. No one likes to hear about it, see it, or even have it in their homes. Unfortunately, anywhere there is a warm, dark, and wet space, mold will be. That is not the case all the time, but if you are seeing then don’t expect it to just die because it won’t. You may be thinking, hey, I’ll just paint over it.

So, can you paint over mold? Can mold hurt you? Do not waste time and money trying to paint over mold. The mold will actually begin to eat the paint and show up again.  Painting over mold might actually make problems worse because you risk breaking open mold spores into the air which can be bad for respiratory issues.

Well, there are some paints on the market that are sold to be used over mold, but it’s best to eliminate it by cleaning rather than painting over it. Read below to find out the answers and more.

What Does Mold Look Like?

Mold can be in black, orange, blue, green, or white shades of color. The different colors of mold signify a different type of mold. And just because a mold is black does not mean that it is as harmful as the mold called “black mold”.

Where Can Mold Be Found?

Mold can be found under sinks, on ceilings, in cabinets, around showers, or in them and many more spaces. Mold survives in dark spaces. It must be moist for the mold to live. Mold lives in warm places too. That is why mold is often found around sinks or in bathrooms due to the steam and water of the areas.

Can Mold Be Harmful to Your Health?

Well, mold is certainly not something that you want in your home. Some types of shower mold are dangerous but some mold can actually be deadly like black mold. But, do not be fooled by the name. Just because mold is black does not mean that it is deadly. Check out some of the things that mold can do to the body below.

Illnesses that can be caused by mold are:

  • Respiratory problems.
  • Coughing
  • Sneezing
  • Immune System Compromises.
  • Itching of the Eyes, Nose, and Mouth.
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Memory Loss.
  • Sinus Irritation.
  • Kidney Problems.
  • Nausea or Vomiting.
  • Trouble Concentrating.

These illnesses do not always come from mold. Just because there are signs of mold does not mean that the above things will happen. That is all dependent on if the mold if is toxic or not.

Molds That Are Highly Toxic and Dangerous Are:

  • Black Mold
    This will most likely be very black with some green or even gray tints. Not all black mold is dangerous. The Stachybotrys chartarum is the type of black mold that can lead to death if left untreated in a living environment.
  • Memnoniella echinate
    This mold grows on linens and cotton. It can cause great harm to the body.

Yes, mold can be harmful. Kill it early and you will not have problems. It is easy to kill too for the most part.

How to Kill Mold.

You can kill mold by spraying it with straight bleach. Do not dilute the bleach. Just spray it directly onto the mold. Do not try to wipe the mold away first. This can bust open mold spores and before you know it, mold will be growing all over the home. Simply spray the bleach then allow the area to completely dry.

You can then wipe away the old dead mold. This will eliminate the mold from growing any more in the home. Do make sure to check the area regularly and make sure that all the mold was killed. If you see mold start to reappear simply spray it with bleach again. For more cleaning ideas, check out our how-to and bathroom tile cleaner review.

What About Painting Over Mold?

People will attempt to kill mold by painting over it. Do not waste time and money trying to do so. The mold will actually begin to eat the paint and then everything was pointless. There are some paints on the market that are sold to be used over the mold. These paints may do the trick.

Rust-Oleum 276087 Mold Killing Primer Quart

Note: It is best to kill the mold before attempting to paint the bathroom. This will make sure that it has been eliminated and will not ruin the paint job. Plus, by painting over mold you might bust open spores.

What Are Mold Spores?

You may be wondering what these mold spores are. When mold grows it creates spores that attach along and help it to spread. When the spores are busted open the microorganism inside which are mold, then float in the air. They can then attach to other places in the home causing the mold to spread.

If you do not know what kind of mold you are dealing with it is important to contact a professional. Black mold spores can cause serious illness or even death if the mold spores get into the body or even the lungs. You can read more info about mold at https://www.howtoremoveblackmold.com.

Wait! One More Thing!

Hopefully, all the above information has answered any questions. You can check out this YouTube video in the link if interested in more information on the subject. It is not recommended to paint over mold. Always kill it first. Happy painting.

Photo: Rust-Oleum 276087 Mold Killing Primer Quart

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2 Responses

  1. Thanks for this info, Even i have seen so many paints in the market which says it will kill the mold but I guess this will make the situation worse. Thanks for the info.

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