Now to the problem at hand. As you may have already learned the hard way – or learned by reading this far if you haven’t experienced it first hand – paint over mold isn’t going to do anything to help. In fact, it could make it look even worse than it actually is.The first thing you need to do is check whether it’s actually mold that you’re dealing with.The best way to do this is to apply bleach to the affected area. If the ‘mold’ gets lighter, then you have a confirmed diagnosis of mould. If it doesn’t, then it might just be dirt, and your tenants have left your property in a scruffy state (though if they’ve painted over dirt and you can still see it, it must be a really bad paint job!)
- Cleaning the Affected Surface Now what you want to do is remove as much of the dirt and fresh paint from the surface as you possibly can. This will give you a full appreciation of what you’re dealing with.
- Stripping Off the Original Layer of Paint In order to avoid any little space of left mold, we’re going to need to strip off the original layer of paint too, so you can check beneath it and clean if necessary. This will also help you see whether there are any cracks coming through the plaster or walls underneath, which may indicate a larger damp or structural problem.
- Wipe Down the Surface Before you repaint – or tile – the surface, you first need to wipe it down. This will remove any residue that remains on the surface, as well as preventing paint removal solution from drying on the surface, which will then affect your ability to repaint it later.Once you have done this, wipe the area dry, and leave it for a couple of days to ensure no mould re-appears.
- Apply Anti-Mould Solution, Use Antibacterial Paint Additive, or Use Anti-Mold Paint
If you’re repainting, you now need to choose what to do:
- Decide whether to apply an anti-mold solution to the surface before repainting. We recommend you do this.
- Choose whether you are going to repaint the surface with anti-mold paint, or add antibacterial paint additive to your existing paint. Choose whichever option you like
