There is a lot of confusion surrounding mold resistant paints. They are very effective in removing mold and keeping it from returning, as mold resistant paints can be used to paint over mold and remove it, in addition to offering up to 5 years of guaranteed prevention against its future spread.
But - there are several steps that you need to take to give your new mold prevention paint the best possible chance of success.
In simple terms, you should always remediate the cause (damp, a water leak, water ingress, poor ventilation etc) before using this type of paint. We have written about this before in our article on whether painting over mold can kill it, and we will likely cover this topic further in the future. However, such a thing as mold killing and mold resistant paints do exist and they do have their advantages.
A mold resistant paint or anti mold paint isn't the only method for treating mold - but when the product is of high enough quality - it can indeed have a significant effect on increasing the difficulty for future mold growth and spread.
For that reason, we wholeheartedly recommend their use in high moisture and mold prone environments as the best bathroom paint to prevent mold as well as in your basement, kitchen and other areas that are suffering from mold.
Mold Resistant Paint Reviews
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Where Can I Use Mildew Resistant Paint?
Mold resistant paints are designed for rooms with extra moisture in the air. That means the kitchen, the bathroom, humid closets, the attic, the basement, the garage, and pretty much every room in your house that has had mold and moisture-related problems before.
Mold Resistant Paint vs Mold Killing Paint?
A mold resistant paint won’t solve your moisture problems, but it makes it harder for mold to take hold and spread across your walls, thanks to the way the paint is made. It is better to paint over mold with a mold killing paint rather than with a mold resistant paint otherwise you will often find that the infestation will keep spreading underneath the coat and can damage the wall or grow beyond the paint. If you're using anti mold paint, clean the area completely and dry it off, and apply the mold resistant paint afterwards.
The way mold resistant paints work is due to the fact that they contain antimicrobial ingredients that help prevent the growth of mold on painted surfaces. There are a lot of different companies that make mold resistant paints on the market. Most of them can be found in any reputable home improvement store such as Lowe’s, Home Depot, Menard’s and many others.
One brand we recommend is Graphenstone. Graphenstone eco paints are traditional eco-friendly paints with added graphene for durability and enhanced longevity. They are naturally resistant to mold due to the very high pH levels of lime which prevents mold and fungus growth.
To name some of the other top brands we recommend, you can look for:
- Benjamin Moore Aura
- Valspar Reserve from Lowe’s
- Behr Marquee in Home Depot
- Rust-Oleum from Zinsser
- Clark + Kensington Enamel from Ace
Some mold resistant paints that we wouldn’t recommend would include:
- HGTV Home Ovation by Sherwin-Williams
- Color Place Interior from Walmart
- Glidden Premium from Home Depot
How Do I Use Anti Mold Paint?
Painting walls and surfaces with a mold resistant paint, particularly on places that have history with mold is a three-step process:
1. Wash The Wall As Well As You Can And Let It Dry Afterwards
Mold can be a real stubborn problem sometimes, so don’t expect an easy battle. Cleaning mold can be a really expensive and time-consuming process, not to mention that sometimes you might even be forced to look for professional help.
We are not telling you all of this to exaggerate the problem and scare you – more often than not you’ll be perfectly able to deal with the problem – but simply to prepare you. Before painting you need to make certain that you’ve cleaned the surface as well as possible. After that, let it dry off completely. It doesn’t matter how mold resistant the paint is if you apply it over a wet wall.
2. Protect And Seal Everything You Couldn’t Wash Away
Some areas of your home will feature a ton of small nooks and crannies that make cleaning mold more irritating than it should be – there is often a spot that just won’t completely clean. You always want to apply painter or masking tape to the areas that you don’t want to paint, but you also want to use a mold sealant to the remaining mold spots that you just couldn’t remove. This isn’t as effective as completely removing the mold spot, but it’s infinitely better than just leaving it there.
3. Paint Walls And Wait For A Day
Especially in a bathroom, give the paint a little extra time before taking a bath or raising the moisture levels in the room in any way. Even when the paint seems completely dry, it still isn’t as well sealed as it will be later. Drastically raising the moisture and humidity levels in the room or the bathroom can cause the paint to soften and run even if it looked dry beforehand, so wait a good 24 hours just to be sure.
Our Recommendations
Zinsser Perma-White Mold & Mildew-Proof Interior Paint - Best Bathroom Paint To Prevent Mold
Rust-Oleum Perma-White Mold & Mildew Proof Interior Paint
This is a washable and scrub option from Rust-Oleum that comes in a Perma White color. Its finish is stain and moisture resistant, which makes it great for mold-prone surfaces. Also, it is self-priming, meaning that it sticks to the surface by itself. It is also water based and has a low odor that won’t bother you too much.
Contains a Mildewcide to prevent the growth of mold and mildew on the paint film only – this comes with a 5 year guarantee. It also resists dirt and water stains.
Rust-Oleum Mold & Moisture Resistant Paint
A great Satin paint from Rust-Oleum, this universal color will fit in any bathroom or any other place with high levels of humidity and moisture.
It is a water based paint with a low odor that is also uniquely designed to resist high moisture levels and prevent the development and spread of mold and mildew. This is thanks to its Mildewcide formula that works successfully for up to 5 years.
Rust-Oleum Mold & Mildew Proof Paint
A bit of a different option from Rust-Oleum, this is an oil-based mold resistant paint with an ultra-low odor – much more so than standard latex paints.It too contains a Mildewcide formula that guarantees that there won’t be any development or spread of mold and mildew on the painted surface for the next 5 years.It is also guaranteed to act as a barrier against water and has twice the strength of other water proofers.
Zinsser Rust-Oleum Mold Proof Paint
Another option from Rust-Oleum, this one comes in a great Egg Shell color. As with all Rust-Oleum paints, its washable and scrubbable and also has a stain and moisture resistant finish.
It is self-priming and easily sticks to whichever surface you paint it on. It is water-based and has a low odor and it also contains a Mildewcide to prevent the growth of mold and mildew on the paint film only.
Conclusion
There are our 5 suggestions for mold resistant paints on Amazon, in addition to our 5 suggestions for the paint brands that you should consider buying. Which one you choose depends entirely on local availability, as well as your preferences for color.
We ourselves are really keen on the Zinsser Perma-White Mold & Mildew-Proof Interior Paint, because of its great price-to-size ratio and its excellent mold resistance properties. It is easy to apply and providing you apply enough coats, there is no reason for your mold outbreak to return.
Whichever is the best choice in mildew resistant paint for you – we wish you easy and joyful painting and a lot of mold-less years to come!