Sometimes spending time in our bathrooms can almost feel like we’re on the set of a horror movie. Mold and mildew growing in the corners, on the ceilings, and some bizarre, horrible oily stuff oozing out of the walls. These things are real and they’re very common. But the good news is that they’re very easy to fix! In today’s episode, Betsy and Dan talk about how you can fix the problems and, better yet, avoid them in the future!
Episode Outline
- Surfactant Leaching (0:27)
- How Do You Fix Surfactant Leaching? (5:33)
- Mold & Mildew Problems (8:31)
- How Do You Fix Mold & Mildew Problems? (11:23)
- Avoiding These Common Problems Entirely! (16:34)
- Ventilate with the Right Bathroom Fan (17:31)
- Use the Right Paint! Aura Bath & Spa (23:30)
- Let the Paint Dry! (26:16)
Killing Mold and Mildew
Killing mold and mildew isn’t complicated. It just requires a little care! (We don’t want you to wreck your clothes, burn your skin, or blind yourself.) So, wear old clothes. Probably some gloves. And don’t forget safety glasses. (No, you probably won’t look terribly cool, but being able to still see when you’re done is worth the concession.)
Once you’ve got all your safety gear, just mix 1 part bleach to 3 or 4 parts water depending on how bad the situation is. Then wipe the affected areas down. Or, you could put the solution into a spray bottle and spray the mold. Either way, let it sit for about 10 minutes or so and then rinse the areas with clean water.
At that point, in most cases, the mold and/or mildew will be gone and the surface will look as good as new. If not, and you decide you need to repaint, then you’ll want to prime those spots with either B-I-N Primer or RepcoLite’s own ProFlo Alkyd Primer.
For a more thorough discussion of all of that, just click here!
Finding the Right Bathroom Fan
As we mentioned in the episode, a bathroom fan is critical to dealing with (or even avoiding) many paint problems that can occur in there. However, it’s important that you find the right fan. Bathroom fans are rated by Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM’s). Usually, this works out to about one CFM per square foot of bathroom area. Below is a chart to help you determine which fan is right for you, taken from The Home Ventilating Institute (and, judging by their name, they should know!)
| BATHROOM SIZE | MINIMUM VENTILATION (CFM) REQUIRED |
| Less than 50 sq. feet | 50 CFM |
| 50 - 100 sq. feet | 1 CFM per sq. foot of floor space |
| More than 100 sq. feet | Add the CFM requirement for each fixture:
Toilet 50 CFM
Shower 50 CFM
Bathtub 50 CFM
Jetted tub 100 CFM |
Aura Bath and Spa: The Perfect Bathroom Paint
Whether you’ve had scary paint issues in your bathroom or not, Aura Bath and Spa is the paint you’ll want to use the next time you paint. In fact, it’s hands-down the first paint we suggest when recommending a bathroom paint. It’s a problem solver and a problem “preventer!” It’s mold and mildew resistant and it will resistant surfactant leaching better than any other product out there! Here’s some more features:
- Optimized for humid environments
- Extreme hide for fewer coats
- Color Lock Technology means no color rub-off
- Zero VOC, low odor
- Stains wash off easily
- Excellent touch up
- Self priming
- Easy application and clean up
- Provides a mildew resistant coating
One note: While Aura Bath & Spa has excellent resistance to surfactant leaching when applied to new substrates, surfactant leaching stains on existing coatings can telegraph through Aura Bath & Spa if they are not removed prior to painting. So make sure you wash the walls well before you paint!
We recorded an interview with our Benjamin Moore Sales Rep, Kevin Hermann regarding Aura Bath & Spa that is worth listening to if you’d like more info. It can be found here!
Click here for more info on Aura Bath & Spa
