Mold & Mildew

It would be perfect if a fresh coat of paint, especially over a good primer, would cover stains, water marks, and mildew. In fact, when the paint is still wet, it may appear to cover. As it dries, however, these stains will seep through and you'll end up with a fresh coat of stained paint. Before you prime or paint, remove stains and mildew. It takes elbow grease, but cleaning will save time in the long run because you won't have to repaint. Regular household bleach diluted with water is extremely effective in destroying the spores that cause mildew. Water stains need to be fixed at the source before you repair the wall or ceiling.

Beware what you breathe. Don't mix bleach with other household cleaners. Household cleaners often contain ammonia, which reacts with bleach to produce toxic fumes. Inhaling such fumes can cause dizziness, nausea, cramps, or extreme illness. If you do breathe such fumes, get outside and breathe fresh air until your symptoms disappear.