Best mold and mildew resistant paints

If you’re a new homeowner, you need to look into mold and mildew resistant paints to prevent these annoying microorganisms from growing on your walls. Mold and mildew can grow anywhere as long as it’s damp enough. Mildew is less harmful and can be prevented with mildew-resistant paint. Mold is much more dangerous, as it can cause infections, allergies, asthma, and other breathing problems. Mold also can be prevented with mold-resistant paint. To avoid any health problems, it would be safer to invest in paints that will keep mold or mildew away from your home.

Best mold and mildew resistant paints

1. Rust-Oleum 276087 – Best mold killing primer

Rust-Oleum Mold Killing Primer is a water-based paint that has been specially formulated to remove any existing mold or mildew and can cover approximately 160 sq. ft. per gallon. This mold-killing paint is suitable for interior and exterior walls.

Rust-Oleum 276087 primer produces a low scent coating meaning you would not have to endure strong fumes. And the best thing about it is that you do not need to do any substantial pre-cleaning before application. You simply paint over mold or mildew and it would be dry to touch in 30 minutes. After 72 hours, you can apply a top coat to further enhance its abilities and increase its longevity.

Rust-Oleum Mold Killing Primer is EPA registered and recognized as one of the best mold killing paint for its high quality. It has also been found to be suitable for household areas, as well as business and industrial buildings. This primer is versatile and does the job well. It would work well in areas such as bathrooms, wall gaps, factories, and more.

Rust-Oleum is formulated with an antimicrobial agent that will prevent any subsequent growth of mold or mildew, so buying this primer due to its anti-mold properties will ultimately pay off.

2. Rust-Oleum Corporation 02711 Mold and Mildew Proof Interior Paint

Rust-Oleum Mold and Mildew Proof Interior Paint is a satin finish paint specially formulated for treating wet areas such as bathrooms or laundry rooms. It is a unique and highly effective mildewcide paint that will help reduce the growth of mold and mildew in your home.

This primer and paint in one can handle up to 400 sq. ft. per gallon. You don’t have to spend extra hours priming the walls, which will save you money and time.

This paint dries to the touch within 30 minutes, and the topcoat can be applied after an hour. Once the paint has been applied, you will notice a smooth finish with full coverage, thus completely preventing mold or mildew from growing on your walls.

This Rust-Oleum is considered one of the best mold and mildew resistant paints for bathrooms due to its suitability for wet rooms. In addition, this paint contains a low odor coating as well as anti-fading properties that will make it last for years.

Rust-Oleum Mold and Mildew Proof Interior Paint should be on your pick list, especially if your home is prone to moisture so that mold or mildew does not build up on the walls.

3. KILZ L204511 Kitchen & Bath Interior Latex Primer / Sealer / Stain blocker

KILZ Kitchen & Bath Primer is an excellent moisture-resistant primer that is best suited for areas with high humidity and dampness such as bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms. Moisture usually causes mold and mildew to spread, so applying this primer will help reduce the further spread of mold and mildew in your home.

KILZ primer incorporates a mildew-free film that prevents mold on the walls, which can get stuck between the primer and the paint.  Along with this, it can handle up to 300-400 square feet per gallon, and it also delivers a smooth and balanced finish. This allows the paint to be used on a variety of interior surfaces such as drywall, wood, brick, etc.

KILZ Kitchen & Bath Primer provides a high level of shade change protection and can limit most indoor stains including grease, felt-tip pen, ink, etc. It also promotes good adhesion and also has the ability to seal permeable surfaces.

In addition, KILZ Kitchen & Bath Primer is a low odor paint that dries quickly. Another coat can be applied after 60 minutes. It’s easy to clean and a great paint product, especially if you live in a high humidity area.

4. KILZ Interior/Exterior Basement and Masonry Waterproofing Paint – Best for wet areas

This is another paint from KILZ specially made to be waterproof. Since mold and mildew usually form in humid environments, it is recommended to use waterproof paint to prevent their growth. Waterproof paint will be most suitable as bathrooms are the wettest places and therefore mold or mildew tends to develop here.

KILZ paint can cover permeable cement and brick surfaces, both indoors and outdoors, treating up to 200-300 sq. ft. In its development, the manufacturer used nanotechnology, which creates a barrier that prevents water penetration.

KILZ waterproofing paint also contains an alkali-resistant coating that provides a durable, sturdy, and smooth finish.

It is available in many shades to keep your home looking fresh and clean. The paint has a thick consistency that gives your walls a high-quality feel. Simply apply this paint to well-prepared walls to protect your home from the dangers of mold or mildew.

KILZ Basement and Masonry Waterproofing Paint dries in 60 minutes and can be overcoated within 4 hours, depending on the humidity in the room.

5. KILZ Self-Priming Masonry, Stucco, and Flat Paint – Good for all surfaces

Another product from the KILZ brand that we decided to include in our TOP list is acrylic latex paint, which is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. This paint can prime itself and provides an anti-mildew coating. It is suitable for all surfaces such as masonry, brickwork, etc., and has excellent water repellency and adhesion properties.

KILZ self-priming paint is designed to highlight any type of textured surface, allowing it to retain its original texture.

Its coverage ranges from 200 to 400 sq. ft., depending on surface texture and application technique. It is additionally alkali-resistant which allows for simple application and clean-up.

The paint can be applied in a variety of ways, depending on your preference. It can be rolled, brushed, or even sprayed onto walls, however, all surfaces must be clean and free of dust, oil, mold or mildew stains, and other unfamiliar substances.

This KILZ paint is available in many other colors. Thanks to its water-based formula, it can preserve the original texture of your wall.

With this product, your walls will be free from the growth of mold or mildew as this high-quality paint will prevent them from forming.

6. Prestige Interior Paint and Primer in One

Prestige Interior Paint and Primer in One is premium paint that does not require a separate wall primer. Since it already contains a primer, this paint will provide an effective painting method, saving you time and effort.

In addition, this paint is ideal for interiors such as living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, etc. The availability of many colors and types will allow you to create your dream home. Prestige paint includes vibrant colors that will give your home a whole new look.

It is an acrylic latex that can be easily cleaned with soap and water. Along with this, this paint is durable, washable, and easy to apply. It can take up to 4 hours to dry completely, and the semi-gloss finish will make your walls look brighter and shinier.

It is an excellent mold prevention paint as it inhibits its growth.

7. Diamond Brite Paint 40400

Diamond Brite 40400 has been developed as a mold-resistant paint for areas that are constantly exposed to splashing water or steam, such as bathrooms, kitchens, or laundry rooms.

This mildew-proof paint will help reduce the appearance of brown stains. Painting over mildew on your walls with Diamond Brite 40400 will cover up brown spotting and any future buildup will be prevented.

Along with this, Diamond Brite Paint 40400 makes it easy to clean up fingerprints, stains, and grease with plain soap and water. Surfaces must be thoroughly cleaned and prepared in order for the paint to work best on your walls. It is recommended to prime the surface first before painting to reduce the need for a second coat.

Diamond Brite 40400 dries in about 30 minutes and gives your walls a completely new look-after application.

How to choose the mold and mildew resistant paints

Choosing the best mold and mildew resistant paint may be a struggle as there are so many products to choose from in the market. However, when deciding, you must always consider picking paints that are specific to your needs and situations. To help you, we have listed a few features to consider when choosing mold and mildew resistant paint.

1. Guaranteed duration

When picking paints for your home, you should initially think about the duration of the paint. It is critical to check the endurance and strength of the paint to ensure that it will be able to prevent mold and mildew buildup for a long time. Having durable paint will also help you save money and time as you will not have to keep buying and applying more paint onto your walls.

2. Base

The base is generally the fluid part of the paint that vanishes once the paint is dry. There are two types of paint bases: oil-based paints and water-based paints.

• Oil-based paints generally have a higher gloss level due to their formulation. However, the disadvantage of this type of paint is that the sheen becomes dull over time.
• On the contrary, water-based paint produces a lower sheen finish, but these sorts of paints can maintain their sheen level much longer.

Overall, we recommend utilizing water-based paints as they discharge less volatile organic compounds (VOC) than oil-based Paints. Water-based paints have also been discovered to be better for the environment and they are adaptable which forestalls any cracking.

3. Finish

There are various sorts of paint finishes that you may should consider as this would add to how your home will look eventually.

• Low or semi-gloss

Low or semi-gloss paints are shiny. They are durable and mildew resistant, so they are utilized in rooms that create more moisture such as kitchens or bathrooms. Because they are glossy paints, they additionally flaunt blemishes on your walls much easier.

• High gloss

High-gloss finishes are the shiniest kind of paint finish. They are additionally the strongest and easiest to maintain. Prior to using high-gloss paint, you must prep your surface first as these types of finish show off blemishes when applied wrong.

• Satin

Satin finishes are the most well-known type of indoor paint. These types of paints have a velvety sheen and are simpler to clean than flat or eggshell paints. They are also suitable for areas such as kitchens, playrooms, bathrooms, etc. The lone issue with satin paints is that it flaunts brush strokes on the wall, therefore, any touch-ups on your wall are not recommended.

• Matte (flat)

Matte paints (also called flat paints) have the least amount of shine. They also provide the most coverage and require fewer coats than other types of paint. However, they are not durable and are usually used in areas such as dining rooms.

• Eggshell

Eggshell finishes are well known as they are somewhat more radiant than flat paints, and they have good coverage. They are sturdier than flat finishes and are appropriate for places such as living rooms, entryways, and hallways.

3. Water-resistance

Because mold and mildew generally form in areas that are prone to moisture, it is important that you choose paints that are water-resistant to prevent any mold or mildew from ever-growing on your walls. Having waterproof paints for your bathrooms or kitchens is recommended as these are the areas that generate the most moisture.

4. Priming

Priming may not seem significant, but paint primer helps form a steady surface that your paint would stick itself to. It gives protection and hides any surface stains. To save both time and money, we suggest purchasing a mold and mildew resistant paint that can prime itself. Using a primer and paint in one is as effective and less time-consuming than separately priming your walls.

5. Coverage area

Knowing the coverage area of the paint you pick is important as this would help you calculate how much paint you need. Accordingly, you should check how many square feet a specific item can paint per gallon.

6. Anti-microbial properties

Because you are attempting to forestall the development of any mold or mildew on your walls, you should consider purchasing a paint product that has anti-microbial properties. This helps kill or moderate the increase of microorganisms such as mold or mildew.

7. Drying time

Paint drying time can vary according to brands or types of paint. Some paints dry to touch within 30 minutes, while there are some that may take 72 hours to dry totally. It is essential to check the dry time of the paint you are purchasing so that you will know how long you need to wait prior to applying a second coat or a topcoat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I paint over the existing mold?

The paint itself does not kill mold, so simply covering up existing mold will not eliminate it. If you want the paint to cover mold, we suggest using KILZ products as this is an anti-mold paint. However, make sure to spray the area with a bleach and water mixture prior to painting.

What are EPA-approved fungicides and mildewcides?

The term “EPA-approved” means that a product that should not pose any danger to your wellbeing. Therefore, an EPA-approved fungicide is a pesticide that is safe for you and it prevents the formation of fungi, while an EPA-approved mildewcide is an agent that is not hazardous and will diminish mildew.

Is mold-resistant paint toxic?

Mold-resistant Paint is like any other paint; however, it has anti-microbial properties that diminish the further development of mold. While normal paint can be entered by mold, Mold-Resistant Paint will act as an obstruction and will prevent mold from growing. However, you must remember that it is just a barrier and will not eliminate the mold from your walls.

How long does mold-resistant paint last?

Mold-Resistant Paints last for different periods according to brands. However, the widely recognized period is from 4 to 6 years. For your mold-resistant paint to last long, you should ensure that your surfaces are thoroughly sterilized, cleaned, and dried prior to the application of the Mold-Resistant Paint. We also recommend using a primer, sealant, and a paint guard to increase the lifespan of your mold-resistant paint.

Where can I use mold-resistant paint?

Areas that are inclined to the development of mold and mildew such as bathrooms and kitchens are the places where mold-resistant paint is most suggested. This is because these areas generate the most moisture. Kitchens produce steam from cooking, while bathrooms generate steam from showers. This generated moisture can add to the development of mold. 

What is better between mold-resistant paint vs mold-killing paint?

Mold-resistant paint has anti-microbial properties that give protection to the painted surface. These properties keep mold from entering by acting as an obstruction. It will not dispose of existing mold; however, it will decrease the chances of new mold growth. Be that as it may, Mold killing paint is a fungicidal protective coating that is utilized to cover and kill mold. It additionally contains an anti-microbial that forestalls the increase of mold. Mold-resistant paint will be safer because it simply inhibits mold growth. However, mold-killing paint contains pesticides which are an effective method of removing mold from your walls.

Final thoughts

In our guide, we’ve listed the best mold and mildew resistant paints. We hope you have gained the necessary knowledge to use during your renovation to prevent the spread of mold and mildew in your home.