Mouldy bathroom ceiling, what to do?

Question

we have no vent in our bathroom and 3 years after fitting new suite the ceiling is black. We are planning to move within next couple of years and are on a low (very very low) income so what is best place to start? should I put up a plastic ceiling?

Answer 1

We had the same problem in a rental home we had. What we did was clean the ceiling the with bleach and after that painted the ceiling with "Kilz" to cover any remaining stains and to seal the ceiling. If you can, install a vent, crack open a window while showering, or set up a free standing fan while showering. A small space with no ventilation will mold and mildew with amount of moisture showering emmits.

Answer 2

The only right solution to the problem is to install a exhaust vent in the bathroom to permanently solve the problem. You will need to clean the ceiling with a strong bleach, if you can cover everything in the bathroom put straight bleach in a spray bottle and spray small portions of the ceiling at a time so you won't be overcome with the bleach smell, wear protective glasses and clothing, set a box fan in the door way to help get the fumes out of the bathroom...the bleach will kill the mildew, the prime and paint ceiling with a semigloss or enamel paint, if you can't afford the exhaust fan leave the bathroom door open when you shower or bathe to keep steam from building up, you can also do the fan trick in the doorway to suck the moisture and humidity out of the bathroom while you shower. Without a exhaust vent as long as you have moisture and steam in the bathroom you will have the mildew and even mold problems. Good luck!

Answer 3

There's a product called "Jomax Mold & Mildew " remover comes in a spray bottle for around $6. spray it on and watch it disapper. Wipe it down with clean water and put a bathroom paint made by Zinsser that is GARUNTEED for 5 yrs and they do work, paint your ceiling or your whole bathroom it's up to you this product is any where from $15 to $20 so for less than $30 and a little of your time you can solve it, plus crack your window open when showering. Good luck Les the painter

Answer 4

If you sell this house and try to cover up problems such as mold and mildew you might be caught during your home inspection and the new buyers might think your whole house is not worth buying because you "tried to cover up the problems" instead of fixing them. The cost of knocking out a ceiling and installing a new drywall one is not that great. But very messy. Once the ceiling is down it will be easier to install a ceiling fan. You might have to rent a bigger hammer-drill to make a hole outside to vent or might be able to do it in the attic. My recommendation is to get quotes from local handymen in the area. Get more than one quote. Ask them how much cheaper will it be it you do some of the work yourself. You can probably do the demolition of the ceiling and the cleanup and disposal yourself. You might be able to get the supplies yourself too. If not the whole ceiling is mildewing, then knock out only the section that is. You might be able to bring the sheet of drywall haul it yourself. You can definitely prime it and paint it yourself. Make sure you buy moisture proof primer and paint. It is not expensive and will help keep the bathroom clean in the future. Once you get mold and mildew, the problem is deeper than surface and your problem will come back if you do not eliminate it completely. This can be a big problem because everyone is sensitive to these allergens and kids should not be breathing this. Good luck.

Answer 5

Sounds like a moisture issue. The building codes in my area require that every bathroom have either a exhaust fan or an operable window. For a preventative measures, when bathing open the window or turn the fan on (assuming you have either). Sounds like you should have an exhaust fan installed.

To remove the mold, a home improvement center will carry Germicidal bleach (regular bleach will also work). Follow the directions to mix the solution of bleach and water and clean the ceiling. Use caution because bleach likes to eat colors on clothing if the solution comes into contact with your clothes.

Answer 6

lol, Noooooo plastic ceiling needed, I can fix this problem, White Vinegar, When you want to remove mildew stains, reach for white vinegar first. It can be safely used without additional ventilation and can be applied to almost any surface --bathroom fixtures and tile, clothing, furniture, painted surfaces, plastic curtains, and more. To eliminate heavy mildew accumulations, use it full strength. For light stains, dilute it with an equal amount of water. You can also prevent mildew from forming on the bottoms of rugs and carpeting by misting the backs with full-strength white vinegar from a spray bottle. And to almost eliminate this problem in future, if you rinse out the bath first before filling it with hot water you will have less steam, and while taking a bath or shower leave open a window or the bathroom door to allow the steam to evaporate instead of going on your ceiling and walls. Good Luck !

Answer 7

Clean the ceiling in a solution of bleach and water.
Then after, EVERY shower, spray the ceiling with 'Tilex Clean Shower Spray'

Or, after cleaning, paint the ceiling with a mold/mildew inhibitor additive.

Answer 8

Place a fan in the bathroom and wash the ceiling with bleach water.

Answer 9

Clean it with bleach water. That'l kill the mold. Then paint. Don't cover it with plastic, the mold will continue to grow and could become a health hazard for the next tenant.

Answer 10

Wash with bleach and water then paint with an enamel paint.