STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

lindsayp · Kenneth Cole

mold is not my friend

june · Nine West

I know that Kilz (the primer) makes a version that is supposed to cover stains from mold, and perhaps it prevents future mold (?), but not sure if it kills the mold that is there. I would check home depot or some other hardware store. Although, it sounds like the mold is in the drywall, and if it is, it might need to be replaced. Get someone's expert opinion and then get your landlord to replace it, if that's what it needs. It's not safe to live in all of that mold...

gruiz · Kenneth Cole

Absolutely. We used Mildew-Proof paint in our bathrooms and so far have not had any problems. It contains some kind of chemical that prevents mold and mildew from growing. The brand we used is: Zinsser (there's a red "target" on the can). Just make sure you clean your walls w/ bleach as usual before painting so that you have a good surface to start with. It's available at Lowe's and Home Depot...places like that. Good luck!

f413 · Kenneth Cole

I would definitely have the landlord investigate and take care of it and get at the root of the problem. I've heard (on tv) of nightmare health problems caused by mold.

lindsayp · Kenneth Cole

thanks for all the suggestions!! I'll do some research on paint and stuff like that and take it to the landlords and see if they'll want to just paint or get an opinion. I bet that's why my boyfriend's always sick and has allergies, ugh!!

e_doli · Dooney & Bourke

gruiz is totally right. the zinzer mildew proof bathroom paint works but you have to be sure to wash the walls with bleach first to kill the mold, and you have to do 2 coats of it. the mildew proof-ness is a 2 coat process.

there is also a mildew proofer that you can just add to regular paint. it comes in little packets and it's called add-2 (i think, but any paint store will know what you're talking about). i used this in house that had a horrible mold problem and its been 2 years and no mold has come back.

i'm not sure what the price difference is b/w getting the zinzer mildew proof paint and getting regular paint and adding the add-2. the only reason i would say to go one way or the other is that you can only get the zinzer paint in light colors (they only make it in a light base), so if you wanted to do anything darker than an off white, you would have to use the add-2 with regular paint.