Painting Won't Kill Mold–You Should Do This Instead

Mold is everywhere: outdoors in the air we breathe, coming from damp, soggy areas, from underneath piles of leaves, and more. But when it comes inside and lives in our homes, it can be detrimental to our health.

As Mark Case, Owner of MasterTech Environmental Jersey Shore, says, while mold isn't typically an issue outdoors, it can become one inside homes or buildings that recycle the same air, and this is especially true if mold growth is elevated.

Sometimes, mold can form on interior walls, from things like condensation, leaky pipes and other forms of water intrusion. If your home has experienced a flood, this can bring about mold as well.

If you're taking on a painting project, but you know that there's mold on your walls, it's important to mitigate it before grabbing that paintbrush.

Why Is It Important to Remove Mold Before Painting Walls?

Dr. Eleni Nicolaou, Art Therapist & Creative Wellness Expert at Davincified, points out that mold is a living organism that remains active inside the wall or plaster.

"It continues to grow as long as it has moisture and organic material to feed on," she says. "Painting over it seals the surface and prevents the mold from growing outward, as there is nothing to feed on, so it has nowhere else to go in search of dampness except sideways."

Jeremy Weinberger, MD, Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician at Tufts Medical Center, echoes these concerns, saying, "Painting over mold does not eliminate the underlying problem-it simply covers the visible growth while the mold and the moisture that allowed it to develop remain present."

He goes on to explain that mold can continue to grow beneath the paint and may still release spores and microscopic fragments into the air.

"These particles can be inhaled and trigger respiratory symptoms such as coughing and wheezing," he says. "In less common cases, they can contribute to more significant lung inflammation or hypersensitivity reactions. Individuals with underlying lung conditions, such as asthma, are at higher risk for symptom worsening."

Although you may think that you're doing away with the mold as soon as you paint over it, Juan Bosco Ayala, MD, a Pulmonologist supporting OSF HealthCare patients in the Chicago area, emphasizes that painting over mold does not kill the mold. He also says that it's key to be particularly mindful if children or elderly people are present, since these populations are more sensitive to mold exposure.

How to Remove Mold Before Painting

First of all, Case says that before doing anything else, you should figure out the root cause of your mold, which supersedes a painting project. It could be growing elsewhere in your home, and you need to remediate the cause first. "Control the moisture, and you can control the mold," he says. "For that mold to grow, it needs a moisture source on the wall to feed on. That moisture source should be resolved."

As Case reiterates, painting over mold will never prevent its return.

"Disturbing mold spores via a paint roller or brush will just put those spores into the air and make things worse for the occupants within the home," he adds.

And, in fact-he recommends replacing the wall altogether.

Case says that the gold standard in dealing with moldy walls is replacing the drywall. He explains that "source removal" is the first and foremost priority.

So, what's the bottom line? Painting should be the last thing on your mind when dealing with interior mold. The only way to truly get rid of mold on your walls is to replace the walls. For this, you can certainly take the DIY route (this is where online tutorials come in handy).

Case says, "In the grand scheme of things, a 4 ft. x 8 ft. sheetrock board is relatively inexpensive, and a short YouTube video can walk you through the steps for replacing, taping and spackling. According to the EPA, their guidelines say that if it's under 10 sq. ft., a homeowner can remediate using an N95 mask."

If this is too daunting, keep in mind that you can always hire a professional drywaller to replace the walls.

For additional mold that may be lurking in other areas of your home, it's best to hire a mold remediation specialist. In the meantime, be sure to use dehumidifiers, improve ventilation throughout your home, fix roof leaks and use fans in humid rooms, such as the bathroom, during and after a shower.

Related: 4 Easy DIY Projects That Change the Feel of Your Home Without Renovating

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This story was originally published June 26, 2026 at 8:15 AM.