Removing Water Stains from Drywall

If you've had a leak, it can be very upsetting to realize you have a huge watermark on your drywall. Here are some useful instructions to remove this mark from your wall.

First, you need to make sure that whatever caused the water to leak into the wall or ceiling has been fixed. Have you fixed the roof or re-caulked the upstairs shower? Check to make sure no more water is leaking in. Be sure to call in a professional plumber or repairperson if need be, to prevent further damage.

Kill any mold or mildew that may be present due to the moisture by rinsing the wall with a mixture of equal parts chlorine bleach and water. Be sure to wear rubber gloves and goggles while scrubbing down the stained area of the wall or ceiling. This bleach solution will also remove many lighter stains.

Once you're certain that the source of the leak has been fixed, and that you've killed any fungi growing on your wall, you may have already removed the stain with the bleach. If not, you will need to repaint the stained part of the wall. (If the wall has been damaged, you may need to replace parts of the drywall. Otherwise, if the damage is purely cosmetic, you can paint over it). To repaint, you first will need to use a primer—check with the paint store for a primer suitable for use over water damage. Once you've painted with the primer, paint the area again with regular paint.