Removing Water Stains from Drywall

Written by Amy Gordon (last updated September 23, 2019)

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.

Author Bio

Amy Gordon

Amy Gordon loves keeping things simple, natural, and safe so she can spend more time having fun. Every day she learns new things about making life at home easier and she loves to share it with you! ...

MORE FROM AMY

Clean Aluminum with Fruit

Scrubbing aluminum pots and pans can sometimes bring back their shine, but abrasives can be damaging to aluminum ...

Discover More

Make a Checklist for Cleaning Chores

Making a checklist will help to give you a sense of accomplishment when you get things done. It will help you to remain ...

Discover More

Removing Stains from Countertops

Countertops are difficult to clean once a stain has set into the surface, because most countertops are made of porous ...

Discover More

The Power of Microfiber! Zwipes Microfiber Cleaning Cloths will become your favorite tool for every cleaning task. This 36-cloth package is perfect for hundreds of uses in the garage, kitchen, bathroom, laundry, and all around the house. Each cloth is tough, streak-free, lint-free, reusable, and washable. Check out Microfiber Cleaning Cloths today!

More Cleaning Tips

Removing Cobwebs from Your Walls

Unfortunately, cobwebs happen, and there's not much you can do to completely eliminate them. You can, however, remove ...

Discover More

Dust Your Wallpaper Regularly

Wallpaper, like any other home decor, needs to be dusted and cleaned on a regular basis to make a house look bright and ...

Discover More

Removing Soot Stains from Walls

Soot can get anywhere and is usually difficult to remove in one try. Chemically treated sponges are used to remove the ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is eight more than 8?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.