The Best Anti-Mould Paints For Moisture-Prone And Damp Areas

Ronseal Anti Mould Paint is the one we reach for first, and the tin in our testing photos went onto the walls of one of our own damp jobs. It's a matt white for interior walls and ceilings, with a biocide in the formula that Ronseal says protects against mould for up to six years.

Brush and roller both work well with it, and Ronseal puts the touch dry time at around two hours, so a second coat can follow the same day. In our bathroom test it needed that second coat to look its best, which is worth allowing for when you work out how much to buy. Ronseal quotes 13 square metres per litre, so a small bathroom ceiling won't need a big tin.

The matt finish hides small dents better than a sheen does, but if you want something that shrugs off steam and wipes clean more easily, look at Dulux Easycare.

Dryzone is a damp-proofing brand, so it's no surprise that its mould resistant emulsion is pitched as a professional strength product. Dryzone says it stops black mould coming back for up to five years when it's applied properly, which puts it just behind the Ronseal on paper.

The formula is fast drying and low odour, which makes a difference in a small room or one you need back in use quickly. Dryzone says it's compatible with all paint finishes, and it leaves a surface you can wash down. It comes in white or magnolia, with the brand quoting 10 to 12 square metres per litre.

We'd choose it for rooms that keep growing mould despite your best efforts, such as a north-facing bedroom or a utility room with a tumble dryer. The trade-off is cost, as it's relatively expensive for an anti-mould emulsion.

Ronseal One Coat Damp Seal is a basecoat that permanently blocks damp patches and the brown staining they leave behind. It's the second tin in our testing photos, and we used it on our latest damp job alongside the anti-mould paint. Ronseal says it can be painted straight onto damp walls and ceilings.

There's still some prep involved. Any wallpaper needs stripping first, and our guide on removing old wallpaper covers the quickest way to do it. Sand off flaking paint too, so the seal goes onto a sound surface.

Damp Seal stops the damp showing, but it isn't an anti-mould paint, so in a room prone to mould, finish over it with Ronseal Anti Mould Paint. It's touch dry in two hours and comes in 250 ml, 500 ml and 2.5 litre tins. Coverage is low at five square metres per litre, so a small tin only goes so far.

Dulux Easycare Bathroom is made for the wettest room in the house, with what Dulux calls MouldTec technology protecting against mould for up to five years. The brand also says it's up to ten times tougher than its standard matt and silk emulsion paints, which matters when you're wiping off splashes and condensation marks.

The finish is a soft sheen, so it resists steam and wipes down better than a flat matt, though it does show lumps and repairs a little more. Dulux quotes 13 square metres per litre and a full dry within 24 hours. As with the Ronseal, our testing found two coats gave the best finish.

It's also our top pick in our guide to the best paint for steamy bathrooms.

Polycell One Coat Damp Seal seals patches of penetrating damp and stops them reappearing through the decoration. Its big advantage is choice, as it's sold in 500 ml, 1 litre and 2.5 litre tins as well as an aerosol for hard-to-reach corners and ceilings.

Polycell says a single coat does the job, and it brushes on easily over plaster, cement, stone and most other indoor surfaces, including straight onto damp areas. It dries to a matt white that can be painted or wallpapered over, so you can carry on decorating as normal once it's dry.

The aerosol is handy for a small patch above a window or in a stairwell where a brush is awkward to reach. On larger areas, the per-litre cost adds up faster than a standard paint, so measure the patch before you buy.

Thompsons Stain Block Damp Seal is designed to go straight onto damp surfaces and protect against penetrating damp, while still letting moisture escape through the paint. That breathable seal is useful on walls that need to dry out over time.

It handles more than damp. Thompsons says it blocks household stains too, so it'll cover the odd water mark or nicotine stain on a wall or ceiling as well. It brushes on easily and dries to a smooth finish in two to three hours.

Coverage is the weak point at five square metres per litre, matching the Ronseal Damp Seal. Thompsons says one coat gives full coverage, but we'd add a second once the first has dried for a stain that won't creep back.