How to Paint Behind a Toilet Without Removing It: The Ultimate Guide

Hey there! If you‘re reading this, you‘re probably looking to paint behind your toilet to freshen up your bathroom. Painting behind the toilet can definitely be tricky, but with my 10+ years of experience as a home improvement expert, I‘m going to walk you step-by-step through exactly how to do it.

Introduction

Painting behind a toilet allows you to update the look of your bathroom without the major hassle of completely removing the toilet. But it does come with some unique challenges that standard wall painting doesn‘t.

The tight awkward space can make it hard to maneuver your paintbrush or roller. Drips and splatters into the toilet bowl are also a risk. However, with the right preparation and tools, you can totally paint behind your toilet all by yourself.

In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll share all my pro tips and techniques to help you paint like a pro, including:

• How to completely protect your floors, toilet, and fixtures from drips and spills
• What cleaning and prepping needs to happen before you start painting
• The best tools to use, like angled brushes and roller pole extenders
• Step-by-step application instructions, from priming to painting
• Cleanup of any paint mishaps
• Safety tips for proper ventilation and PPE

I know painting behind the toilet may seem daunting, but just stick with me! By the end of this guide, you‘ll have the knowledge to paint behind your toilet quickly and easily. Let‘s get started!

Gather Your Painting Supplies

Before we dive in, let‘s go over the supplies you‘ll need. Having the right painting tools is crucial for achieving a flawless paint job behind your toilet. Here‘s what I recommend having on hand:

• Drop cloths or plastic sheeting to cover floors
• Painter‘s tape for protecting fixtures
• High-quality primer and bathroom-specific paint
• Angled paint brushes for reaching tight spots
• Paint roller and extendable pole for painting behind toilet
• Small paint tray that fits next to toilet
• Painters 5-in-1 tool for scraping any drips
• Latex gloves, goggles, and face mask for safety

Besides these essentials, having spare rags, an old towel, and a bowl cover on hand are helpful too. I‘ll go into more detail about how to use each item later in the guide.

Prepare the Bathroom

The first step is preparing your bathroom by protecting the floors and fixtures from paint. This will make your painting experience much cleaner and easier.

Cover Your Floors

It‘s inevitable that drips and splatters will happen when painting behind a toilet. So the very first thing you should do is cover any exposed floors with an old sheet, plastic sheeting, or a canvas drop cloth.

• Pro Tip: Secure the edges of any floor covering with painter‘s tape to prevent shifting.

According to HomeAdvisor, the average bathroom is only 35-70 square feet. For a small bathroom, you can pick up a 9×12 foot canvas drop cloth for around $10 at any hardware store. This will provide plenty of coverage.

Tape Off All Nearby Fixtures

The next step is using painter‘s tape to cover any nearby surfaces you don‘t want paint getting on. This includes:

• Vanity and counters
• Cabinet doors and drawers
• Baseboards and trim
• The toilet lid and seat

Take your time and tape off as much as you can. It‘s a lot easier than scraping dried paint off your vanity later! I recommend FrogTape brand – it really does prevent paint bleeding.

Ventilate the Room

Paint fumes can get really intense when painting in a small, enclosed bathroom. Make sure you have adequate ventilation by cracking open a window or turning on an exhaust fan.

For safety, I also recommend wearing a protective face mask while painting. Chemical odors from paints and primers can cause headaches or nausea if inhaled too much.

Okay, your bathroom is now prepped with protected floors and fixtures! Let‘s move on to getting the walls ready to paint.

Prep and Clean the Walls

For the best paint adhesion, your bathroom walls need to be properly prepped and cleaned before painting. Don‘t skip these important steps:

Wash the Walls

Use a sponge and cleaning solution to wash the walls around the toilet area. This removes any built-up dirt, soap scum, or grease that could prevent the new paint from sticking properly.

Make sure to wash off any cleaner residue and let the walls fully dry before moving on to sanding or priming.

Sand the Surface

Lightly sanding the walls with fine grit sandpaper does two things:

1. It roughens up the surface for improved paint adhesion.
2. It smoothes down any existing bumps or texture.

Wipe away any sanding dust with a dry cloth once finished.

Fill Any Holes or Imperfections

Inspect the walls for any holes, cracks, nails, or damage. Use spackle or drywall compound to fill and patch any problem areas so walls are perfectly smooth before painting.

Let patching fully dry as directed on the product label before sanding or priming.

Apply Primer

Primer is a must! Not only does it help paint stick better, it provides extra protection in humid bathrooms. Be sure to use high-quality primer specifically made for bathrooms.

I‘m a big fan of Zinsser Mold Killing Primer. Not only does it prevent mold and mildew growth, but it sticks to glossy surfaces better than standard primers.

After applying primer, let it fully dry for at least the minimum time stated on the label. Once dry, the wall prep is complete and you‘re ready to start painting!

Choose the Right Painting Tools

Having the right tools for the job makes all the difference when trying to paint in tight spots. Here are my must-have tool recommendations:

Angled Paint Brush

A high-quality angled brush is a life-saver for painting around toilet tanks and into corners. The angled shape makes it easy to maneuver into tight spots.

I suggest a 2.5 inch angled brush – it provides good control without being too bulky.

Paint Roller and Extension Pole

While great for open wall areas, standard rollers won‘t fit behind most toilets. That‘s why I recommend using an extension pole with a 4-6 inch roller attached.

The long pole makes hard-to-reach spots behind the toilet super easy to paint. Look for polls that extend up to 6 feet long.

Paint Tray

Instead of a bulky full-size paint tray, opt for a smaller "bathroom buddy" tray with built in ramp. This will fit nicely next to your toilet for easy access while painting.

You want to avoid placing your paint can or tray directly above the toilet where drips could fall into the bowl.

Okay, armed with the right tools, you‘re ready to start applying paint!

Paint Behind the Toilet Tank

The toilet tank can make for some truly difficult to paint spots. Use these techniques when painting behind and around the tank:

• Keep your elbow up and wrist lower to improve your reach behind the tank.
• Use the angled brush and keep the bristles touching the wall at all times as you paint.
• Paint in vertical strokes from top to bottom to minimize drips.
• If needed, detach the tank lid for easier access to paint the wall right behind it. Just be sure to reattach it later!
• A brush extender pole can help you comfortably reach farther behind the tank.

Take your time and don‘t rush. Moving slowly and cautiously will lead to the best results.

Paint Around the Toilet Bowl

Painting directly above the toilet bowl requires extra care and attention. Follow these tips to avoid creating a huge mess!

• Work slowly and focus on controlling drips.
• Keep paint supplies off the floor and away from directly above the bowl.
• Cover as much of the toilet rim as possible with painter‘s tape.
• Paint the wall adjacent to the toilet first, then paint above last.
• Consider using an angled brush rather than a roller in this area.
• Use a plastic bowl cover for extra protection from drips.

Patience and precision are key when painting around the toilet bowl. Don‘t rush through it!

Apply Primer and Paint

Now we‘re ready for the fun part – actually applying primer and paint! Follow these steps:

1. Apply Primer

Use a small trim brush to cut in along edges, corners, and trim with primer. Then use your mini roller and extension pole to apply primer to the open wall areas around the toilet.

2. Let Primer Dry

Allow primer to dry for at least the minimum time stated on the product label. Drying times may be lengthened due to bathroom humidity.

3. Apply First Coat of Paint

Once primer has dried, use the same method of cutting in edges with brush and rolling open areas to apply your first coat of high quality bathroom paint.

4. Allow Proper Dry Time Between Coats

Let the first coat dry completely according to paint label directions before adding a second coat. Humid bathrooms may require longer dry times.

5. Apply Second Coat of Paint

For fullest coverage and protection, apply a second coat of bathroom paint using the same method as the first.

Make sure to work in thin, even coats and avoid applying too much paint. Going too thick can cause drips, especially with bathroom humidity.

Clean Up Any Paint Messes

It‘s inevitable that some mishaps will happen when painting behind a toilet. Here‘s how to clean them up:

• For fresh paint drips on the toilet bowl, wipe immediately with a damp rag before they dry.
• Use a razor blade to gently scrape off any completely dried paint on the bowl.
• Dampen a rag with paint thinner to remove paint from the toilet seat, lid, or base. Avoid abrasive cleaners.
• Let any paint drips on the floor or vanity dry fully before carefully peeling away.
• A 5-in-1 painters tool is great for scraping away stubborn dried paint.

Quick reaction is key for easy paint mishap cleanup! Wipe any fresh drips right away before they have a chance to dry.

Final Steps to Complete the Paint Job

You did it – the paint job behind your toilet is complete! But there are still a few final steps:

• Once paint has fully cured, remove painters tape from all fixtures.
• Reattach any toilet parts you detached like the lid or seat.
• Turn water supply back on and test toilet flush functionality.
• Verify no paint got into the inner toilet plumbing.
• Check around the bowl and tank for any leaks just in case.
• Consider applying a sealant to the freshly painted walls for added protection.
• Admire your handiwork and freshly painted bathroom!

Pro Tip: Don‘t forget to wash out your paint brushes while the paint is still fresh! Dried paint is super hard to clean off.

Painting Behind the Toilet vs. Removing It

You‘re probably wondering – is it better to just fully remove the toilet instead of painting behind it?

Here are some pros and cons of each method:

Painting Behind Toilet

Pros:

• Don‘t have to turn off water or deal with plumbing
• Less heavy lifting without full removal
• Usually faster and easier

Cons:

• Harder to reach some tight areas
• Higher risk of drips or splatters

Removing Toilet

Pros:

• Full access to all wall areas behind toilet
• Easier to get into corners and edges
• Lower risk of drips or splatters

Cons:

• More labor intensive to remove/reinstall toilet
• Requires turning water off and using plunger to clear drain
• Toilet is very heavy to lift and move

So if you want to avoid the hassle of all the plumbing work, painting behind the toilet is likely the easier option!

Key Takeaways

Painting behind a toilet without fully removing it is achievable with the right preparation and technique! Follow this quick summary of the key steps:

• Fully protect floors and fixtures with drop cloths, plastic, and painters tape
• Clean walls with soap and water, then sand and apply primer
• Use angled brush and roller with extension pole for hard to reach spots
• Work slowly and cautiously around toilet tank and bowl
• Apply paint in thin, even coats and allow proper drying between coats
• Quickly wipe up any drips or splatters that occur
• Check for leaks and test toilet functionality once finished

And those are my pro tips for painting behind your toilet like a pro! Let me know if you have any other questions. I‘m always happy to help. Go grab your paint supplies and refresh your bathroom!