Can You Paint a Toilet Bowl?

When working on a home revamp project, one may consider painting their mismatched toilet bowl.

If you aren’t sure about it, let us tell you—you can paint almost every object for cosmetic reasons, and this includes the toilet bowls.

You may have bought it one color years ago but desire to change the color scheme after a few years. There is no need to stick with the same color forever.

Can you paint a toilet bowl?

Toilet bowls are usually made of ceramic. It is a material that retains color for a long time if you follow the right way.

Firstly, you should ensure it is clean and that you pick the correct type of paint. In most cases, the acrylic latex primer is followed by the appliance epoxy paint and an epoxy sealer.

How to paint a toilet bowl

After knowing the basic details, it is time to analyze the process with a closer lens. There are some essential details you should know before you kickstart the project.

Let’s dig into the details!

Arrange the supplies

It is crucial to have all the arsenal before beginning the toilet painting task. Remember, the seat will be unavailable for hours, make sure you have the essential tools to complete the project.

Here is a brief list of supplies you need:

• Painters tape
• Face mask and eye protection
• Newspaper or plastic sheet
• Paint of your desired shade
• Basecoat paint or acrylic primer
• Clear sealant

Once you have arranged the supplies, it is time to jumpstart the process. The steps to follow are:

Step # 1: Clean your toilet

A clean toilet is primary to begin the process. Use warm water to scrub the toilet.

A scrubbing sponge will help you get it clean before you apply the paint. The paint doesn’t stick on the surface if it is dirty.

Make sure that you clean the bowl and external side too. Next, use the flush to give it a good rinse.

When cleaning the toilet, you should remove the seat by unscrewing the bolts. You can either do it with your fingers or a pair of pliers. This is an excellent time to decide to install a new toilet seat.

Once you have removed the seat, you should clean the holes where bolts are and remove the rust or mineral deposits stuck inside.

Also, spray white vinegar in the bowl to remove the germs. White vinegar is a natural cleaning agent that kills plenty of germs and mold spores.

Step # 2: Drain Water

The paint will only stick if the bowl is entirely dry.

You can drain water from the toilet by two methods:

Shut off the water

This is the best way to ensure that not even one drop seeps into the bowl.

You have to find the water hook that goes to your toilet tank and find a valve on it. Turning off this valve keeps the tank from refilling and keeps it dry.

Next, you have to remove the lid and press the flush. Keep flushing until all water has left the tank. And if there is only a tiny quantity of water, you can dry it using a few towels.

Raise the tank float

If you are unable to find the valve, you can remove the lid of the tank.

There you will see a small balloon at the bottom of the stick. This is a tank float which you should stop the float from dropping.

Secure the float to the lower part of the tank. This requires securing float atop the tank through a rope or sticking something underneath to avoid falling.

Step # 3: Sand the toilet

Now is the time for the actual process to initiate.

Porcelain is a slick material. No paint adheres to it until it roughens up. For this, you need sandpaper.

When working on this step, you should wear a face mask so as not to inhale the porcelain particles. Then, pick the sandpaper having 120-160 grit.

Stroke the sandpaper on the toilet to make the surface rough. There is no need to go overboard. A few strokes on the surface are enough to accomplish the deed.

Step # 4: Lather primer

None of the paints can adhere to the bowl until primed well.

Apply an acrylic latex spray primer before you begin to paint. The appliance epoxy paint tends to flake in the absence of a primer.

Once again, as you are spraying the paint, you should wear a face shield or a face mask. Later, you should use a brush to paint the nook and crannies.

Typically, the oil paint bonds with ceramic better than other types, and it has the reputation of being durable too.

Step # 5: Dry and coat again

It would help if you then allowed the paint to dry. The next step is to apply a second coat and give 24 hours for the color to dry.

Prevent water from splattering in the bowl as it could damage the paint.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Knowing all about painting the toilet bowl is essential before initiating this task. All the steps listed above can help you accomplish and finalize the project successfully.

If you aren’t good at handy work, consider seeking assistance from professional painters.