How To Paint Behind A Toilet (Without Moving It)

A fresh coat of paint can completely transform the look of a bathroom. A new color can reflect light differently, complement recently purchased decor pieces, and instantly make your small space pop. Repainting is a simple way to refresh your bathroom without spending as much money or time as you would on a full renovation. While painting a bathroom is generally a straightforward process, there is one unexpected area you may have trouble with — painting behind the toilet.

What makes this spot so challenging is that toilets are often set close to the wall, making it extremely difficult to perfectly paint your bathroom wall without also getting that paint all over the tank. Moving your toilet away from the wall isn't always an option, but fortunately, there is a way you can paint that wall without getting a drop out of place. All you have to do is put a garbage bag over the toilet tank. Simply remove the toilet tank lid, then slide the trash bag over the tank and secure it to the body of the toilet using painter's tape. You can remove the bag once the paint is fully dry. 

If your garbage bags are too small to fit over your toilet tank, you can combine two of them by cutting one side of each bag and taping the open sides together. This creates one large bag. Then, you should be able to slide the double bag over your tank and secure it to the toilet. Make sure any excess plastic is rolled up and taped against the tank, or pulled toward the toilet seat and cinched with a rubber band. Plastic drop cloths, tarps, and contractor cleanup bags can also be used to keep your toilet tank clean if you don't have trash bags on hand.

Unfortunately, sometimes toilets are installed so close to the wall that there is simply no way to paint behind them without moving them. The general rule of thumb is that you need at least one inch of clearance between your tank and the wall. This is the amount of space necessary for a small paint roller or sponge stick. Before you cover your toilet, it's worth taking measurements to ensure there's enough space for the smallest tools. If not, the job may call for a complete removal.