How do you fix surfactant leaching?

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asked Apr 16, 2024 in Other-Home/Garden by pschyosse (2,490 points)
How do you fix surfactant leaching?

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answered Dec 7, 2024 by Wendell (43,730 points)
To fix surfactant leaching you can use a mild cleaner like a quart of some warm water and a bit of Dawn or other dish soap.

Use a spray bottle and a sponge or a cloth to clean the residue off of the walls or surface where the surfactant leaching occurs.

If it's glossy you can use a dry cloth to remove any streaks.

To paint over surfactant leaching you can try spot priming with a quality stain blocking primer (oil based or shellac is best if you're capable) and paint over to see if it comes back.

Surfactant leaching is a problem that occurs when water based latex paint dries too slowly and the water soluble components of the paint rises to the surface.

Surfactant leaching appears as a brown, tan colored or clear spots or streaks which can feel sticky, oily soapy or glossy.

The surfactant leaching is not harmful to the paint or the surface that it covers and is more of an aesthetic concern.

The surfactants are needed ingredients of latex paint.

The water soluble components migrate over time to the surface of the paint.

In many minor cases, exterior surfactants will wash off with normal weathering

Surfactant leaching can also occur in high humidity rooms and areas like in bathrooms.

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