by Pamela Bayer
Thursday February 19, 2009, 8:00 AM

Ask Pamela is an exclusive cleveland.com/insideout design feature with Hudson Interior Designer Pamela Bayer.

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Pamela Bayer

Dear Pamela: I have painted my bathroom walls black, but I have a problem with a moisture stain on the walls. I use the fan, but the walls over the shower have this dripping look. What can I use to clean this? It's not mildew.

I hope you understand what I'm trying to convey. I can't describe it any better. Thank you for your reply.

Rosie Meister

Dear Rosie: I definitely understand your question and your concern about the
moisture in your bathroom and the appearance of streaks in your paint. How to diagnose and treat the problem depends on several factors.

If you started showering in the bathroom right after applying latex paint, the dripping effect could be a case of harmless surfactant leaching, also known as water spotting. Paint can take up to a month to fully cure.

Whenever possible, I recommend to avoid showering in a freshly painted bathroom for at least a few weeks or that you shower not only with the fan on, but with the door open. You should also make sure your fan is the right size for the space and that it's fully functional.

Leaching can result in brown-colored spots or drips, but they can be colorless, too. Spotting can also occur after putting a coat of paint over one that isn't dried or applying heavy coatings for major changes in color, like your black. Dark-colored paint made with large quantities of pigment can also add to the problem.

The good news is that removing surfactant leaching is usually easy. The method depends on the stage of your paint. Within a day or two of painting, a wet cloth usually takes spots off. If that doesn't work, wait a few days for the paint to harden. Then, clean the area gently with a sponge and cool water.

If stains persist, try a mild dish detergent with water. If that fails, spray on a little multi-purpose cleaner. If you're still unsuccessful, it's possible that the problem will just go away on its own. Repainting is your last resort, perhaps in a more neutral, lighter color that can improve your home's value and decrease the chance of color-related issues.

Paints with moisture barriers are designed to reduce streaking. I also suggest a satin or gloss finish so any regular drips or stains aren't as visible.

If you have a water softener, the salt from it could be troublesome. I've had clients experience spotting and erosion with dark bathroom paint and wallpaper.

I hope that covers it, but let me know if you have additional questions.

Best wishes,

Pamela