How to Identify, Prevent and Fix Surfactant Leaching
Despite its name and appearance, surfactant leaching is an aesthetic concern, and not harmful to the paint nor the surface it covers.
Surfactants are necessary ingredients of latex paint. These water-soluble components migrate over time to the surface of the paint. When newly applied latex paint is exposed to high moisture or humidity while it’s drying and/or curing, the surfactants can rise prematurely to the film’s surface, producing a residue or splotches. This residue can be sticky, discolored, glossy or soapy in appearance. Surfactant leaching frequently shows up in bathrooms and other humid environments on ceilings or walls. While unattractive, surfactant leaching does not harm the coating.
When newly applied exterior latex paint is exposed to high moisture or humidity while drying, the rising surfactants can produce stains, also known as weeping, appearing as an oily or sticky, sap-like substance. It is important to note that the discoloration from surfactant leaching is not the same as water stains or spots and should not be treated as such.