Strange Black Residue in house???

[meuseman]

We live in a condo with electric heat. For about the last 6 weeks, we have noticed a light black powdery coating on a lot of white surfaces in the house. It is most noticable on white plastic...i.e. the laundry basket, white mixing bowls and my ipod charger. We have also noticed it on the washing machine and some of the walls. It is easily wiped off most surfaces, but not the walls.

One point to make is that we burn a lot of candles. But the mixing bowls and the washing machine are in cabinets/closets.

Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this?

 

[hercamore]

I would stop burning candles and see what happens. Can't believe you're making that much soot, tho.

herc.

 

[chrissyk]

The same thing is happening in our current apartment as well. It seems to be happening more in 1 particular bedroom and bathroom. Do you know if any of your neighbors smoke? In our apartment, my best guess is that it's residue from our neighbors' smoking coming through the vents. I can smell the cigarette smoke in that particular bathroom a lot of the time, so I figure that that's what is causing the black residue on the white surfaces. It's nasty!

 

[Charade]

In the winter when the air is drier, it's doesn't take much for plastic surfaces to attract fine particles like soot. Check your TV screen too. I'd bet it's black as well.

I would suspect it's your candles since you aren't burning any fossile fuels.

Try trimming the wicks so they don't burn to high and produce black smoke.

 

[Nancy]

Could be a mold growing. Some molds have a powdery texture and do wash off easily. Does the house have alot of moisture in it? How do the windows look is there alot of condensation on them? If the house is sealed up really tight (especially for winter) this could be the problem. It will wash easily off of non-porous surfaces, but walls will be a problem.

 

[meuseman]

Chrissy -

I don't know if my neighbor smokes...i never smell it. I guess what boggles me is the places were it seems to show up the most is on things that are stored in closets or cabinets.

thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Charade]

The same thing is happening in our current apartment as well. It seems to be happening more in 1 particular bedroom and bathroom. Do you know if any of your neighbors smoke? In our apartment, my best guess is that it's residue from our neighbors' smoking coming through the vents. I can smell the cigarette smoke in that particular bathroom a lot of the time, so I figure that that's what is causing the black residue on the white surfaces. It's nasty!

Cigarette smoke isn't black like a burning candle.

 

[Charade]

Could be a mold growing. Some molds have a powdery texture and do wash off easily. Does the house have alot of moisture in it? How do the windows look is there alot of condensation on them? If the house is sealed up really tight (especially for winter) this could be the problem. It will wash easily off of non-porous surfaces, but walls will be a problem.

If the house was really humid and it's cold outside (really cold), there would also be condensation on all of the windows. I know if I have my whole house humidifier set too high it will do that.

 

[meuseman]

Charade

the two tv's are so bad...we could wipe down the screen every day. I think we really started to notice it once the windows were closed winter and the electric heat was on...drying out the air.