How to Get Rid of Paint Streaks on my Bathroom Walls

Last Updated: January 7, 2011

Over a year ago, I painted one of my bathrooms with the top of the line, eco-friendly paint from Benjamin Moore: Natura. I loved the way it looked and there was no smell whatsoever during and after it dried. It has been just over a year, and overall, the painted walls look pretty good. However, I've recently began to notice some streaks in the paint. This happens from all the moisture when taking showers. Even with well ventilated bathrooms, streaks in water-based paint is still very common. The streaks are not all that bad, but it is annoying for me who loves keeping my walls fresh and clean. Typically these streaks have a slight yellowish tint, which is released from the paint ingredients. One way to avoid these streaks would be to use oil base, but that smells terrible and is getting harder to find in California! Most paints for bathrooms are water-based.

The best way to to make sure your walls are streak free are 1) Use the highest grade paint possible for your bathrooms (don't go cheap) ie. Benjamin Moore Aura Bath & Spa or 2) Use an antibacterial microfiber cleaning cloth dipped in warm water. Don't use any chemicals. Wipe down the walls every 6 months or as needed and your walls should look as good as new. Bathrooms do take quite a beating with all the moisture. Therefore, I recommend a fresh coat of paint probably every 3 years. Having a fresh coat of paint will help keep the paint looking new and will avoid mildew and cracking paint.

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