Tacky surfaces in a room - what could it be?

5 years ago

I'm in the process of updating a house that I just closed on a couple of weeks ago. I noticed that in one of the bedrooms, there is a film of tacky substance that's covering the surface of...everything in the room. From the ceiling fan to the closet doors, there is a film of this sticky stuff and a ton of dust and dog fur stuck to it. I think they just painted the walls before they moved out, so the walls are okay.

It's clear and doesn't have a distinct smell like nicotine (the room smells slightly of...something like saliva? I don't know if the two are related) so I don't think it's from smoking indoors, unless e-cigs also leave weird residues like actual cigarettes. I'm worried that it might be a sign of some sort of infestation or something. It's gross and having to clean it up from every crevice of the room is already giving me a headache...what could it be? Does anyone have any idea?

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Comments (6)

chispa
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Incense, pot, meth, hairspray, St. Bernard drool ... it could be anything!

You could get one of the restoration & clean-up companies to come look and give you a quote to clean it up. They might be able to identity what it is too.
Eileen
5 years ago
Something oil-based, like what happens in a kitchen exhaust fan. Maybe they were burning an oil lamp.
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maifleur03
5 years ago
Some of those plug in air fresheners can leave a thick film on everything. I agree about hiring a restoration company. By the time you purchase enough stuff to remove everything and if you calculate the hours that you have spend doing so hiring can be money well spent. Minor problem I would not suggest this but if it is on a large amount of surfaces it is cheaper and better.
eirlim
Original Author
5 years ago
Something like incense or wax, air freshener all sound like they could be culprits. I was gonna remove the closet doors, replace the ceiling fan & hire a cleaning company to do a deep move-in clean anyway so hopefully they can clean the blinds and walls. Thanks for the help, guys!
Louise Smith
5 years ago
I vote for candles and air fresheners for the culprits.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/2681912/soot-from-candles-on-walls-and-ceiling
eirlim
Original Author
5 years ago
@Louise Smith Omg I just read through the thread and it was mindblowing! I've also experienced the soot problem caused by a candle with an untrimmed wick - I'm a serial candle burner myself - but never imagined it could be so bad. When I visited the house when the previous owners were occupying it, there indeed was a candle burning, and I know that the particular room in question was used by the lady as a hobby room of sort so I think we're not wrong in guessing the sticky stuff is caused by something scent inducing. Jesus, it sounds like that stuff is hard to clean off, too...maybe I'll have to just remove the blinds as well.