Black marks on the wall behind clocks and pictures?
When we were moving out of our last house (built in 1994), I noticed black marks behind picture frames and clocks that had been hanging on the walls for a few years. These dark marks were the perfect outline of the items, and they would not scrub off. They were not scratches or scuff marks, and they were not dust or dirt. It was the strangest thing.
Example: We had an ornate wrought iron clock that had been hanging for 2 or 3 years (similiar to this: http://www.treetopsshop.co.uk/USERIMAGES/ETI123.JPG ) and the exact pattern of the clock was on the wall in the paint when I took it down. I noticed things like this all throughout the house. Any idea what causes this? Could this be one of those corrosive things from the Chinese drywall? I have no idea if we had that in the house or not.
These marks were dark gray or black, and the walls were off-white.
We don’t smoke. Never have.
May 8th, 2010 at 7:33 pm
the light of your house bleach the walls – but because the clocks and pictures have been covering that part of the wall, it stays ‘dark’
i don’t think there’s any way to change it though, unless you paint over it or something.
May 8th, 2010 at 7:51 pm
That’s usually the result of smoking in the house. Stop smoking and you will stop having this problem.
Another way this can happen is if you use one of those ionic air machines. They deposit crud on the wall nearest them.
May 8th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
Simplest of chemical reactions, Oxidation. Metal, even when painted can
cause oxidation. Painted surfaces done with oil based paints can have
chemical interactions with other surfaces. Smoking can also cause outline
staining, but it usually is a faint light brown to orange in color. Another
commonly overlooked problem, Soot dispersal from an oil heater or furnace.
This is removable by either using Spic and Span, or a Product called ZUD.
Zud is a powdered wall cleaning soap. This stuff is strong and it really works!!
A way to limit this problem can be to adhere small rubber or felt pads to the
surfaces that readily come in contact with the wall. Available at your
Neighborhood Lowe’s, Home Depot or Local hardware store.