A couple who recently moved into a new apartment were baffled by brown water marks that appeared on their bathroom walls after taking a shower. The mysterious streaks, captured in photos shared on social media, sparked a flurry of theories from Reddit users.
Discovery in the Bathroom
The couple had upgraded to a larger flat in the same building, having lived in their previous unit for six years without encountering such an issue. They were told by management that the apartment had been painted before they moved in.
In a Reddit post, the person wrote: "My fiancé and I just moved into a new apartment. When we took a shower this evening, this stuff appeared on the walls. We were told by management that they painted before we moved in."
Deep Cleaning Efforts
The couple noted that despite management's assurance of a thorough cleaning, they found the apartment not up to their standards. "Cleaning was not to my standards, so I deep cleaned the entire place top to bottom before we moved our stuff in," they added. "This included wiping down walls and other surfaces multiple times."
They also mentioned a lingering smell of cigarettes, which management attributed to 'paint and Pinesol.' However, the couple felt forced to proceed with the move.
Reddit Theories
Commenters largely attributed the marks to previous smokers, with one saying: "Does the apartment smell like it was previously inhabited by smokers? My folks smoke and that reminds me of nicotine film being loosened by steam and humidity."
Another suggested surfactant leaching, a harmless cosmetic issue where soapy streaks appear on fresh paint due to moisture or high humidity. A painter with experience in residential and commercial projects also pointed to nicotine build-up, possibly mixed with hairspray, exacerbated by bathroom humidity.
However, one user countered: "It is not from smokers. Our bathroom has the same thing and nobody smokes. Cheap paint we got from Home Depot."
