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What is this syrup-like residue that drips off of the bathroom ceiling?

Hi, I recently moved into a 50 year old house that has been remodeled. It is only one story high, so there isn't any bathroom or plumbing above the problem bathroom. The residue is brownish-tan (similar in color to honey or pancake syrup). It is also sticky to the touch. I noticed that there were a couple of spots when we first started to use the shower (been using it now for about 2 months). They didn't get any worse; that is, until we took a vacation. We went on vacation for about 4 days and left the air-conditioner off (it's about 90-100 degrees F outside the whole time with NO rain). When we got back we quickly noticed that the brown spots had spread across 1/4 of the bathroom (it was just above the shower only) and had gotten soo bad that it actually dripped into the bathtub. What is this residue and how do I get rid of it?! Does the heat have anything to do with it? Thanks for reading, Brian

Public Comments

  1. something's going on upstairs or in your ceiling. this is not normal.
  2. OMG!!! We have that in our bathroom also!! Our house was built in 1952...I scrub it off and it keeps coming back...I'm gonna watch your question..hopefully someone out there knows what it is... Just wanted you to know that you aren't alone in this...
  3. The previous owner must have murdered someone and put the corpse above the ceiling and now the blood which is caked starts oozing out !! Serious note, it should be some construction chemical used to water proof / insulate the ceiling that must have started leaking from the protective sheath.
  4. Brian, I had a similar problem in an apartment once.I assumed it was due to the neighbors below me who smoked like freight trains. But, I'm not sure about this. I am interested in hearing what others have to say. Great question.
  5. MAKE SURE NO ONE IS LIVING IN YOUR ROOF TOP IT COULD BE YOUR NEW UPSTAIRS NEIGHBOR'S DROPPINGS
  6. I have this over my stove. It is very muggy (hot & humid).
  7. Yes, it is either adhesive or the humidity that collects on the walls/ceiling. Basically, it drips down and collect the dirt and dust that you can't see into a little droplet. Gotta keep wiping up or cleaning to keep them at bay. I live in a new place, and it has it too. Just normal.
  8. It could be glue or sap from the old boards. I have the same problem with my kitchen cabinets. It's like a stick brownish color, have to scrub it off the cabinets. The wood was not cured before the cabinets were made. As for the your bathroom pretty much the same, however a smoker could have lived there. This is something hard to get rid of. Not much of anything you can do, but redo the house. Don't know if suggesting a humidifier or dehumidifier would help or not. Might not hurt to try.
  9. yes, the heat and humidity has everything to do with it. I lived in a house where an elderly lady died in the bathroom, but she didn't cause it, it's nicotine from cigerettes. I would seal around the ceiling and scrub and repaint the walls with enamel paint. after that, forbid smoking in the bathroom.
  10. It sounds like a combination of condensation, mold and dirt. Try cleaning it off with bleach, 409 or some other cleaning product. When you use the shower, open a window to allow for more ventilation. If that doesn't work, you may need to add an exhaust fan. I don't know exactly what it is without looking at it, but this is what it sounds like to me.
  11. It could be that the paint that was used in the bathroom was not good enough. This happened to my bathroom so I repainted with a kitchen and bath paint. It's no longer a problem.
  12. All good answers have been provided to you about the source being accumulated dirt then dripping. the way to get rid of it is to install an exhaust fan to eliminate the steam from condensing or shower with the window open.
  13. I agree with Andrew T. You see I clean house for a living. The sappy looking droplets are from the steam in you shower. Open the doors and windows. Let in some air while showering. Turn down your heat on the shower. Just wash the walls and Ceiling with a little 3 parts of water to 1 part Bleach. The spots will be gone for a few months.
  14. you have to get up in the attic and LOOK - could be deterorating insulation or droppings from and animal (aka squirrel or racoon) living up there or dead up there etc. it is NOT normal yuk Jewells 29 months and still here
  15. Check your attic, you may have bees there, OR its just moisture mixing up with the dirt on top of you ceiling and needs to be clean up.