First two photos show a thin, soot-like film that I’ve been finding on various plastic surfaces in my home. Third photo shows a streak through the film; that’s what happens with one swipe of a finger through the film. It can be cleaned off relatively easily with water/soap/cleaning products, but I’ve never had this issue in other homes I’ve lived in. (And I’ve lived in many different places!)

Other pieces of information:

The film seems to appear only on plastics, from what I’ve noticed. This is cheap plastic, from a Clorox bathroom cleaning product. It’s also appeared on small plastic trash cans, a plastic step stool- similar items.

But, at the same time, it’s not on ALL plastic surfaces. It seems random.

In my investigations, I recently cleaned and wiped this item off a couple weeks ago and replaced it in its same place. It’s covered in film again. 

Is this an air quality issue? That’s my big concern. We run air purifiers in bedrooms, but that’s been the same in other places we’ve lived as well. This film-y substance is a new issue. 

I do seem to notice this more on bathroom plastics than other rooms. Possibly related to condensation in the bathroom and then particles from the air sticking/drying? Which then circles back to the air quality issue…. 

Anyways, open to opinions and thoughts!

Residue on plastics?