What are these mysterious orange dribbles on freshly painted walls??

[BlueSunset]

This north-facing bedroom wall was painted white last summer.

We've just noticed these mysterious orange dribbles in various locations about the picture rail (hair clip for size)

Could anyone shed light on what on earth they are please??

They seemingly appear from nowhere.

Someone's spilling coffee and not daring to tell you.

gloss paint underneath?
ghosts tears?

Have you lived there for long?

Lived here for a decade! Have never seen it before.

Google seems to suggest it might be something to do with moisture in the air and it is indeed over the radiator... hmm!!

The coffee drinker would have to be 7 or 8 feet tall!

What's behind the paper? Anything metal that's got damp and is rusting?

Is it coming for the Celing we had this we thought it was tar from previous tenants. Turns out the roof had a leak and was causing it

Condensation

Damp coming through the wall or condensation carrying something under the paint or in the paint down the wall. What's on the other side of the wall?

I have them too! Have been trying to work out what is causing them, as they are too high up to be from spilt drinks etc (thank goodness it's not just my house ).

Our walls did that - previous owner was a heavy smoker and the stains bled through.

Solved by lots of sugar soap, then a watered down PVA sealer, then emulsion on top.

Condensation or a leak,
Do you put damp washing on the radiator?
Is the room well ventilated all year?

We've got this. Thought something was being spilt on the wall. Wiping it and kept returning. Following this with interest.

Do you put damp washing on the radiator? Yes, we did in winter...

Is the room well ventilated all year - I would say yes - we both like fresh air, even in winter when the heating's on full blast, so have a window open I am aware this does not help mother earth

We don't smoke but the previous owners did - again that was a decade ago though.

Nothing metal behind the walls.. just plaster.

Rather glad it's not just me!!!

it looks like smokers tar to me

or, if it is on a chimneybreast, it could be tar from the soot (more likely if the chimney is wet from leaks or internal condensation)

Probably not candle soot because that's black.

Rust stains, e.g. from nails in walls, can do that, but your wall should not be wet.

It looks like you have painted over wallpaper. Next time you decorate strip it off and see if the plaster is stained.

You can use a stain blocker for now, but if it is damp or leak related the sooner you fix it the better.

on further consideration I think you have a leak.