How to stop yellow coming through white paint?

Author: Gregorio Ward I  |  Last update: Monday, December 29, 2025

Light – both natural sunlight and artificial light – can significantly slow down the yellowing process. It can even reverse it. With this in mind, you can stop white paint from turning yellow by only using oil-based paints in rooms and areas that receive high levels of light.

Why is yellow showing through white paint?

But a few days later, you notice brown or yellow spots starting to appear through your paint job. This is called tannin bleed. Sometimes referred to as “wood bleed,”or “bleed through,” tannin bleed happens when the tannins present in wood migrate to the surface, leading to stains and discoloration of the paint film.

How to stop yellow stains from coming through paint?

In both cases you can usually stop the stains from coming through by using a stain blocking primer, such as Polycell Stain Stop, or some white oil-based undercoat first. This will often be enough to prevent any further discoloration through subsequent coats of paint.

How to stop white paint from going yellow?

Water-based whites will yellow as well if the prep didn't effectively seal the tannins from coming through. The only way to prevent yellowing is to use a paint without oil and, if using water-borne/based paint in a light color to absolutely ensure that priming is done properly in order to prevent all tannin bleed.

How to fix tannin bleed through white paint?

Adding a splash of household ammonia to thinned out latex primer should increase tannin bleed being that tannins are highly soluble in alkaline water and ammonia is basic, plus the ammonia will also darken the tannins.

Yellow Stain Coming Through White Paint? SOLVED!

How to stop color bleeding through paint?

Apply 1-2 coats of Dewaxed Shellac or BIN Shellac Based Primer over the bleed-through. Let it dry completely.

How do you stop tannin bleeding?

Seal the stains with an alkyd/oil primer or a coating designed to trap these tannins. Note that even with proper preparation and recommended products, tannin bleed can still occur, especially on new wood, with either latex or oil topcoats.

How do you protect white paint without yellowing?

TIPS FOR PROTECTING YOURSELF AND PREVENTING YELLOWING
  1. Don't apply any clear coat when using light or white paints. ...
  2. Always prime white paint with a paint system: Gf recommends either 2 coats of Stain Blocker or White Undercoat. ...
  3. We offer three types of self-sealing pigmented paint. ...
  4. Use disclaimers in your contracts.

How do you get yellowing out of white?

→ In a bowl or spray bottle, mix 3 tablespoons of dish soap, 3 tablespoons of baking soda, and ½ cup of hydrogen peroxide. Generously apply your whitening cocktail to the yellow stain and let it sit for an hour. Wash the garment in cold water as usual and dry.

What color counteracts yellow in paint?

Sherwin-Williams' Charcoal Blue has gray undertones that can cool off yellow undertones in surfaces like oak floors.

What kills yellow in white paint?

Light – both natural sunlight and artificial light – can significantly slow down the yellowing process. It can even reverse it. With this in mind, you can stop white paint from turning yellow by only using oil-based paints in rooms and areas that receive high levels of light.

What primer blocks tannins?

Kem Aqua® 5431 Tannin Blocking Primer. Kem Aqua® 5431 Tannin Blocking Primer is an acrylic latex tannin block primer intended for priming interior/exterior preserved wood products such as window parts, door jambs, fascia, shutters, etc.

How to get rid of yellow stains on a white wall?

Opt for a mild dish soap that doesn't have a heavy fragrance or other harsh chemicals.
  1. Dab a dot of dish soap on the stain.
  2. Wet a soft sponge and sud up the stain.
  3. Let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe it clean with a wet microfiber cloth.
  4. Repeat the process two or three times if it doesn't remove the first time.

Is there a white paint that doesn't yellow?

The Wickes Trade Quick Dry Gloss Wood and Metal Paint is a ground breaking formulation based on a new resin combination that never goes yellow.

How to remove yellow stains from white painted wood?

How to clean white wood furniture that has yellowed?
  1. Take 1/2-cup baking soda and 1/4-cup water.
  2. Mix them to make a paste.
  3. With the help of a damp sponge, and a soft toothbrush scrub the paste on the yellowed portion.
  4. Let the baking soda rest on the furniture for 5 minutes.
  5. Take a damp sponge and wipe away the excess.

Will Benjamin Moore advance yellow over time?

Note: Although Advance yellows less than conventional alkyds, a slight amount of yellowing may occur. This effect is accelerated in dark or poorly ventilated areas and is more visible in lighter colors. WARNING! If you scrape, sand, or remove old paint, you may release lead dust.

How do you remove yellow from white paint?

Using a clay bar and polish can eliminate yellowing and stains. Proper waxing and sealing prevent yellowing, protecting against environmental damage. Address oxidation and yellowing through paint correction techniques to restore the original color and shine.

Why would white paint turn yellow?

Light, and lack of light, can affect how well paint color is preserved and how quickly it yellows. In the case of yellowing due to lack of light, chromophores are to blame. Chromophores are produced as oil-based paint dries, and are a natural part of the process. Chromophores are broken down by exposure to light.

Does vinegar remove yellowing?

Distilled white vinegar is another remarkable option to make yellowed white shirts white again. Not only does it have brightening properties, but it also neutralizes odors in fabrics. You can use it as a bleach-free pretreatment or as an additive in a standard wash cycle.

What is the best gloss to stop yellowing?

Johnstone's Trade Professional Gloss Brilliant White

Despite being oil based, which can result in yellowing, this professional gloss paint has an anti-yellowing formula which makes it our top contender! Pros: Easy to apply.

How do you reverse yellowing paint?

Yellowing due to a lack of light can be reversed. All you have to do is expose the yellowed area to light, and the colour will change over time. The area will yellow again, however, if it is not consistently exposed to light. Ammonia is found in water-based paints.

What sealer won't yellow?

The easiest option is to apply a clear, water-based finish such as Minwax's Polycrylic. Two brushed coats are enough for the table's base, but apply three to the top for added protection. For more of an in-the-wood look, brush or wipe on a coat of blond shellac, such as Zinsser's pre-mixed SealCoat.

What cancels out tannins?

Tannins are heat-stable which means that they are not destroyed when you heat them up. So let's look at other ways to reduce their effect on your body. Drink with milk as protein, bacterial cell membranes, enzymes involved in food digestion and carbohydrates will bind to tannins and reduce their effect.

How to stop stains from coming through paint?

Apply a stain-blocking primer to the walls and leave to dry. Apply a first coat of paint to the whole wall. Leave to dry before applying a second coat.

Can you paint over tannin bleed?

Tannin bleed is a surface problem, not a paint failure. Tannic acid will prolong the drying of oil-based primers and in some cases you will have to wait three to five days for the primer to fully cure before repainting.

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