We have a soot like residue thruout our house..what might it be?

Answer 1

sounds like there has been a fire in the house. Or maybe
to much smoke from the fireplace. You need a degreaser to clean this up.

Answer 2

All of the other answers are viable, but no one has mentioned Ionizers..... If you are using any of the type that plug into a wall outlet (like the AirWick scented oil fans do)....this will create a black soot type dust, that will stick to the walls.

These things operate by creating a charged ion, which attracts dust, and is then drawn to the nearest wall. I know this type creates the dust on the walls, because my dad used one.... I do not know if the other type of Ion air cleaners leave a residue on the walls too, or not.

Answer 3

I used to live in Seattle, and because of all the rain, there is virtually no dust. What we had to clean up all the time WAS soot, generated mainly by the traffic going by outside, like big trucks and buses and of course diesel cars.

Answer 4

If it's black and pasty, it's "black mold". Very bad. The spores really mess with your lungs. Now that you've seen them and they are exposed, fix it right away. You will quickly see symptoms of a sore throat, scratchiness in the throat, and a cough. If left unattended, it can kill you. Very toxic.
And you can't just scrape it off and clean it, well maybe you can, but most contractors will tell you to replace the wall or whatever because it will grow back.

Answer 5

I sounds like black mold. To get rid of it wash with a dilute bleach soulotion.

Answer 6

Let me guess, you live in southern CA?

Answer 7

can also happen if you burn alot of candles

Answer 8

fireplace maybe?