All oil based paints are prone to yellowing in situations where direct daylight is limited or excluded altogether.  Yellowing may also occur in atmospheres containing even samll amounts of ammonia or sulphur compounds.

Conditions conducive to yellowing may therefore exist in many interior environments, especially in kitchens and adjacent rooms where amonia and sulphur compounds may be present as combustion products.

When yellowing of this type has occurred, repainting is the only solution. Improving ventilation and increasing direct daylight, if practicable, will help to prevent a repetition of the problem.  As the defect is more obvious with white paint, it may be better to use a pastel colour when repainting.

Deposition of tarry matter in tobacco tar, sometimes described as ‘nicotine staining’, may cause apparent yellowing of painted surfaces.  The deposit is difficult to remove completely and residues my discolour the new paint. To help prevent this, a coat of Alkali Resisting Primer or another specialist primer should be applied afterwashing the surface with sugar soap.