Seattle Homeowner's Guide -
Latex or oil-based (alkyd)
Latex or oil-based (alkyd):
For most interior walls use latex paint for its ease of use. Latex paint
washes off brushes and hands with soap and water. A primer coat is necessary
when painting on a bare surface. Areas exposed to a lot of moisture
(such as kitchens and bathrooms) and areas subject to a lot of bumping
and scratching (baseboards and cupboard doors, for example) should use
a more rugged oil-based paint. A solvent is required to clean oil-based
paints from brushes and skin.