Polyurethane on top of latex paint?

Poly takes awhile to firm up enough to take steel wool.

I rarely use real steel wool anymore, because the fibers come off
and cause problems like you experienced. The synthetic steel wool
is much better – more like a scrubbing pad.

Between coats I usually use stearated sandpaper. 150 or 180 grit
works well for most finishing jobs. You can remove the stearate
left behind by brushing or blowing with air, then a tack cloth. You
can also just brush the stearate off and re-coat. In my experience
the white stearate dust seems to dissolve into the next coat.

Seconded on the “do not use real steel wool” bit. It’s kind of a think of the past, always leaves fibers, and even when they aren’t visible, they tend to rust over time.

Jim:

Be aware that the poly might impart a slight yellowish tint. This might be an issue with your beige colored latex depending on how light it is. Trust me though, it really uglies up white paint! Don’t ask me how I know that! :>)

-- jay, www.allaboutastro.com

I have used Min Wax Polyacrylic [water base] over white latex to give it more durability on my shop counter tops. I had no problems with application or discoloring. Perhaps the water based is a better choice over latex?

-- " I'll try to be nicer, if you'll try to be smarter" gfadvm

Important to let the latex paint cure for a few days before putting a top coat over it.
Then let the poly cure before rubbing it out with… scotchbrite pads. Steel wool is for maintaining your tools not for applying finishes anymore.
And yes the waterbased poly shouldn’t discolor the paint any more than water will.

-- Sam Hamory - The project is never finished until its "finished"!

That’s an awesome point! I only recently started using the water-borne poly so I have yet to have had that experience. Good to know!

-- jay, www.allaboutastro.com

Polyurethane is not used for top coating. It builds well over itself but not other finishes. Sometimes you may get away with using it over sealers like shellac or vinyl sealer. With other finishes you run the risk of adhesion problems.

Latex can be top coated with shellac, lacquers, vinyl and acrylics. Acrylics and non-yellowing lacquers are best to preserve color. Others will shift color or yellow with time.

-- Steve Nearman, FurnitureRepair.net, ProRestorers.org, Fredericksburg, VA