Before you start , there are a couple of things to stay in mind. First, and most significantly , the materials wont to create popcorn ceilings often contained asbestos before it had been banned within the U.S. as a known carcinogen. While ceilings in homes built after 1978 should be asbestos free, it had been not unprecedented for suppliers to continue selling the stock that they had available , asbestos or not, well into the ’80s. If your home was built during this point period, consider having your ceiling tested for asbestos before attempting to wash it. At the very least, use extreme caution, as asbestos particles released into the air pose a significant hazard .
If you’ve lived any length of your time during a home with popcorn ceilings, you’ve likely experienced how easily the textured bumps break off when disturbed. Whether you merely decide to remove dust and cobwebs from your acoustic ceiling otherwise you want to urge obviate grease, smoke, or other set-in stains, you’ll want to take care to avoid showering everything below with wayward particles. If possible, move furniture or cover it with plastic sheets or drop cloths for easier cleanup. It’s also smart to wear a dust mask and safety glasses to guard your eyes and lungs from any debris.
Dusting an Acoustic Ceiling
If your main concerns are dust and spiderwebs, cleaning a popcorn ceiling isn’t too difficult. Grab a stepladder and provides one among these three methods a try:
Vacuum
This may be the simplest and most straightforward method of cleaning popcorn ceilings. Use your vacuum cleaner’s brush attachment and punctiliously vacuum the world of the ceiling. Be as gentle as possible to avoid abruption bits of texture—though this method has the cleanup inbuilt .
Feather Duster
A good quaint reusable duster will work better than the disposable kind, since the planning of the latter can catch on the feel , taking bits of ceiling with it and leaving fibers in its place. Gentle feather dusting is particularly useful once you just got to spot-clean some cobwebs or tidy the corners.
Lint Roller
A sticky lint roller can collect dust and spiderwebs from a popcorn ceiling, too. you’ll also wrap adhesive tape around a soft roller , sticky side out, to realize an equivalent effect but with a bigger area .
Removing Stains from a Popcorn Ceiling
Popcorn ceilings are a magnet for stains caused by residue from things like grease, mildew, and cigarette smoke, turning a bright white surface dingy and discolored. These stains are often tricky to get rid of , but not impossible! Before trying any of those techniques, start by dusting the ceiling using one among the above methods. Next, test alittle , inconspicuous area together with your chosen solution to form sure it won’t damage or dissolve the popcorn texture, since texturizing materials are often sensitive to water.
Option 1: Warm water and liquid dish soap. Use this mixture for everyday stains like cooking grease or cigarette smoke.
Use a soft, thick-nap roller or a soft sponge to use the cleaning solution to the ceiling. confirm to squeeze out excess liquid before applying—your roller or sponge should only be damp, not dripping, to stop any unnecessary damage to the feel . Rinse the roller or sponge frequently as you go. If you favor , you’ll also use a misting spray bottle to use the answer , though you would like to take care to not saturate the ceiling with moisture.
Option 2: Water and bleach. Mix an answer of 1 part water to at least one part bleach for mildew or water stains.
Fill a misting spray bottle with the bleach solution and spray lightly on the stains. make certain to wear safety glasses with this one! Let the ceiling air-dry completely. If the stain persists after the world has dried, treat the world again an equivalent . However, you would like to make certain the world is thoroughly dry before re-treating, since an excessive amount of moisture can damage popcorn ceilings.
Option 3: Paint. Use an oil-based, stain-blocking primer and acrylic to hide up set-in stains.
Because popcorn ceilings are often so reactive to moisture, sometimes the simplest thanks to brighten up the ceiling and eliminate stains is to color . this will also help protect the textured ceiling from moisture damage within the future. Use a soft, thick-nap roller (¾ in. or more is ideal) or a paint sprayer to urge the simplest coverage with the smallest amount amount of injury . confine mind that the popcorn texture actually adds area (and provides the acoustic, sound-dampening benefits), so you’ll need more paint than you’ll think.
