How To Clean a Popcorn Ceiling — Pro Housekeepers

There are some areas of each home that get ignored when cleansing. Whether or not as a result of they’re arduous to achieve, or simply arduous to scrub, popcorn ceilings are hardly ever remembered in most routines. Nevertheless they appeal to mud and over time can begin to look dingy, spoiling the looks of the entire room. Right here’s all the pieces you must find out about tips on how to clear a popcorn ceiling and get it wanting pretty much as good as new.

What’s a popcorn ceiling?

Popcorn ceilings can go by a number of names, together with stipple ceiling, stucco ceiling, or acoustic ceiling. These ceilings have a bumpy, textured floor made utilizing spray-on paint. The lumps in popcorn ceilings are often manufactured from vermiculite, a sort of floor mineral, or polystyrene.

There are a number of the reason why popcorn ceilings might have been put in in your house. They’re usually cheaper to put in than flat ceilings, cover flaws effectively, and deaden sound. Whether or not you like or hate them, popcorn ceilings are extraordinarily frequent, so cleansing them correctly is a ability value studying.

Pro Tip: Textured ceilings put in earlier than 1979 usually contained asbestos. Asbestos might even be current in some ceilings put in after this date, as contractors continued to make use of up outdated materials provides after asbestos was banned. In case your ceiling was put in earlier than 1990, it’s greatest to err on the facet of warning and have an knowledgeable check for asbestos earlier than disturbing it. 

Learn to shield your loved ones from asbestos with this information from the EPA.

How to scrub a popcorn ceiling

The only option to clear a popcorn ceiling is to interrupt out the vacuum cleaner. Use a brush attachment and gently run it throughout the ceiling. Don’t press too arduous, as you’ll harm the ceiling texture. It’s a good thought to place down tarps or plastic sheeting first, as some items should still fall from the ceiling.

This methodology will take away mud, filth, and cobwebs out of your popcorn ceiling. Nevertheless in case your ceiling is stained or discolored, extra intensive cleansing could also be vital.

Pro Tip: Need the remainder of the room to match your vivid, clear ceiling? Discover out tips on how to clear baseboards as effectively!

The perfect popcorn ceiling vacuum attachment

Most vacuum cleaners include a number of attachments, together with extension wands, crevice instruments, and dusting brushes. It’s the comb attachment you must use on a popcorn ceiling. Though a number of the different attachments would possibly ship extra suction and work quicker, they danger damaging the ceiling. The comb bristles present safety in opposition to scratching the end with arduous plastic, and likewise work to loosen cussed mud and filth.

What instruments do you must clear a popcorn ceiling

Relying on the cleansing methodology you resolve to make use of in your popcorn ceiling, these are the instruments you’re prone to want:

• Plastic sheeting
• Vacuum cleaner, soft-bristled brust, or feather duster
• Dish cleaning soap
• White vinegar
• 3% hydrogen peroxide
• Bleach
• Water
• Spray bottle
• Microfiber material
• Stepladder

How to scrub cobwebs from popcorn ceiling

Cleansing cobwebs from a popcorn ceiling doesn’t must be tough. You should utilize a vacuum cleaner, or alternatively a soft-bristled broom and even a feather duster. Take into account how you’ll attain the ceiling throughout cleansing. Attempt to use long-handled gear, or use a stepladder to achieve safely.

Pro Tip: Don’t overextend your self when standing on a stepladder, as a result of it’s simple to lose your stability and fall. As a substitute, give attention to cleansing a small space at a time, and transfer the ladder between every part of the ceiling. Learn to use a stepladder safely by following the OSHA information.

Cowl carpets and furnishings with tarps or plastic sheeting for simple cleanup. Then use a vacuum as above, or gently brush the ceiling with a broom or feather duster. If the ceiling could be very dusty, you will want to scrub your broom bristles or shake out the duster as you go. Cobwebs and mud are inclined to accumulate in corners of the ceiling, so pay specific consideration to those areas.

How to scrub popcorn ceiling mud

The middle of your popcorn ceiling is extra prone to be dusty than stuffed with cobwebs. Mud might be cleaned with a broom, duster, or vacuum. Should you discover these strategies aren’t lifting the mud effectively, attempt utilizing a wool paint curler with a thick nap, or pile. Paint rollers are perfect for dusting ceilings as a result of they’re designed to glide simply over the floor. Simply bear in mind to not press too arduous, otherwise you’ll harm the end of the popcorn texture.

How to scrub kitchen grease from popcorn ceiling

Though popcorn ceilings shouldn’t be utilized in kitchens or loos, the place the excessive moisture content material within the air can harm the end, many contractors didn’t get the memo! In case your popcorn ceiling is affected by kitchen grease stains, you may simply repair it with this resolution.

• 1 cup heat water
• 1 teaspoon dish cleaning soap

Combine the answer and dampen a microfiber material. Use it to dab the ceiling and elevate outdated grease stains. Bear in mind you shouldn’t get the ceiling moist, as a result of it should harm the end and perhaps even make the popcorn layer fall down. Keep away from scrubbing the ceiling for a similar purpose. Wring the fabric out effectively earlier than making use of it to the ceiling, and dab gently to scrub.

Pro Tip: Hold that cleansing fever going! Be taught tips on how to clear your window blinds and shades now!

How to scrub cigarette smoke from popcorn ceiling

Eradicating smoke stains from a popcorn ceiling might be difficult. Nicotine and smoke are infamous for discoloring ceilings, and may present up dramatically on popcorn ceilings because the textured floor tends to discolor anyway over time. Relying on the fabric used to create the ceiling, and the extent of the staining, this can be one you must paint to cowl up. However earlier than you escape the primer, attempt misting the ceiling with 3% hydrogen peroxide. 

Pro Tip: Obtained paint in your garments doing a little DIY? Discover out tips on how to clear paint out of material now!

Use a spray bottle, however watch out to not soak the ceiling. It ought to solely be barely damp. Enable the ceiling to air dry naturally. You may as well use a fan to maintain the air circulating and pace up drying. If the ceiling remains to be discolored, you may repeat this methodology 2-Three occasions, at all times taking care to not get the ceiling too damp, and permitting it to completely dry between remedies.

Eradicating stains from a popcorn ceiling

In case your popcorn ceiling has water or different stains, they will often be handled with a easy cleansing resolution.

• Three tablespoons bleach
• 1 cup heat water

Mix the answer in a spray bottle and gently mist the stained space. Once more, take care to not get the ceiling too moist. Enable the answer to air dry. If the stain stays, repeat as vital, permitting the ceiling to dry between every utility.

How to scrub mildew off a popcorn ceiling

Earlier than treating mildew, it’s a good thought to establish what precipitated it within the first place. In any other case it should solely proceed to return again. Usually mildew and mildew seem in areas with poor air flow and excessive humidity. Opening a window or inserting a moveable fan in a room with humidity issues might help preserve air circulating. An antifungal cleansing spray can even assist deal with mildew.

Mould can cover within the textured floor of popcorn ceilings, making it more durable to take away. If the issue is intensive, it’s time to name in a skilled. In any other case, use a spray bottle to use a fungicidal cleaner. The spray will assist attain all of the nooks and crannies. Chances are you’ll want a number of functions to deal with the mildew successfully. Make sure the room is effectively ventilated and put on a masks or respirator throughout therapy.

Pro Tip: Be taught all about tips on how to clear and eliminate mildew in your house!

All objective popcorn ceiling cleansing resolution

Popcorn ceilings naturally are inclined to discolor over time, so in case your ceiling seems grey and dingy, it might be time for a new coat of paint. Nevertheless this all objective cleansing resolution can even assist brighten up your drained popcorn ceiling and provides it a contemporary new look.

• 1 cup white vinegar
• 1 cup chilly water

Mix the combination in a spray bottle and mist the ceiling. Enable it to air dry, and repeat if vital. For extra cussed discoloration, you may also apply this resolution utilizing a microfiber material. Simply dampen the fabric within the combination and dab the ceiling to elevate filth away.

Pro Tip: At Pro Housekeepers, we love vinegar. Be taught all about the cleansing energy of vinegar now!

Conclusion

Cleansing a popcorn ceiling might be difficult, nevertheless it isn’t inconceivable. You need to attempt to clear your ceilings a couple of times per 12 months, or extra continuously in areas that accumulate a lot of mud or stains. Add cleansing your popcorn ceilings to your spring cleansing routine and luxuriate in vivid, ethereal rooms all 12 months spherical.