How to Clean Smoke Off of a Ceiling

Whether it is in the kitchen or the dining hall, from lighted candles or cooking flames, stains will invariably be present on your ceiling after a sustained activity. Restaurants and hotel kitchens have to repeatedly clean their ceilings to keep these spots away. Now you can clean your own ceilings by following the steps below.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Primer
• Step ladder or high table
• A dry sponge or soot sponge
• Water solution
• TSP (also known as Trio-Sodium Phosphate)
• Paint
• A vacuum cleaner or a blower

1. Identify the smoke spots on the ceiling. Carefully demarcate the areas on the ceiling which require attention.

2. Arrange for a safe access such as a step ladder or high table to reach out.

3. Clear the floor space to make the ceiling area accessible. If the room is too cluttered or full of furniture, consider a full evacuation before you begin.

4. Begin by clearing the loose particles of the smoke stain. Use a vacuum cleaner or a blower.

5. Use a dry sponge or soot sponge to rub the affected ceiling areas. Use a chemically treated sponge that will absorb the dirt and soot. Clean the sponge at regular intervals.

6. Wipe the ceiling with TSP (also known as Trio-Sodium Phosphate) and water mixture. Dissolve about 1 tbsp of TSP into 1 gallon of lukewarm water. Rinse to make an even solution.

7. Go online and search for superior products to remove smoke stains off the ceilings and interior wall surfaces. Use search engines such as Google or Yahoo to enhance your search.

8. Visit nearby department stores such as Home Depot or Wal-Mart and ask for special cleaning agents to remove smoke stains from ceilings. Read the instructions carefully before using. Research reviews of the products before buying or using.

Tips & Warnings

• Remove the stains carefully. As ceilings usually have a thinner coat of paint you are more likely to remove the paint while removing the stain. Consider applying a new coat of primer and paint to restore the ceiling.
• Before painting, consider anti-smoke stain paints, enamels and varnishes to avoid future stains.
• Opt for beeswax candles or soot-free candles if the stains are caused by regular wax candles.
• Do not attempt to hide the smoke marks by simply painting over it. The stain is likely to reappear within a few weeks of new paint application. Always consider treating and removing it before repainting.

[VMAlves]

on 6/27/2007 I had a fire in my kitchen and the ceiling is severely smoked up. It would not be possible to clean this ceiling . I was wondering if I painted over it with a pain like kilm and then another coat of paint would that kilm cover the smoke damage.