How to Clean Popcorn Ceilings

Ceilings with a "popcorn" texture are notoriously difficult to clean. This kind of texturing is soft and often crumbles.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• ladder
• feather duster
• vacuum
• see article for necessary materials for harder cleaning jobs

1. Get your ladder and feather duster and dust as much dirt as you can from the ceiling. Using a telescoping featherduster will make this job even easier.
2. If you still have dirt or grime on the ceiling, you can use the wand of your vacuum cleaner to get a more thorough clean.
3. A lightly damp cloth may be used to clean any oil or grime, if it is not too bad. Unfortunately, this kind of texture is so delicate that it may begin to crumble if you use too vigorous scrubbing or too much water.
4. If you still have dirt or grime, you must either remove your popcorn texture or paint over it. Painting seems to be the best option, because of the difficulty removing this type of texture. Start with primer coat--use Killz. This product will get rid of any smells and seal off the oil or grime. Then paint a top coat.

Tips & Warnings

• Check to be sure your popcorn ceiling isn't made with asbestos before attempting to remove the finish.