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How to Dry a Suspended Ceiling That You Accidentally Wet

Damon Koch

A standard suspended ceiling consists of fiber tiles set in a grid that is installed on the original ceiling. If the fiber tiles accidentally get wet, you must take great care when drying them. The tiles can break apart very easily when they are wet, and are also subject to mold growth.

The tiles may warp as they dry if no action is taken to dry them properly. You can dry your ceiling tiles properly if you follow the correct procedure.

  1. Remove the affected ceiling tiles from the grid. Carefully push the tile above the grid and turn it. Slide the tile through the grid vertically. The tile is more susceptible to being broken when it is wet, so be very careful.

  2. Cover a hard, flat surface with plastic, and lay the tile on it. This will ensure that as the tile dries, it will not warp.

  3. Dry the tile, using a hair dryer. Hold the hair dryer approximately 6 inches from the surface of the tile. Move the hair dryer back and forth over the surface of the tile until it is dry. Turn the tile over and dry the other side if it is also wet. Drying the tile with a hair dryer will dry it more quickly than air-drying and will help prevent mold growth.

  4. Spray bleach lightly over the surface of the tile to kill any mold spores that may be present in the tile.

  5. Insert the tile vertically through the space in the grid. Flatten out the tile as it clears the grid. Position the tile so its length and width match that of the space in the grid. Set the tile so it is resting on the lip of the grid.