Here’s what to do when your popcorn ceiling harbors dust, cobwebs, mold, or mildew.
Textured ceilings, commonly known as popcorn ceilings, were popularized in the 1950s and 1960s.
Popcorn ceilings have some drawbacks.
Credit: Jay Wilde
The delicate material crumbles easily, so cleaning the textured surface can be a dusty mess.
In addition to their eye-catching look, popcorn ceilings were an inexpensive way to providesound insulationand mask building imperfections.
If your home was built before 1990, consider having your popcorn ceilingtested for asbestosbefore attempting to clean it.
Here’s how to clean a popcorn ceiling and eliminate these problems.
What You Need
1.
Clean with a Duster
A long-handled feather or microfiber duster can also be used to clean a popcorn ceiling.
This method is particularly suited to smaller jobs, likeremoving a cobweb, but also works for all-over cleaning.
They are alsoprone to mold and mildew growth.
When cleaning a stained popcorn ceiling, begin by dusting it using the above method.
Then, test an inconspicuous area with thecleaning solutionappropriate to the stain to ensure it won’t cause damage.
The popcorn texture can be sensitive to water, and overexposure can cause it to dissolve.
dish soap with 1 quart of warm water in a spray bottle.
Gently dab at the stains using a sponge, then allow the ceiling to dry overnight.
If the stains remain after a few hours, make a stronger bleach solution and repeat the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
When sprayed on a popcorn ceiling, vinegar can help to break down paint.
Popcorn ceilings were often utilized as a means of covering up building flaws on ceilings.
Giving a popcorn ceiling a fresh coat of paint is a great way to upgrade it.
