How to Clean Popcorn Ceilings

Instructions

• 1

  Before you start to clean the popcorn ceiling in your room, it would be wise to determine the ceiling’s age. Popcorn ceilings that were sprayed before 1980 contained asbestos which can pose serious health threats. If the popcorn ceiling in your room was sprayed before 1980, you should not clean it all. In the other scenario, it would be alright to move on to the next step.
• 2

  With the passage of time, mildew spots form on popcorn ceilings. The best way to remove the mildew spots is to use a mixture of bleach and water. Lightly spray diluted bleach from a spray bottle onto the popcorn ceiling. Wait for the ceiling to dry completely and check if mildew stains still remain. If that is the case, spray diluted bleach once again. You may have to repeat this step several times to completely remove the mildew stains. However, allow enough time for the first spray of diluted bleach to dry completely before spraying the ceiling again.
• 3

  After you have removed all the mildew stains, get rid of dirt particles which would have accumulated on the ceiling since the last time you cleaned it. Use a vacuum cleaner attached with a soft bristle brush for this purpose. Avoid putting too much pressure on the ceiling with the brush while you vacuum because excessive pressure may result in damage to the ceiling’s texture. If there are any fans or vents attached to the ceilings, focus on those areas because that is where a large amount of dust particles would have accumulated.
• 4

  Finally, take care of cracks that may have developed in the popcorn ceiling. Attend to one crack at a time. Scrape off at least three inches of popcorn texture on all sides of the crack. Use paintable caulk to fill the cleared area and then apply a uniform layer of latex paint. Use an aerosol-spray texture repair kit to reform the popcorn texture on the ceiling.