Here ’s what to do when your popcorn ceiling harbors dust , cobwebs , mold , or mould .
Textured roof , commonly experience as Zea mays everta ceilings , were popularized in the 1950s and 1960s . They have issue forth in and out of fashion and are currently go out a revival among homeowners who have rediscovered this low - cost , sound - muffling , imperfection - concealment , soft - to - apply cap extend . Its resurgence as a roof discourse have in mind it ’s essential to know how to clean popcorn ceilings correctly to forefend a buildup of dirt or scent .
Zea mays everta ceiling have some drawback . The delicate fabric fall apart well , so cleaning the textured control surface can be a dusty fix . Because of its grain , the stuff is amagnet for dust , cobweb , pollen , sens , and even mold , mean these ceiling need to be cleaned more often than straight - surfaced ceilings . This guide will serve you come up to two ways of cleaning a Zea mays everta roof — dusting and stain remotion — and put up guidelines for a safe and ( relatively ! ) mess - free cognitive process .
Credit: Jay Wilde
Before Getting Started: What to Know About Popcorn Ceilings
Textured ceilingscreated by spray a styrofoam and stucco intermixture , call popcorn or cottage cheese ceilings , were a popular choice in 20th - century American homes . In addition to their eye - catching look , Zea mays everta ceilings were an cheap way to providesound insulationand mask construction imperfection .
Check for Asbestos
Zea mays everta ceiling have a tough reputation because of the perniciousness of their original fabrication : Before 1978 , they typically contained asbestos , a known carcinogen that is now banned in the United States . If your home was built after 1978 , when asbestos was banish , its popcorn ceiling should not hold asbestos . However , because existing stock remained available to builders , popcorn ceilings installed in abode in the eighties may contain asbestos . If your home was built before 1990 , consider having your Zea mays everta ceilingtested for asbestosbefore attempting to clean it .
How to Clean a Popcorn Ceiling Safely
First and first off , it is critical to ensure that your popcorn ceiling does not take asbestos before attempting to scavenge it .
Once you ’ve established that the material is asbestos - spare , there are other safety considerations to consider when deciding how to clean a Zea mays everta cap . Popcorn ceilings are more finespun than traditional ceilings , and the textured protuberance that give them their " Zea mays everta " or " cottage high mallow " appearance can break off easily . This is especially straight during cleanup , which is probable to get ceiling particles to shower down the area below — and the individual doing the cleaning .
Prep Your Room and Yourself
To avoid a mess , protect your article of furniture , floors , and rug , and keep yourself safe while pick a Zea mays everta ceiling , it is important to do these three prep steps :
How to Dust a Popcorn Ceiling
At least once a yr , a popcorn cap should be dusted using one of three methods to remove crap , cobweb , and other environmental grease that can make it look unclean and dingy . Here ’s how to houseclean a popcorn cap and eliminate these problems .
What You Need
1. Vacuum the Ceiling
Vacuuming will be the unspoilt choicefor how to clean a popcorn ceiling when detritus , gossamer , and other environmental soil that give it a dingy appearance . Fit your vacuum cleaner with its brush attachment and , work in sections , give the ceiling gentle liberty chit to avoid agitate the grain and causing it to bankrupt off . Abenefit of vacuumingis that the machine will suck up loose debris , leaving less of it to drop on everything below .
2. Clean with a Duster
A long - handled feather or microfiber gaberdine can also be used to houseclean a Zea mays everta ceiling . This method acting is in particular suited to pocket-size chore , likeremoving a cobweb , but also works for all - over cleansing .
When selecting the correct duster for the task , opt for a reclaimable dust storm made of feather ormicrofiberover disposable I made of nylon or polyester , which can get , tear , and become stuck on the rough-textured roof .
3. Clean with a Sticky Roller
Sticky rollers can also be used to remove dust and cobweb from a Zea mays everta ceiling . Long - handled or jumbo - size gummy rollers can help to make this method faster and less taxing than using astandard lint roller .
How to Clean a Popcorn Ceiling That’s Stained
Because of its texture , Zea mays everta ceilings are well stain by residue from grease , gage , and environmental pollutants like junk and pollen . They are alsoprone to modeling and mildew development . A balmy bag soap and water supply cleansing result will pick most stains from popcorn roof , though a mild bleaching agent resolution may be needed for mold and mildew staining .
When houseclean a varnished popcorn ceiling , begin by dust it using the above method acting . Then , test an inconspicuous field with thecleaning solutionappropriate to the smirch to ensure it wo n’t cause damage . The Zea mays everta grain can be raw to water , and overexposure can cause it to dissolve .
1. Use Dish Soap Solution
To scavenge a popcorn ceiling stained by lubricating oil , smoke , or environmental pollutant , fuse 1 tsp . dish soap with 1 quart of warm piddle in a sprayer nursing bottle . Spray the dish soap solution onto the stains , being careful not to soak or impregnate the Zea mays everta textile , as excessive exposure to moisture can get it to dissolve .
Gently dab at the stains using a sponge , then allow the roof to dry overnight . If you live in a damp climate or are experiencing wet or humid conditions , set up lover in the room to facilitate speed up dry out clock time . Adehumidifiercan also help hotfoot up drying meter and purify the atmosphere at the same time , and if you have a ceiling buff in the way , turn it on for an additional boost of drying tycoon .
2. Mix a Bleach Solution
To cleanse cast or mold stains from a popcorn cap , combineone part bleachwith four parts water in a nebuliser bottle . Mist the stain with the bleach resolution and dab them mildly with a sponge , being careful not to soak or saturate the Zea mays everta material , as excessive exposure to moisture can cause it to dissolve . If the soil stay after a few hours , make a strong bleach root and repeat the process .
Frequently Asked Questions
When spray on a popcorn ceiling , acetum can aid to fall apart down paint . For this reason , it ’s not a good result for cleaning a popcorn roof , but can come in handy when attempt to remove a popcorn ceiling altogether .
Popcorn ceilings were often utilized as a means of treat up building flaws on ceiling . The grain of the popcorn helped distract from uneven surfaces , cracks , or wear and tear that the business firm experienced over time . In add-on , many utilized Zea mays everta ceilings as a way of stifle strait within the way and help with the acoustics of the space .
give a popcorn roof a fresh coat of paint is a great room to upgrade it . Use a blusher crimper with a 3/4 - in nap for textured surfaces and proceed with cautiousness — roll it too firmly or using too thick a coat of paint can result in some of the " popcorn " light to the ground , leaving you with an scratchy look ( and a mussiness ) .
While popcorn ceilings can be remove , it ’s a labour intensive outgrowth that is often done by a professional . For starters , depending on the long time of your home , there is a possibility that your popcorn ceiling really contains asbestos , which can be super grave if inhale . Secondly , Zea mays everta ceilings are very prison term consuming and messy to remove , and proper care ( and cookery ) must be take so as not to damage the surrounding arena of your home .
