You might have been shocked when you looked up at the
ceilings throughout your house and learned that one out of four of them were an
assault on the eyes. At twelve years old, you remember that somehow your
ceilings always looked clean so now you’re wondering what happened in your adult
years. You know however as an adult that your childhood memories might rosy up
the pictures, since you likely never were assigned to clean the ceiling as a
chore. You know how to clean other stains and now you need to decide how to
tackle the ceilings.
What kind of paint
You should consider the type of paint on your ceiling before
you start cleaning. If you weren’t the original painter, you might have to ask
around a bit. However, generally ceilings are painted with either a water-based
latex or oil-based alkyd paint. Both types are washable. If your ceiling has a
semi-gloss, gloss paint or a white flat paint, it’s easy to clean. If you have
a dark colored flat paint, you need to consider how to avoid streaks and marks
so that it doesn’t end up looking worse. Finally, if you have popcorn ceiling,
cleaning may be a little more frustrating.
Stain
The type of stain determines the cleaning process. You can
tell the difference between a water damage stain and a smoke stain. The former
will appear yellow or brownish and forms in a circular or radiant pattern. The
latter will appear dingy yellow, fine gray or charcoal.
Cleaning process
Start with a clean mop, preferably. Don’t use an excessively
dripping mop. Clean in small sections so that you wash and dry a section before
moving to a new section. For a cleaner, try not to use one that requires
rinsing to eliminate that step. Some households combine ¼ to ½ cup of ammonia
to a gallon of lukewarm water.
If you are dealing with stains, then consider the type of
stain. I found these excellent articles useful step by step guides on how to
clean both water and smoke stained ceilings.[1][2]
For the popcorn ceiling, learning from other people’s
experience helps. For one thing neither a regular duster nor swifter duster is
recommended. One trick is to wrap duct
tape, the wrong side out, around a paint roller. Protect your carpet with a
covering of some kind. Another trick is to use a bristled feather duster in one
direction to avoid swirl marks. Afterwards, use your vacuum attachments to
finish the job, especially in the corners. If the popcorn is starting to age
and yellow, use a white shoe polish to spot clean or a popcorn spray product
made for touch-ups.
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