Tips for Cleaning Popcorn Ceilings

If you have a popcorn ceiling in your home you know how dirty and embarrassing they can be. Don't let this task become more than you can handle. Take my advice when it comes to cleaning popcorn ceilings and don't let those little dust bunnies drive you crazy.

Step 1 for Cleaning Popcorn Ceilings
There is just no way around the fact that popcorn ceilings are going to drop their pesky little white flakes all over the floor when you are attempting to clean them. Lay out a flat sheet or a piece of plastic in order to keep the flecks from being mashed into your surrounding carpet.

Step 2 for Cleaning Popcorn Ceilings
Purchase a bristled feather duster like the one here and run the duster across your ceiling. Make sure when you are doing this that you run the duster in the same direction. Avoid going in different directions or your ceiling will start to look like it has swirl marks.

Step 3 for Cleaning Popcorn Ceilings.
Use a wet dry vac with a flexible attachment to reach high points of the ceiling. Wet dry vacs are great at sucking up those aggravating white flecks that fall of your acoustic ceilings before they hit the floor. This tip works great in conjunction with the bristled feather duster mentioned in step 2. Use your wet dry vac in hard to reach corners to suck up ugly cobwebs and dangling dust bunnies.

Step 4 for Cleaning Popcorn Ceilings.
Popcorn ceilings are famous for showing their age. If your ceiling is starting to yellow or lose its flakes you can brighten these spots up with a little bit of white shoe polish. Apply the white shoe polish over any yellowing areas in your popcorn ceiling and avoid the mess of spray painting. Shoe polish also works well to hide water stains around air vents.

Step 5 for Cleaning Popcorn Ceilings.
Spray paint works great if you have a larger area of ceiling to cover. Grab a can of white spray paint and lightly spray over hard to clean areas. Be careful when spraying paint that you cover all furniture and protect your belongings from over spray.

Make sure that when you are cleaning popcorn ceilings you wear the appropriate clothing. Respirator style breathing masks should be used to prevent inhaling fine particulate. Popcorn ceilings in from the early 70s may contain asbestos so if you are worried about this make sure and have it tested.