How To Clean Popcorn Ceiling

The popcorn ceiling is an interior feature that is on the love/hate spectrum of ceiling designs.

Some homeowners love this feature, whereas other homeowners will not find it at all suitable to their taste.

However, if you are in the bracket of homeowners who enjoy the popcorn ceiling design, then you might also be wondering how to clean it.

Read here to find out just how to clean your popcorn ceiling.

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What Is A Popcorn Ceiling?

Popcorn ceilings are cheap and easy to clean. They make rooms look bigger and more expensive, but their primary objective is to absorb noise.

A popcorn ceiling is made of gypsum board covered with paper-backed fiberglass insulation.

As you may have seen already online, you can remove the popcorn ceiling yourself using a spackle knife taped to the end of a powerful vacuum cleaner (preferably a shop-grade unit).

But not everyone has a shop-grade hoover lying about. Besides, it takes some serious effort and patience.

You can also spritz the “popcorn” with water to clump dust particles and scrape them off without a hoover whilst minimizing mess.

But being that the use of power tools can damage the structure of your ceiling, you still have to scrape the textured surface away manually.

If you want to hire someone else to do the work, you can contact a professional popcorn ceiling removal service.

These companies usually charge between $150 and $300 per hour. Some people say that removing the popcorn ceiling is harder than installing it. But if you're careful, it shouldn't be too difficult.

But what about if you’re happy with your popcorn ceiling, and it’s just looking a little worse for wear?

What’s the best way to go about cleaning it? Well, we’re sticking with the vacuum for this job, too!

The Best Popcorn Ceiling Vacuum Attachment

Popcorn ceilings need a lot of cleaning. A vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment is recommended.

You can use any other attachments if you want, but be careful not to scratch your ceiling. Be sure to turn the nozzle up high so that you don't miss anything.

In fact, you can even use warm water to soften the dust particles. Then, you should use a dry cloth to wipe away the debris.

Use a damp rag to keep the dust from spreading around. Don't forget to wear protective gear such as gloves and goggles, as there will inevitably be some debris falling from the ceiling during cleaning.

How To Clean A Popcorn Ceiling

Popcorn ceilings are a popular decorative feature in older homes. Their unique texture makes them hard to clean without damaging the surface.

If you’re looking for a quick fix, we have some great tips that will make your job easier. For more detailed instructions on how to clean a popcorn ceiling, read on!

First thing’s first, you need to remove all furniture from the room. That’s right, remove any items such as tables, chairs, and other pieces of furniture from the room where you plan to clean.

This is important because you’re going to be shaking a lot of debris loose from the “popcorn”.

Alternatively, cover everything with drop cloths and save yourself the hassle of lugging all your furniture back and forth.

Then you can gather your supplies. You'll need a bucket with warm water, a sponge, a mop, a broom, a vacuum cleaner, a squeegee, an air blower, a dustpan, a brush, and a ladder.

Use the wide upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner to ensure that no debris gets left behind.

Suck up all the cobwebs, dust, and debris that has settled on the surface of your popcorn ceiling, but be gentle. You don’t want to knock the popcorn itself off!

If your vacuum isn’t up to the task, you could always use a decent extendable microfiber duster.

Next, you’ll need to wipe your ceiling down to give it a deeper clean. First, use a dry cloth to wipe down the entire ceiling.

Then rinse and repeat with a slightly damp cloth. Use the upholstery attachment once again to vacuum the ceiling.

Make sure to keep the nozzle pointed straight down so that it doesn't scratch the ceiling. If you’re going hooverless, try to attach your cloth to any long device,

After cleaning the ceiling, blot the surface using a soft towel. You can use a microfiber towel to avoid scratching the surface.

Finally, take care of the corners. Use a damp cloth to wipe down the corners. Once you're done, let the area dry completely before moving on to the next step.

Removing Stains From A Popcorn Ceiling

Popcorn ceilings are a magnet to stains caused by residue from greasy foods.

Grease and other substances are attracted to the popcorn texture, making them tough to clean. Dusting the ceiling before cleaning helps reduce the amount of stain. 

Test a small, inconspicuous area first to see if the solution will harm the texture. You have lots of options that can enable you to do this. 

Option 1: Warm Water And Dish Soap

Use this solution for everyday stains like cooking oil or cigarette smoke. Apply using a soft, thick-nap paint roller or a soft brush to avoid damaging the texture.

Wring out the excess liquid before application. The trick is to prevent saturation.

Mildew and watermarks can be treated by spraying on a mixture of water and bleach.

Safety glasses should be worn while using this product. Allow the ceiling to dry completely before re-spraying.

Option 2: Paint

Use an oil-based, stain-blocking primer and acrylic paint to coat over set-in stains. Use a soft, thin-nap paint roller or a paint sprayer.

Keep in mind that popcorn textures add surface area and provide acoustic dampening. You'll need more paint than you might think.

In Conclusion

Overall, when it comes to cleaning your popcorn ceiling, you will find that the method is not actually that difficult.

In fact, the simpler that you keep the whole ceiling cleaning process - the better. You might not find that you need to clean your ceiling all that often, good ventilation will ensure that your ceiling stays as fresh as possible.

However, if you live in a house with lower ceilings, then you might find that it is near impossible to keep your popcorn ceiling clean. But - remember - keep it simple.