A vacuum is one of the best tools for cleaning a popcorn ceiling.
Popcorn ceilings have been around for some time and many were installed between the 1950s and the '80s. They became popular because they are quick and simple to install, and cover up flaws in the ceiling. However, popcorn ceilings are difficult to clean because the popcorn comes off the ceiling easily and the texture traps dust. When you clean a popcorn ceiling, it is important to prepare properly and to be both careful and thorough.
Instructions
1. Find out if your ceiling contains asbestos. Asbestos was commonly used in popcorn ceilings for several decades. If your ceiling was installed before 1978, it almost certainly contains asbestos. If it was installed after 1990, the likelihood is extremely slim. Manufacturing popcorn texture with asbestos was banned in 1977, but using materials made before the ban was not, so ceilings installed in the 1980s might contain asbestos. Send a sample to a lab for testing. If your ceiling does not contain asbestos, it is safe to clean. If your ceiling does contain asbestos, do not clean it. Asbestos popcorn ceilings are only safe if they are left undisturbed. You may want to have a professional remove the ceiling altogether.
2. Put on gloves and goggles to protect your eyes from dust and cleaning chemicals. Turn off ceiling fans; if there is enough light in the room from windows, turn off your ceiling lights as well for extra safety. You may want to remove furniture or cover it with drop cloths to protect it from dust and falling popcorn.
3. Brush away cobwebs with a broom. You can use dusters with telescoping handles or similar tools as well.
4. Attach the brush attachment to the extension wand on your vacuum. You can use just the wand, but the brush works better. Turn on the vacuum and gently run the brush over your ceiling. Do not press hard or you will brush off the popcorn.
5. Wash any stains. For organic stains, like mold or mildew, mix 1 part bleach with 1 part water. For other stains, like smoke, mix a very diluted solution of trisodium phosphate to water, about 1 part TSP to 16 parts water. Dip a sponge in the appropriate mixture and dab it against the stain. Use as little liquid as possible and do not saturate the ceiling; this can cause damage. Once the stain starts clearing up, dab the area with a damp sponge soaked in warm water. Again, do not saturate the ceiling. Dab the sponge against the ceiling until you have rinsed away the bleach or TSP mixture. Let the ceiling dry, vacuum the floor and move the furniture back into the room or remove the drop cloths.
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