Help your popcorn ceiling “pop” with cleanliness
Popcorn ceiling cleaning requires gentle handling because the textured surface is delicate, and excessive moisture or scraping can cause it to crumble or worsen existing damage.
Professional cleaning costs range from $150 to $300 for walls and ceilings, while painting runs $1 to $3 per square foot if stubborn stains need coverage.
Your popcorn ceiling benefits from regular maintenance every six to twelve months, and avoiding smoke exposure prevents the stains that textured surfaces collect over time.
Hiring a local asbestos testing professional provides peace of mind before you start cleaning, especially if your home was built before the 1980s when asbestos was common.
Known for their texture and look, popcorn ceilings have been around since the 1950s. But just because your popcorn ceiling may have been around for a while doesn’t mean it has to look like it. Though popcorn ceilings are notorious for collecting dust and stains, you can easily make yours look new again. Follow these four simple steps to revive your ceiling.
Before you start cleaning your popcorn ceiling, make sure it’s safe to do so. Popcorn ceilings installed before the 1980s may have asbestos, so find out when your home was built or renovated.
Taking safety precautions is important since asbestos is unsafe when inhaled, and debris or fallout may expose you to it. If you know that your home was built before the 1980s, have a local asbestos testing contractor test your ceiling for asbestos.
Place drop cloths or a plastic tarp to catch any dust or debris that may fall as you clean your ceiling, covering the entire floor to ensure easy cleanup afterward. You’ll want to cover up, too—wear a face mask, protective goggles, and gloves to limit your exposure to debris.
Next, remove any dust or cobwebs that may have built up over time. Place your step ladder in a secure position to give you steady footing as you work. If you have a high ceiling, ask someone to help you secure the ladder as you step onto it.
Using the brush attachment on your vacuum, gently clean all parts of the ceiling, making sure to avoid scraping it. If you prefer, you can also use a feather duster or a broom with soft bristles instead.
Tackle stains by spot-treating each one. Fill a spray bottle with one quart of warm water and one teaspoon of dish soap, and mix thoroughly. Spray the mixture on visible stains and dab lightly with a sponge until the discoloration comes off. Just make sure to avoid spraying too much of the mixture, as dampness can cause the ceiling to crumble. Repeat this with all stains and let dry overnight.
If you find that the stains are stubborn, treat them with a mixture of one part bleach to four parts water. However, you should never mix this with your dish soap mixture. Be especially careful when handling the bleach and keep your face mask, goggles, and gloves on, as inhaling or touching it can cause irritation. Apply the solution to the remaining stains and dab gently with a sponge, then wait a few hours to let the bleach set. Open the windows and use any room fans you have on hand to help the ceiling dry completely while ventilating the bleach smell.
Once enough time has passed, check to see if the stains have disappeared. If there are any remaining, add a little more bleach to the mixture and spray it again.
For pesky stains that won’t go away, you can use paint to refresh the ceiling and make it look new again. Select paint that matches the color of your ceiling for a seamless touchup. Prepare the spots with a stain-blocking oil primer, and let it dry completely. Afterward, use a thick-nap paint roller to cover the stains with the paint. Popcorn ceilings require more paint than flat ceilings, so make sure you have enough paint on hand if you plan to do more than a few touchups.
While cleaning a popcorn ceiling with a few stains is fairly simple, it becomes more challenging if you’re dealing with tougher, set-in stains. The bumpy surface is delicate, so if you have a ceiling that requires deeper cleaning, you may want to consider hiring a professional.
"I generally advise homeowners to DIY this task due to the amount of time, energy, and money spent to perform the cleaning,” says Asya Biddle, Angi Expert Review Board member and manager of The Dustbusters, a family-owned and operated janitorial company in Williamsport, PA. “However, if the ceiling has many stains, homeowners should consider hiring a company that not only professionally cleans these types of ceilings, but can also repair any damage caused during cleaning."
If you plan on doing the cleaning yourself, the supplies will cost about $56. If you prefer to have a professional take over, you can decide between hiring a local cleaner or an interior painter near you. House cleaning rates typically cost around $150 to $300 for walls and ceilings. Meanwhile, a popcorn ceiling paint job costs $1 to $3 per square foot, so covering a standard 16x20-foot living room ceiling would run between $320 to $960.
I had FabClean 614 clean my apartment, and she did an outstanding job. She was so professional and efficient. My apartment looks absolutely spotless every surface, every corner, all cleaned to perfection. Definitely highly recommend FabClean 614 if you're looking for top-notch cleaning...
Fab Clean 614Best cleaning I've had at my property
Fantastic group, very communicative, and they really did a great job cleaning my condo. Will be hiring them for recurring cleaning!
eMaids of Northern ColumbusExcellent the crew was great did what I ask cleaned up and the price was awesome
All Star Paving and SealingOn time, clean and finished fast. Windows seem sturdy and the finish is good. Caulking was done with no smudges. Would recommend.
Window Depot USA of Central OhioI definitely recommend Ramonaâ s cleaning service! I have booked services with her many times and she arrives on time, ready to work and provides a great service.
Your Cleaning Solutions LLCMary Cleaning Service is fantastic! The entire team is professional and pay a great deal of attention to detail. They do such a thorough job of cleaning my house. I would definitely recommend!
It was just fine. They did a good job. They cleaned what needed to be cleaned.
Dezired Cleaners LLCThey cleaned my very dirty basement. They were prompts, quick, thorough and their price was fair.
JDE House Cleaning LLCExcellent! We were very satisfied with the service provided and the entire experience from start to finish. Very friendly and professional staff. I was able to instantly get in contact with them for a quote and the response time and overall communication remained quick and easy throughout the...
Prime Cleaning ServiceFrom average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Popcorn ceiling removal costs depend on the size of your ceiling and any additional services like asbestos removal and resurfacing. Learn all the costs here.
Looking to breathe new life into your space with a ceiling refresh? Learn about the cost to paint a ceiling and what factors can affect your total.
Discover the average acoustic ceiling cleaning cost, what affects pricing, and how to save. Get expert tips to budget for your acoustic ceiling cleaning project.
Wondering who you should hire to remove an ugly popcorn ceiling? We’ve got you covered with the best pros for the job, and whether to DIY this project.
A textured, or “popcorn”, ceiling was once a popular home feature. Read on to learn about what a popcorn ceiling is and why it has mostly gone out of fashion.
Many homeowners want to remove popcorn ceilings, but you and your pro will need to discuss a few key popcorn ceiling questions first.
