How to clean a popcorn ceiling?

[athena1277]

Our house is from the era of popcorn ceilings.  They don’t bother me much, except that it has gotten really dusty and a bit dirty above the stove.  I use the vent, but the ceiling has still gotten noticeably dusty/dirty.  I know I need to clean it, but I don’t know how to do it without damaging the ceiling.  I don’t want to have to repair or repaint if it can be avoided.  

[cintinative]

for removing dust and cobwebs, my husband tends to use the vacuum hose with an extension.  We have had to repair some water damage in a couple spots and you can spray on new popcorn (I think it's in a can?), but the problem is then when you paint it looks whiter than the rest of the ceiling which is still dirty. Ask how I know . . . LOL.

I'm all ears for how to remove stains.

Eventually I hope to remove the popcorn but that is probably going to be long after the kids grow up and move out.  It's a huge project.

[ikslo]

I usually use the vacuum with the brush attachment around my air vents where our ceilings get dirty.  I painted the popcorn ceilings after we moved in, though, and the popcorn is now secure enough to withstand the suction.  I'm not sure it would stand up to washing. If this is dust AND grease because it is above your stove, you might find that they only way to get it looking clean again is to repaint the ceiling.

[Miss Tick]

That can stuff sprays all over. I had 3 foot plastic taped all around the area I sprayed.

I wonder if it would be feasible to change out the ceiling just in that part. Maybe nine tin ceiling tiles, or a sheet of stainless steel. That way next time it would be easier to clean.

[Pawz4me]

It depends on if it's ever been painted or not. Like @ikslosaid, if it's been painted it's a lot easier to dust, because the little popcorn bits are painted down and can withstand some light force from a vacuum brush. If they haven't been painted . .  ugh! The best thing I've found (which granted isn't great) is a paint roller on a long pole, or a cheapo paint brush taped to a long pole. I've found the paint brush works a little better than the roller, but that may just be our ceilings. Getting the popcorn stuff gone--thankfully it's only in part of the house--is the next big project on our list.

[Mrs Tiggywinkle]

Burn it to the ground.

I really hate popcorn ceilings lol.  

[wintermom]

3 minutes ago, Mrs Tiggywinkle said:

Burn it to the ground.

I really hate popcorn ceilings lol.  

Agreed. It initially covers little defects nicely, until you have to fix a big "defect" and disturb the popcorn. Then it's the only kind of popcorn that I hate. 😉 

[GoodGrief3]

3 hours ago, athena1277 said:

Our house is from the era of popcorn ceilings.  They don’t bother me much, except that it has gotten really dusty and a bit dirty above the stove.  I use the vent, but the ceiling has still gotten noticeably dusty/dirty.  I know I need to clean it, but I don’t know how to do it without damaging the ceiling.  I don’t want to have to repair or repaint if it can be avoided.  

Be aware, those ceilings can contain asbestos. You might want to test before stirring things up there. Ours had asbestos and we ultimately removed it.

[Hilltopmom]

Move to a new house- without popcorn ceilings OR wallpaper (just sayin’) 😉

😂 

[athena1277]

14 minutes ago, Hilltopmom said:

Move to a new house- without popcorn ceilings OR wallpaper (just sayin’) 😉

😂

Thankfully we don’t have wallpaper.  We removed several layers of pealing wallpaper from a house years ago.  Never again.

[goldberry]

Ours likely has asbestos which would be very expensive to remove.  I hate it as well.  Our whole house was clearly upgraded...except the popcorn ceilings.