Spring Cleaning Ceilings

Whether you are selling your home, just bought a home, or staying where you are, the benefits of a good cleaning are immeasurable.  Sellers can increase the marketability of their homes and new buyers will feel more at home with a fresh, clean start.  For others it's Spring Cleaning.

Ceilings! An important consideration before you begin cleaning ceilings is wearing safety goggles and maybe a bandanna or a baseball hat (not your favorite one).  If you use a ladder or a stool, do not over-reach.  Check out your local hardware store, some sell brushes on handles adequate for washing ceilings.  You might want to wrap an old washcloth around each wrist and secure it with an elastic band to prevent water from running down your arm if you are using sponges, cloths, or other materials in a ladder or on a stool.  Protect your floors and furniture before you begin with a drop cloth, many old vinyl tablecloths, newspapers, several old towels, or even old sheets. See list of ceiling types below.  Some ceilings can use the newer wet sweeps.

Ceilings

Most painted ceiling surfaces are washable, but some ceilings, especially the acoustic type, need special treatment. Remove cobwebs from all ceilings monthly, or as needed, with a vacuum brush attachment or a long-handle mop. Wash or clean ceilings first if you are cleaning the whole room. Do not allow drips to run down walls. Protect furniture and floors with drop cloths or newspaper while you clean. Use a sponge mop to clean ceilings so you won't need a ladder.

Acoustic Finish
This rough sound-absorbing finish is often used in new construction and remodeling. While it is relatively cheap and quick to apply, spray-on acoustic finishes cannot be cleaned. When the ceiling becomes dirty, the best thing to do is to vacuum it using a brush attachment, and then respray it.

Ceiling Tile
Vinyl-coated ceiling tile can be cleaned with an all-purpose cleaning solution. Nonwashable tiles can be spot-cleaned with special products available at hardware stores. When an overall cleaning is needed, the tiles may be painted. There's no need for special paint.

Plaster
Decorative plaster ceilings -- as opposed to flat, painted plaster ceilings -- are really not cleanable because of the unpainted surface and deep texture. When a plaster ceiling becomes dirty, the best treatment is to vacuum it carefully, using a brush attachment.

THE LAST RESORT

SEAL IT with a STAIN-BLOCKING primer. Then, use one of the new "Ceiling Paints" like the one from Dutch Boy. These new "Ceiling Paints" are less prone to dripping, have better coverage & go on pink (while wet) but dry white. (So you can see if you've missed a spot) Another bonus: You'll need less paint if you first prime you're ceiling, You may only need one coat of Ceiling Paint.

Stain Blocking Primers will seal in nicotine & cigarette smoke, water damage, odors, & sometimes mold. So why CLEAN it, when you can SEAL it instead!? These day's they have made great strides when it comes to the new High Adhesive Stain Blocking Primes.