The Best Ways to Clean Your Ceiling (Plus How Often to Do It)

Your ceilings usually stay pretty clean, but over time even they can get dusty or dirty. When you notice dust, grime, or stains on your ceiling, it’s really easy to clean them with common household supplies. Keep reading, and we’ll walk you through how to thoroughly clean your ceilings and how to keep them looking great year-round.

The Easiest Way to Clean a Ceiling

Use a long-handled duster to remove dust and cobwebs.
Vacuum textured and popcorn ceilings with a soft-bristle attachment.
Spray smooth ceilings with a vinegar and dish soap solution.
Remove the cleaner with a damp paint roller.
Dry your ceiling with a cloth or dry microfiber mop.

Section 1 of 5:

How to Clean Smooth Ceilings

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1
Wipe your ceiling with a long-handled duster. Extend the handle on your duster as far as you’re able to so you’re able to reach the ceiling. Run the duster back and forth across your ceiling to trap all the loose dust and cobwebs.^{[1]
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- Always dust your ceiling before using liquid cleaners so you’re less likely to spread around dirt and grime.
- In a pinch, you can even use a Swiffer duster with a dry pad to wipe down your ceilings.
- If you can’t reach your ceiling, then stand on a step ladder.
2
Make a vinegar and dish soap cleaning solution. Mix 1 cup (240 ml) of warm water, 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) of non-abrasive dish soap (like Dawn), and 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of white vinegar in a bowl. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and shake it vigorously so it’s thoroughly mixed.
- Any all-purpose cleaner works for cleaning your ceilings, a homemade solution won’t be as likely to damage paint, tiles, trim, and other surfaces.
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3
Spray the ceiling with the soap and vinegar solution. Take the spray bottle and spritz down the ceiling completely. Make sure to get complete coverage because you’ll be able to notice splotch marks on your ceiling if you don’t.
- Avoid soaking the surface of the ceiling so much that it drips.^{[2]
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- Raymond Chiu, a house cleaning professional, recommends putting down a mat or tarp to protect your floors while cleaning.^{[3]
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  Raymond Chiu
  House Cleaning Professional
  
  Expert Interview. 21 October 2019.}
- Alternatively, spray the cleaner directly onto a microfiber mop to apply it to the ceiling.
Use a damp paint roller to remove the cleaner from your ceiling. Find a large paint roller, dampen it with water, and roll it all over your ceiling. Make sure you remove all the vinegar and detergent solution that you sprayed on the ceiling.^{[4]
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Pat the ceiling dry with a clean cloth or dry mop. After you’ve used a roller on the ceiling, take a clean cloth and gently pat the ceiling dry. The cloth will absorb any residual water and cleaning solution that’s left over.
- Make sure the ceiling is clean before you dry it. If not, you may spread dirt and make your ceiling dirty again.
- If you have trouble reaching the ceiling, use a long-handled microfiber mop or paint roller. In a pinch, tape a roller to the shaft of a broom so you’re able to reach.

Section 2 of 5:

How to Clean Textured or Popcorn Ceilings

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1
Remove surface dust and cobwebs with a duster. Use a lightweight, long-handled duster that reaches up to your ceiling. Take your duster and move it back and forth across the entire surface of the ceiling. Make sure to get as much dust and debris off the ceiling as you can.^{[5]
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- You may need to clean or dust off your duster if the ceiling is exceptionally dirty. If the duster is really dirty, vacuum it a couple of times while you’re cleaning the ceiling.
- A microfiber attachment on your duster will pick up more dust and is less likely to scratch your ceiling.
- Avoid using liquid cleaners or water on textured ceilings because they could damage the surface permanently.^{[6]
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2
Vacuum the ceiling with a soft-bristle attachment for a deep clean. Use a bristle-brush attachment made for cleaning easily scratched surfaces. Extend your vacuum’s hose if you’re able to so you’re able to reach. Simply take your vacuum hose and gently run it along the surface of the ceiling.^{[7]
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- Pay special attention to corners, where crown molding meets the ceiling, and areas around air vents.
- Don’t forget to vacuum the floors after you’ve finished cleaning because you might have knocked down some dust.
3
Wipe really dirty areas with a dry microfiber cloth. If certain parts of your ceiling are exceptionally dirty, you may need to use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe them. Take your cloth and gently pat or wipe the area.
- Avoid applying too much pressure so you don’t rub dirt or dust into the ceiling.
- Get a new cloth once the one you are using is dirty.
- If you can't reach the ceiling, attach your microfiber cloth to the end of a broomstick or mop handle.

Section 3 of 5:

How to Remove Ceiling Stains

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1
Try baking soda to remove stains.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional

Expert Interview. 21 October 2019.} As with stains elsewhere, baking soda is very helpful in removing stains from ceilings. Create a paste and spread it over stains on the ceiling.
- Combine 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 2 tablespoons of water and mix thoroughly.
- Allow the paste to sit on the stain for a few minutes.
- Wipe the paste in a circular motion.^{[9]
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Use a melamine magic eraser to remove marks and scuffs. If you have marks from a pencil or similar-looking marks on your ceiling, you may be able to use a melamine eraser to remove them. Simply take the eraser and gently rub it against the marks on your ceiling.^{[10]
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Remove grease stains with a dish soap solution. Pour1 US quart (0.95 L) of warm water and 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) of liquid dish soap into a spray bottle and mix it thoroughly. Then, lightly coat the stained part of your ceiling with the solution. Dap the soapy water with a sponge and let your ceiling dry overnight.^{[11]
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- This works great for kitchen ceilings above your stove or oven.
4
Remove soot stains with trisodium phosphate (TSP). Mix ½ cup (g) of TSP in 2 gallons (7.6 L) of hot water. Put on cleaning gloves and soak a sponge in the cleaning solution. Gently scrub it onto the stain to break it apart. Then rinse it off with a clean, damp cloth.^{[12]
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- Only use as much TSP as you need to cover the stain so it doesn’t drip.
- Follow the manufacturer’s directions printed on the TSP container.
- Place a plastic sheet or cardboard box beneath the stain so the TSP doesn’t get on or damage your flooring.^{[13]
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Scrub stubborn stains with a bleach solution. Chiu recommends using a mixture that’s 1 part bleach and 3 parts warm water. He says, “Use a sponge with the solution to gently scrub the ceiling stain.”^{[14]
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Expert Source

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional

Expert Interview. 21 October 2019.}
- He also recommends wearing safety glasses and putting a mat down to catch any spills.
- If you can still see the stain or if there’s a visible spot where you cleaned, then touch up the paint on your ceiling.

Section 4 of 5:

How Often to Clean Your Ceiling

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Your ceiling stays pretty clean throughout the year, but dust and grime can build up after a few months. If anyone in your household has allergies or smokes inside, then clean your ceiling once a month to prevent buildup that’s difficult to remove.^{[15]
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Section 5 of 5:

Maintaining a Clean Ceiling

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Run your range hood whenever you use your oven. The hood over your stove or oven ventilates airborne grease and smoke while you’re cooking. Turn the vent fan on while you’re preparing food to prevent the buildup from getting on your ceilings.^{[16]
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- If your home doesn’t have a range hood, keep windows open while you’re cooking or install a hood.
2
Treat new stains immediately. As soon as you notice a stain on your ceiling, tackle it with some cleaning solution right away. If you let the stain sit, then it may be more difficult to remove later on.
- Try to determine the source of the stain and make any repairs that you need to.

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Turn off your HVAC system or ceiling fan before cleaning your ceilings so you don’t spread dust around your home.

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Warnings

If your home was constructed before 1978, check popcorn and textured ceilings for asbestos before cleaning them. Inhaling asbestos can increase your chances of developing lung disease.^{[17]
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United States Environmental Protection Agency
Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices

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