Any ideas on how to clean

[Texasgal]

textured popcorn on the ceiling? I know that I should just scrape it off and paint but I do not have the money nor the time right now. It's especially bad in the kitchen above the stove top.

Any ideas?

[Betsy Ross]

1. CAREFUL!!!!!!!

Popcorn ceilings often contain asbestos. DO NOT try to remove it without testing for asbestos. It is extremely toxic. We had it removed from two rooms. They sealed off the rest of the house and used the front porch for the decontamination room. Serious stuff.

[Warpy]

2. There is absolutely no way to clean it

which is why people hate it and scrape it down ASAP when they move into a house that has it.

Modern "popcorn" is Perlite mixed into the paint. It is not particularly high in asbestos but scraping it off is a messy and dusty procedure and requires a face mask. It's nasty to inhale volcanic glass, which is basically what it is.

Popcorn that was applied before about 1975 could possibly contain asbestos and has to be tested. If your house was built after 1975, you're home free and only have to put up with the mess, not hire an asbestos abatement crew.

[The empressof all]

7. Not always the case

I've lived in houses built in 1978 both had high levels of asbestos in the popcorn ceiling. It's always safer to check before you scrape....God only knows how long a builder had the crap in storage before using it.

[Warpy]

8. Good point

The only places I've seen popcorn ceilings here in NM all had obvious Perlite rather than the more nubbly texture of the asbestos laden stuff.

I just left it in my trailer. That wallpaper had to go, though.

[northoftheborder]

3. took popcorn off the ceiling this way:

I sold my home earlier in this year. Before doing so, various repairs were made, mainly painting, new flooring, etc.., including taking off the popcorn. My painter just sprayed it with water and scraped it off. (Built in '83, so no asbestos involved.) It is water soluble (unless it has also been painted, (mine hadn't), and was messy, but it was quickly removed, and the ceilings retaped and painted. No fumes or powder involved.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

4. actually, I think it's easier if it has been painted

you just have to use a little more water and let it sit a few minutes. Cleanup is much easier cause it comes off in sheets

[mopinko]

5. i wonder if you could use a steamer

because i bought a really great one, and everything i have to clean i wonder if i can clean it with the steamer. (a wagner)
seriously, it will melt off the grease without really touching it. you will probably need to sponge it off, but....

[Natineah]

6. Four easy steps

All you have to do is prepare the room, wet the ceiling, scrape the "popcorn" material off the ceiling and use joint compound to recover any bare joints and eroded nail holes - leaving your ceiling ready to be painted or textured in any way you desire.

[hopeful68]

9. thank you for posting

thank you for posting