Next Project: Wash den ceiling. Never washed one before.

[yy4me]

Any advice on what to use? It is plaster, primed and painted years ago, using latex paint.

We had a new heating unit put in this room 3 years ago and it seems that somehow the rising heat had caused a light but visible line across the ceiling. It almost looks like soot. I can't spot clean it because I know It will make a mess.

Spic'nSpan, Simple Green, sponge, mop? Any suggestions are appreciated. It will be a tiresome job. Overhead and about 14' by 18'. Can't stand to look at it any more.

Thanks.

[amerikat]

1. cleaning latex paint is difficult at best.

It's probably a flat latex if it's on a ceiling and
usually comes out splotchy looking when cleaned.

Why not use a shellac based primer to seal in the soot and repaint?

If you do try to clean I would go with the Simple Green because it
works great on greasy stuff.

Try a small area to see if you can really get it clean before tackling
the entire ceiling.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

2. I think home depot has some stuff

in a spray bottle that works when you spray it on direct than wipe right away with a clean dry rag. You might talk to someone at the paint department ,and look over industrial cleaners . And you might try simple green direct spray out of the bottle and wipe right away. Clorox and water mixture ,same process ,and there is tsp. a wall and ceiling cleaning agent painters use. It cheap and comes in a box powder form, I think it comes in liquid form these days, it's been around forever. You can find that TSP at the paint department. Look around at home depot and ask around there is a product fer just about everything. Getting rid of heat exhaust black marks off latex painted walls is fairly easy to do compared to black marks caused by moving furniture and such.

Good Luck .

[yy4me]

3. I think I'll try the spray on stuff. I neglected to mention that the

ceiling is a rough plaster, in keeping with the walls of this 200 year old house. When I say textured, I guess I mean slightly rough(like the old plaster made with sand) an opposed to a nice, smooth plaster.

The spray would be easier to use and hold, as I would have to be on a low step ladder.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

4. There is a product called mildewx

I used to use it to remove black mold -, black stains ,some was mildew other areas just a accumulation of what collects over time. The stuff has clorox in it along with other properties. You would need a mask, I always found that product in the paint department. The trick is , you do not want to spread the stain around in a much larger area, that's the point in wiping right away with a clean dry rag. Basicly, if you hit it with a product that is going to do it for you, you will know right away. Whereas if the black stain spreads out, say you are washing more or less with a wet rag or sponge , the stained area or effected area spreads out and you can end up with it looking worse than it did before you started.

That's why for the clean dry rag, You can buy a bag of painters rags for that very thing. Clean white rags, as I said, you don't want to make more work for yourself.If the product you use is going to do it for you, you will know right away.