The modern construction market offersbuyers a huge number of different materials with which you can finish the ceiling. However, until recently, the most popular way to repair the ceiling was to apply a layer of whitewash, which very quickly lost its whiteness and acquired a not very attractive appearance.
Today, the simplest and most economicaloption for finishing the ceiling is whitewashing. Nowadays, the tradition of whitewashing ceilings has long since become a thing of the past. The question arises of how to clean the ceiling from whitewash, because in many apartments where repairs have not been carried out for quite a long time, the ceiling is still whitewashed. There are many ways with which you can quickly and without much effort . However, each of them has its own pros and cons, which you need to know in advance.
Preparatory work
When removing whitewash from the ceiling, you need:a pair of gloves, a respirator, glasses. If you are wondering how to clean the ceiling from whitewash, you should know that this is a very dusty job that will leave a lot of dirt behind. Therefore, before you start cleaning the ceiling, you will need to take out all the furniture and other furnishings from the room. If this is not possible, then you should move all the furniture to one corner and carefully cover it with thick polyethylene. You can also cover the floor, since after finishing the work it will be under a thick layer of lime, which is extremely difficult to remove. To clean the ceiling from whitewash, you will need the following tools and materials:
- High table or ladder-ladder, which will help get to the ceiling surface;
- a pair of rubber gloves;
- a respirator and safety glasses that will protect the eyes and respiratory tract from dust and dirt;
- a metal spatula;
- brush or piece of hard material;
- washing vacuum cleaner;
- paste;
- Grinder;
- water, laundry soap and a few rags.
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How to clean the ceilings and walls from whitewashing your own hands?
Scheme of dry cleaning of ceiling from whitewash.Dry cleaning. There are many different ways to clean the ceiling from whitewash. This method involves using only a metal spatula, with which the layer of whitewash will be removed. This treatment is called dry, since during its implementation the ceiling is not wetted with water or any other liquid. When using this method, a lot of dirt is formed and a large cloud of dust rises, which will certainly penetrate into other rooms in the house. This method is not only the dirtiest, but also the least ineffective, so it is not recommended to resort to it when removing whitewash. Wet cleaning. This method involves trying to remove it from the surface of the ceiling. To do this, you will need to take a brush or a piece of hard cloth, wet them with water and rub the ceiling with force. This method of removing limescale will require a lot of physical effort, besides, it is too wet, so it is not suitable for a residential apartment. How to clean the ceiling with a vacuum cleaner? The third method to remove whitewash will be effective only if the ceiling is covered with only one layer of chalk. Such a small amount of whitewash can be cleaned with a regular vacuum cleaner. This method has the advantage of completely eliminating contamination of the apartment. However, among its disadvantages, it is worth noting the possible breakdown of equipment, which is not cheap. Therefore, this method can be classified as questionable. Cleaning with warm water and a spatula. Most often, the following simple method is used to remove whitewash from the ceiling. First, you will need to wet the ceiling surface with warm water, and then carefully scrape off the soaked lime with a metal spatula. This method is performed in the following sequence:
Scheme of wet cleaning of ceiling from whitewash.
Cleaning with soap solution.In order to prevent contamination of the room, you need to take a large container and place it under the area where you are currently cleaning the ceiling from whitewash. In this case, pieces of whitewash will fall not on the floor of the room, but directly into this container. For optimal results, it is better to use a soap solution rather than plain water. To prepare it, you will need 10 liters of warm water, 2 tbsp. grated soap and 5 tbsp. soda. Next, dip a roller or sponge into the resulting solution and wipe the entire surface until the ceiling is completely clean of whitewash. Cleaning with vinegar and hydrochloric acid. If the above methods did not help you wash the ceiling from whitewash, then instead of ordinary water, you should take a 3% aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid. Under the influence of acid, the whitewash will swell and it will be much easier to remove. If you do not have hydrochloric acid, then you can use ordinary vinegar instead. It does not have such a strong effect, but it also removes limescale quite quickly.
To prepare the paste you will need:potato starch and water. Cleaning with paste. Another very effective way to clean the ceiling from whitewash is to use paste for this purpose. You will need to cover the ceiling with a thin layer of paste and leave it like that until it dries completely. After that, remove it with a metal spatula. This method of removing lime from the ceiling is perhaps the simplest and most accessible, which makes it the most popular. Making the paste is also not difficult. You can do it yourself, using the same recipe as for gluing wallpaper. To do this, you will need to take 2 tablespoons of flour or potato starch and 1 liter of warm water. First, dilute the flour in a small amount of water, then bring the remaining liquid to a boil and pour it into the diluted mass. Lime moistened with paste very quickly comes off the surface of the ceiling, which makes it much easier to remove. This method does not require much physical effort and helps to clean off lime without unnecessary dirt. Return to Contents</a>
Cleaning by grinding machine
The fastest way to clean the ceiling fromwhitewashing is to use a grinding machine. The fastest and easiest way to remove a layer of whitewash from the ceiling is to clean it off using a grinding machine. To do this, you will need to go over the ceiling with sandpaper with the largest abrasive. If you do not have a grinding machine, then it is not necessary to go to the store and buy a new device. Today, you can easily rent this machine, and after the work is done, return it to the owner. However, it should be noted that this method of removing lime is the dustiest. Therefore, before starting work, do not be lazy to remove all objects from the room, including furniture. In addition, carefully close the door so that dust does not get into neighboring rooms. Before you start cleaning with a grinding machine, be sure to put on a respirator and special protective glasses to prevent dirt and dust from getting into your eyes and respiratory tract. Return to contents</a>
Summarizing
Usually the process of cleaning the walls from the old layerwhitewashing takes a lot of time and effort. Therefore, before choosing the most suitable method for removing limescale, you should carefully weigh all the pros and cons. As mentioned above, some methods help get rid of whitewash quickly, others work more slowly, but allow you to avoid a lot of dirt. Both can be used in different situations, depending on what is more important to the home owner - speed or cleanliness.
