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How to Steam Clean Walls and Ceilings?

Steam cleaning is one of the best ways to clean and disinfect surfaces, including bricks, concrete, fabric, drywall, and wood. Most individuals tend to forget about the walls and ceilings when performing routine cleaning; however, just like any other surface, walls and ceiling require to be cleaned regularly and get rid of germs, dirt, and dust.

Steam cleaning is one of the best ways you can clean your wall without the use of chemicals. Therefore, in this article, we shall be discussing how to steam clean walls and ceilings.


Can I steam clean my ceiling?

how do you steam clean walls and ceilings

Although your ceilings may not be exposed to the same dirt and germs as your walls are, it is still extremely important to keep them clean, a steamer being an excellent piece of equipment that will reach into places that you were unable to reach before.

Rough ceiling materials can also put you off trying to clean your ceiling; but when you use a steamer, any type of surface can be cleaned effectively.

The only one important point to remember when steam cleaning your ceiling is to cover over your light fixtures in the same way you would the plug sockets on your walls.

Steam cleaning your ceilings is a quick and efficient way to get rid of years of buildup of grease and dirt with very little effort and no chemicals. The steam from your steam cleaner will vaporize the dirt and germs.

All you need to do is use the hand held wand of the steam cleaner to cover all the areas above your head.

The easiest ceilings you can clean with a steamer are glossy enamel ceilings that are generally flat and found in your kitchen and bathroom.

On the other hand, you should be careful cleaning popcorn texture ceilings as they may get damaged if they get too wet. Removing dust from this type of ceiling can also be a tough job, and one you may prefer to leave to a professional cleaning team.

The more powerful your steam cleaner, the better it will cut through the dirt and grime on your ceilings. Small steamers can work, but you will need to stand on a ladder and when using hand-held devices there is also the risk of boiling water leaking from your steamer.

Always follow the instructions carefully when using a steamer for the first time, ensuring that any ladder you may need to use is also steady and sturdy.


Steps by steps guide to steam clean walls and ceilings

When steam cleaning your walls and ceilings, you can follow the following essential steps:

#1. Get rid of loose dust and dirt

The first step you should do is remove all loose dirt and grime from your wall and ceiling before you commence the cleaning process.

To do this, you will wipe your wall and ceiling using a feather duster or a soft brush with a vacuum hose attached to it. Once that is done, you will fill your steam cleaner with water following the manufacturer’s instructions.

#2. Plug in your steam cleaner

Once filled with water, plug in your steam cleaner and then turn it on. It would help if you then waited for the recommended amount of time before your machine heats up.

Once ready, you should take the most appropriate hose, pad, or wand and attach it to your steam cleaner to clean your walls and ceilings.

#3. Cleaning

When steam cleaning your walls and ceilings, you should consider working in sections. By doing so, you will ensure there are no missing parts. It is highly recommended to start working on your ceiling, then the top of your wall as you work your way down.

#4. Running the steam cleaner

It is best to run your steam cleaner slowly downwards in a vertical motion. When working on a tough spot on your ceiling or wall, you should consider running your steamer over the same spot more than once.

However, you should avoid letting the steam cleaner sitting on one area for an extended period; it is highly advisable for it to be less than 10 seconds.

#5. Continue with the cleaning process

It would be best if you continued with the cleaning process along with your entire ceiling and wall as you work from top to bottom. It would be best if you then overlapped all the cleaning strokes; this will help in ensuring that every part of your ceilings and walls are cleaned to perfection.

#6. Drying

Once you are done cleaning your ceilings and walls, you should allow it to dry. This might take a while.


Can you steam clean walls before painting?

popcorn ceiling steam clean tips

Before painting your walls, it is extremely important that they are clean. If you try to paint on walls that are dusty or grimy, the results will be appalling. A negative impact on your paint job is what you will find happens, as paint does not adhere to dirty surfaces.

Over time it is natural that your walls will get covered in dirt and dust, so it is equally important to ensure that you clean them before painting.

There are many ways that you can choose to clean your walls before painting, including sponging, mopping, and steaming.

Steaming your walls will ensure that they are clean and ready for painting. Before you start you should ensure that anything that may get damaged is taken out of the room such as pictures and soft furnishings.

Dust can be removed with a cloth or a vacuum cleaner in preparation for steaming.

Steaming your walls before painting is more effective than using a sponge or cloth as the steam will cut through the grease and built up debris such as cigarette smoke and hand prints.

When you choose steaming as your method of cleaning, you won’t need to use any harmful chemicals that could damage your walls and ceiling. Steaming your walls is most especially effective when they are heavily soiled and there is a lot of dried-on dirt present.

A steam cleaner will come with the same attachments as a vacuum cleaner, so it will be easy to steam large surfaces as well as getting into the corners and removing the last traces of grime that have built up over the years.


What is the best way to clean painted walls?

The best way to clean walls will depend on the finish.

Satin, flat paint and eggshell walls are quite difficult to clean as they can be damaged easily when chemicals are used.

If you don’t have a steamer to use, you can clean this type of wall using a solution of water with just a few drops of your dish detergent. A popular alternative to dish detergent that also works well is vinegar.

When using a sponge, make sure you wring it out well to avoid over-soaking the walls. Start at the top of the wall, preferably on the left hand side, and work your way across the wall and then down in stages. For tough stains, rinse and repeat, making sure that you avoid getting the wall too wet.

Gloss paint is a lot easier to clean, as a mild degreaser can be used without causing any damage to the paintwork. Degreaser is commonly used for cleaning walls in kitchens where there is a buildup of grease from cooking.

Food splatters can also be removed from gloss paint in this same way. Detergent and vinegar are also used for cleaning gloss paint where there is no buildup of grease.

Once again, avoid over-soaking the walls, and allow air to flow in order for the walls to dry quickly. Washing walls of any type should preferably be carried out in good weather so you can leave the windows open.

If this is not possible, a dehumidifier unit can be used to quickly dry the walls. Spots and stains can also be removed from gloss paintwork using a mild detergent, vinegar, or baking powder.

If you do this however, do not be surprised if you are left with a clean patch and the necessity to go ahead and clean the entire wall in question.

A steam cleaner on the other hand will cut through all the dirt and grime on your walls, and is a safe method of getting rid of stains and smudges that won’t spoil your paintwork.


Is it good to steam clean cigarette smoke from walls and ceilings?

Without a doubt, the most effective way to get rid of the buildup of cigarette smoke on your walls and ceilings is with a steam cleaner. When you see just how much smoke has collected on your walls, it should also encourage you to kick your habit once and for all.

It may be the case however that you are not a smoker and that you have recently regained entry to a rental property where the tenant smoked. Or, you could have recently invested in a new home that belonged to a smoker before you.

There is nothing worse than yellow residue all over your walls, the very best way to get rid of the last traces of smoke from your new home being steaming your walls and your ceilings. Using a steam cleaner allows cleaning to take place at a far higher temperature than when you use a bucket of water.

To be precise, the steam will cut through the caked-on smoke and nicotine on your walls at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Simply steam your walls, and see how the nicotine is removed, leaving you to just wipe the walls afterwards.

What’s more, when you use a steam cleaner, the steam will act as a deodorizer, allowing your new home to smell fresh and clean. Scented water can be used in your steamer to ensure the very last traces of odor are removed from your walls and ceilings.

Depending on how bad the buildup of nicotine and smoke is on your walls, you may need to scrape off the excess first.

Caked-on smoke can also be loosened effectively with your steamer, leaving you with the simple task of wiping away the last traces of cigarette from your walls with a cloth.

Note: If you do not have a steam cleaner, a mixture made up of ammonia, vinegar, baking soda, and warm water is another alternative that works well.


Final verdict

When steam cleaning your walls and ceilings, it is highly advisable to do it during sunny days. This will give you ample time for your ceiling and walls to dry adequately.

Want your home sparkling clean? You may need:

>> Hot sell steam cleaners for cleaning couch and sofa

>> A guide on how to choose the best upholstery steam cleaner

>> Multi-purpose steam cleaners for versatile surfaces and areas