How to wash a stretch ceiling?
A stretch ceiling is a relatively recent interior design option, but it immediately became insanely popular. Today, this even, smooth coating adorns the ceiling surface of the bedroom, living room, children's room, hallway and other rooms. However, until now, not all people know how to properly care for such a coating. Our article will tell about the features of caring for a stretch ceiling.
Peculiarities
Stretch ceiling is a modern stylish finish with an original design. The canvas is attached using baguettes (plastic or aluminum). Similar finishes began to be used in the 60s of the twentieth century in Western Europe. In ancient Rome, a semblance of a stretch ceiling was used in the form of fabric drapery decorations.
Advantages:
- Such a finish has gained great popularity precisely due to the creation of original decors in the interior.
- Tensile structures do not require construction work to prepare the surface, as the materials are hung at a certain distance from the ceiling.
- The system is adapted to accommodate various communication devices and electrical wiring.
- Installation work takes a short time, and there is also a minimum amount of waste materials after repair.
- The material is resistant to high humidity.
- Decorative trim is able to hide defects in the ceiling base.
- Care and cleaning do not require special skills.
Stretch ceilings, like all finishing materials, require maintenance so that it looks perfect and lasts as long as possible. Despite its antistatic properties, the material is exposed to dust, grease, nicotine over time. Frequent cleaning is especially necessary in kitchens and bathrooms. The main effective care is wet cleaning (washing). Before you deal with the correct washing, you need to find out what material the stretch ceiling is made of and study the type of pollution.
There are several types of stretch ceiling care:
- Wet cleaning is done with a soft cloth moistened with water.
- Dry cleaning is performed with a soft sponge. It is carried out by lightly wiping the surface without much pressure on the material.
- Cleaning with a washing vacuum cleaner or steam cleaner.
To clean and wash the stretch ceiling, you need tools: a ladder (ladder), soft napkins or fabrics (sponge), a washing vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment, detergents.
Types of pollution
Soot
This type of pollution often appears in the kitchen. This is due to the fact that the kitchen is designed for frequent cooking. There is nothing you can do about it, frequent cleaning of the ceiling will help you in this. Use a dish or glass cleaner to remove this stain. First you need to treat the dirt with a product and leave for 3-4 minutes.Then dirt is easily removed by wiping with a soft sponge.
Dust
Most often, dust accumulates on the ceiling in the summer. Very often it can be found in open spaces (balconies, loggias). Therefore, frequent wet cleaning is recommended in these rooms. Also, a lot of dust and paint accumulates after the repair of the premises. Dust can be quickly removed with a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment. When cleaning, the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner should be at a distance of 1-2 cm from the ceiling so as not to stick to the surface. In order for the vacuum cleaner not to draw the material inside, it is best to wrap the nozzle with a cloth. Work must be carried out at the average speed of the device. Wet cleaning technology:
- A damp cloth (cotton or flannel) is wrapped around the mop in such a way that it does not fall off.
- The mop is placed in such a position that there is light contact with the ceiling. Pressing with force is not recommended, so as not to damage the material.
- The movement of the mop should be in a straight line in the "backward" direction.
Water-based paint is easily cleaned with plain water. In no case do not try to tear off other types of paint, only spoil the material. For this purpose, alcohol-containing compounds are suitable.
Fat
Grease stains mainly appear in the kitchen in the stove area when cooking. Cleaning is carried out similarly to the cleaning of soot and soot. Experts advise: before washing greasy stains at home, they must be moistened with a soapy-foamy solution.
Marker
To clean the ceiling from the marker, use alcohol-containing solutions. It is necessary to apply the solution several times so that there are no streaks. Rinse with plain water and wipe dry.Minor dirt can be easily removed with a steam cleaner. After such cleaning, condensation forms, which must be wiped dry with a dry cotton cloth.
Various materials
Stretch ceiling is made of two types of materials.
Polyurethane fabric
The ceiling material is made from polyester. Such material tends to stretch in any direction. The basis of the material is polyester threads, which are coated with a polymer composition and dyed in a variety of color palettes. It is believed that fabric ceilings are more reliable and stronger than film ceilings. They are not translucent due to the fabric thickness. They are not demanding for washing, the fabric is able to withstand high pollution and loads. The impregnations included in the design are considered an environmentally friendly material. Fabric ceilings do not accumulate moisture, as a result of which such a coating breathes. If, nevertheless, the fabric ceiling has undergone persistent pollution, follow the advice of experts:
- The fabric cloth must not be cleaned with products containing alcohol and acetone (glass and mirror cleaners).
- Washing is carried out only by movements in a straight line away from you, if you drive a rag in a circle, a large amount of soap stains are formed.
- In extreme cases, it is allowed to wash the fabric with a powder solution.
PVC ceiling
Polyvinyl chloride is an elastic material that has the ability to quickly recover from deformation. Due to the natural composition, dirt and dust on such a ceiling practically does not accumulate. It is also resistant to alcohol elements, acid and salt solutions, and fire. Easy to press and returns to its original shape.Extreme care and caution is required when cleaning such material. PVC sheeting is best cleaned by hand without using a mop. Do not use detergents containing acetone. Under the action of such a solution, the film simply disappears. Depending on the type of material used, the ceiling is:
- Glossy.
- Matte.
What can be washed?
Stretch ceiling is a capricious finishing material. Washing and cleaning is possible only with products that do not have an abrasive effect. Before use, it is necessary to test the products on a piece of suspended ceiling material. To clean stretch ceilings, it is recommended to use various sprays, gels, liquid soap solutions, and foams. Here are some products released by well-known manufacturers:
- "Mister Muscle" is the most economical a means for combating greasy dirt and dust in the kitchen, giving the surface of the ceiling covering a brilliant shade.
- Fairy - an excellent cleaner not only for kitchen utensils, but also for ceiling structures.
Glossy
There are numerous ways to clean a glossy ceiling, but the most popular products are Mister Muscle and Vanish. It is difficult to clean a glossy ceiling, because stains appear on it and scratches and cracks are noticeably visible. Cleaning should be carried out only after reading the instructions:
- Soap solution is being prepared. In warm water, add the required amount of detergent according to the instructions.
- The resulting solution must be whipped into foam.
- The foam is applied to the sponge and distributed over the entire area of the ceiling covering.
- After the removal of contaminants, the foam is washed off with plain water.
Wet cleaning of a glossy surface is recommended no more than 4-5 times a year. Dry cleaning once a month is sufficient to maintain gloss. If such a coating is installed in the bathroom or in the kitchen, then wet cleaning should be performed more often. After all, the accumulated plaque of fat and soot will be difficult or impossible to remove. Salvation from soot will be the installation of a modern exhaust system.
If there are no soaps on hand, cleaning can be done using alcohol-containing components. Alcohol is found in chemical cleaners for glass and mirrors. Such washing does not leave behind any streaks, even on black glossy ceilings.
In addition to wet cleaning, it is possible to apply a special polish for glossy surfaces (Edelweiss, Nouvel), which can be bought at a household chemical store. They are available in the form of sprays and aerosols. They give a dazzling shine and reduce the settling of dust for quite a long time. The only drawback of such polishes is the high price of products.
Matte
The matte ceiling is not particularly demanding on wet cleaning, it is enough for it to be dry. But if the pollution is persistent and dry cleaning is not enough, first decide on a special cleaning agent. Ammonia is an excellent cleaner that does not leave behind any streaks. Alcohol-containing products are chemical preparations for washing glass and mirrors.
At home, you can dilute the solution of ammonia yourself. Its concentration should be weak, that is, 60 ml of alcohol is diluted in 10 liters of water. When using detergents, it is recommended to test household chemicals on a small area of the film. If the film has not changed within 10-15 minutes, then the detergent is suitable for washing the ceiling.
Before washing, you need to wipe the dust with a dry cloth and remove the cobwebs, and then start the wet procedure.
If a powdered agent is used, it must be diluted in water to such an extent that the granules are completely dissolved. The composition is washed off with several portions of ordinary water, and then wiped with a dry cloth. The following rules must be observed when cleaning:
- The water temperature should not exceed 40 degrees.
- It is forbidden to use acetone-containing preparations that damage the matte surface.
How to remove yellow spots?
Yellow spots are formed from tobacco smoke. Nicotine gradually settles on the ceiling, and as a result a yellowish layer is formed. Fortunately, a slight coating is easily cleaned with ordinary soap. The most serious raids can only be cleared by special. means for cleaning the stretch ceiling or alcohol-containing products (glass cleaning liquid). After cleaning, the alcohols will evaporate in a short time and leave no traces.
How to wipe from the inside?
Basically, the appearance of internal spots on the false ceiling is provoked by rust, because the ceiling plate has reinforcement in its design. Causes of the problem: flooding, high humidity, leaking roof. They appear in multi-storey buildings due to the fact that the interfloor ceilings have not dried completely, moisture began to destroy the metal. Dealing with such pollution is quite difficult.
With a slight level of contamination, it is recommended to apply a little greasy clay or a solution of soda ash until completely dry. Rinse all ingredients with clean water.If the dirt is not completely removed, repeat the procedure again. In the most difficult situations, it is necessary to unmount the ceiling covering, clean the inner surface of debris and dust, and rinse with warm water. If necessary, use soap.
Be sure to tidy up the base coat. The gaps must be sealed with cement putty and primed with an antifungal agent. The base base and the ceiling covering are dried to dryness, after which the system is mounted in place.
Lamp Care
Stretch ceilings are produced with built-in spotlights of various shapes, which also need care and processing. Before cleaning the spotlights, it is necessary to disassemble them, according to the instructions:
- Shut off the room.
- If the design of the lamp includes two rings (external and internal), then both are extended.
- To disconnect the light bulb from the cartridge, you need to loosen it and carefully remove it.
To clean the lamps from pollution, you must follow the recommendations:
- The instrument area is washed carefully by hand without a mop.
- If water gets on the surface of the lamp, immediately remove it with a dry cloth.
Washing fixtures is carried out with soap specials. solutions, after which the instruments are rinsed with water. Also suitable for cleaning glass and mirrors. Before installing light fixtures into the structure, it is necessary to dry the fixtures.
Typically, lighting fixtures are not heavily polluted. For prevention, dry cleaning is used once a month, without disassembling the ceiling system.
Helpful hints:
- Before starting work, be sure to remove jewelry and jewelry from your hands.
- If there are dried pieces of food on the ceiling, it is better to soak them for several minutes with a cleaning solution and then remove them.
- Cosmetics are easily removed with ammonia.
- Splashes from champagne, juice and various household products will be difficult to remove. To do this, use a soft sponge and soapy water.
- Cleaning of the fabric ceiling is carried out more vigorously, and the film - more carefully.
- All work must be carried out in special clothing that protects against ingress of cleaning solutions: latex or rubber gloves, a scarf, goggles.
- If slight rust formation is detected, immediately clean the ceiling covering, preventing contamination from soaking into the material.
- The optimum temperature of cleaning solutions is 30-40 degrees. If the water temperature is high enough, the material will deteriorate or warp.
- The seams of the ceiling covering are washed only along, circular movements are prohibited. If moisture gets inside the seams, the surface is deformed, and the gloss will become inhomogeneous.
- It is recommended to clean the cobwebs from the corners by hand, because the use of a mop and a vacuum cleaner can lead to rupture and deformation of the ceiling covering.
For less pollution of stretch ceilings in the kitchen, it is better to purchase a hood and keep pot lids closed when cooking.
Proper maintenance of stretch ceilings ensures a longer service life.
How to easily wash the stretch ceiling, see the following video.