Debbie asked: How do I clean and remove greasy stains from the ceiling? A bottle of blue cheese dressing exploded in my kitchen today. I now have eight stains on my new ceiling. The ceiling is painted with plaster and flat paint mix. How do I get this stain out?
Oil and grease stains in the kitchen are a common occurrence and there are a variety of methods to remove them. The key to finding a successful cleaning product is choosing one that can cut through the grease so that it can be removed. Here are a variety of cleaning products that can be used along with the steps to remove the stains.
You Will Need:
- Grease fighting cleaner (choose one)
- Dawn Power Dissolver (mix with water)
- Greased Lightening
- Vinegar and water (equal parts)
- Mean Green
- Water
- Soft cloths or sponge
- Bucket or bowl
Steps to Remove the Stains:
- Begin by wiping the area with a clean cloth or paper towel to remove as much of the grease as possible.
- Next, apply the chosen grease-fighting cleaner to the area. If the cleaner is mixed with water, it is often more effective if the water is hot as it helps to break through the grease for easier removal.
- Use a sponge or soft cloth to gently scrub the area. If the paint is textured, avoid using any harsh scrubbers or too much pressure as it may remove the texture plaster. A soft brush may be helpful on these walls to get in between the grooves without damaging the surface.
- Once the stain is removed, rinse the area with a clean cloth moistened with water.
- Dry with a soft cloth and allow to air dry completely.
Additional Tips and Ideas
- If the stain cannot be removed, it may be easiest to paint over it with a primer and then the original color. The primer will prevent the grease from coming back through the paint surface.
CeeCee says
A drop or two of dawn dish soap with water.
Fan says
Dab the area with rubbing alcohol carefully till the grease dissolves. Wipe with a clean damp cloth after the grease is gone.
Theresa says
A coworker told me to use a small amount of powder dishwasher detergent in bucket of hot water I added my own touch of a small amount of Pine-Sol (I love the lavender scented one) – wash your walls, cupboards, what ever you want. It works great! My hubby and I are both smokers, and the walls can get pretty dingy. I used this mixture and it was amazing!
Blake says
I’ve tried chalk and dish detergent, nothing. Maybe a little improvement. Tried a Magic Eraser and it basically started sanding the wall, which is good for removing the stains, but I’m afraid I’ll have to do the whole wall to keep it from standing out. I live in an apartment so I’m under a little more pressure to get these stains out. 😉
Ana says
I tried with detergent, hot water, alcohol, nail polish remover… nothing worked… then I remembered I had a little bottle of Goo Gone… and my grease stain on the wall is gone!!! Gotta love that stuff!
Christie says
Where can I get that?
Melanie says
Christie,
Goo Gone is available at most supermarkets, homegoods stores and hardware stores in the U.S. Here is a link to their website. Good luck!
Keri says
In a geyser repair, a maintenance worker dropped oil on the inside of the ceiling… As a result, we had three lovely big marks of oil seep through our ceiling and the bathroom (which I have redecorated) just looked so tacky with the marks. I have now started a new paint in the bathroom and decided to try whatever it took to remove the marks that keep reappearing. Nothing worked, I tried it all, then, thankfully, I stripped it back again, used the Goo Gone and voila! Job done. Rocking stuff that.
Desperately Seeking Clean House says
I found that a hair dryer + soapy warm water + a scrubbing pad would do the trick. Turn on the hair dryer to hottest level and aim it on a greasy spot on the wall for a few seconds. Soak the scrubbing pad in soapy warm water (I used Dawn dish soap), then wring it to make sure that water does not run down the wall. Scrub the greasy spot on the wall with the dryer still aimed at it. Voila!