Have you ever fallen down the digital rabbit hole that is ‘CleanTok’? It’s a strangely addictive corner of the internet filled with satisfying scrubbing, squeegeeing, dusting and vacuuming. With more than 150 billion views, it’s clear cleaning content has viewers – myself included – totally transfixed.
During one of my usual doom scrolls through ASMR sponge reviews (don’t judge), I stumbled across something wild: people mopping their ceilings. Actually dunking a mop in soapy water and slapping it overhead. It seemed slightly bizarre… yet oddly compelling.
Naturally, I glanced up at my own ceiling in horror. I love my flat, a five-bed home shared with my all-female flatmates, tucked inside an actual billboard (currently graced by a 15ft Aperol Spritz ad — stunning). So many friends and flatmates have come and gone over the years, but its colourful history hasn’t exactly included much in the way of deep cleaning. If the walls could talk, they’d probably say, ‘Clean me.’
But, when I casually mentioned my newfound urge to mop the ceiling (thanks, TikTok), our household advice editor Katie Mortram – queen of clean – practically sprinted to my desk to explain why that might be a truly terrible idea.
So, to mop or not to mop, that is the question. Is the internet mad and we should drop the mop immediately, or are there safe alternatives? Here's what I found out.
Do you need to clean your ceiling?
There are actually some real benefits to cleaning your ceiling. While it may not seem immediately apparent, our ceilings can have a massive impact on indoor air quality. Over time, they can easily accumulate dust, dirt and other pollutants. As air circulates and passes through a space, these particles can become airborne, leading to respiratory problems and inflamed allergies.
Plus, accumulated grime on ceilings, especially in rooms like the kitchen or bathroom, can provide ample room for bacteria and mould to congregate and multiply, further compromising the cleanliness and healthiness of the environment.
Regularly cleaning musty-dusty ceilings can help to remove these contaminants from your home, therefore improving indoor air quality and leading to a healthier living space. Beyond that, they just look better. You don’t realise how many cobwebs, stains, dust and discolouration your ceiling might hold until you get scrubbing.
What are the dangers of mopping your ceiling?
So, what’s the problem? Well, before you drag out the step ladder, there are a few major reasons why mopping your ceiling might not be the genius cleaning hack TikTok claims.
Since it was Katie – our household advice editor and resident cleaning oracle – who first warned me against drenching my ceiling in suds, I went straight to the source to find out why.
‘Ceilings in modern homes are usually made from plasterboard (about 12mm thick), and older buildings tend to use traditional plaster,’ she explains. ‘Both materials are porous, so saturating them with water can lead to watermarks and, worse, mould growth over time.’
Basically, the last thing you want is for overzealous cleaning to leave your home looking – and smelling – worse. So maybe hold off on the mop… at least for now.
How to clean your ceiling the right way
The key is using the right methods and products to keep things clean without causing damp, mould or damage.
Dry cleaning methods are the safest and easiest route. Think dust and cobweb removal. A long-handled duster or a vacuum with an extended attachment will get the job done quickly and without risk to the ceiling’s surface. Use the soft brush attachment and a low power setting mode.
Wet cleaning, however, is where things get a bit risky. Excess moisture can seep into the ceiling’s materials and lead to staining or mould. Before using any pre-mixed or chemical cleaner, always read the manufacturer’s instructions and test it on a small, hidden patch first to make sure it’s suitable. And make sure you’re only applying this for stain treating; no need to take it across the whole ceiling.
If you’re dealing with tougher stains like mould, Katie has some crucial advice. ‘Of course, if stains are already present on the ceiling, such as mould, then you’ll need to apply a mould remover solution and potentially rinse it with water afterwards,’ she explains. ‘But even then, keep moisture to a minimum and make sure the room is well ventilated to help it dry faster. You can use a dry microfibre mop to collect dust, but that’s about as far as I’d recommend.’
How to spot clean ceiling stains
In short: avoid wet cleaning where you can. But if you must tackle specific stains from, say, a post-blender-explosion situation or the aftermath of an impromptu food fight, here’s how to do it safely.
Mix a few drops of mild dish soap with warm water in a bucket or spray bottle, or opt for a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water. Lightly dampen a microfibre cloth or mop head, and wring it out thoroughly. Clean the ceiling in small sections, using overlapping strokes. Rinse with a clean, damp cloth to remove residue, then follow up with a dry one to soak up any lingering moisture.
In conclusion, note to self, just because TikTok does it doesn’t mean you should.
If you're looking to mop your floors rather than your ceiling, the Good Housekeeping Institute has been wiping away spills in the lab to find the best flat mops for easy cleans.
Score: 86/100
Score: 82/100
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