The Unexpected Laundry Staple That Makes Popcorn Ceiling Removal Easier

Popcorn ceilings were massively popular from the 1950s all the way through the '90s, so it's not uncommon to still find them in many homes today. If your home is one such example, though, it's understandable that you'd want these textured ceilings removed. Although they used to have their perks, like covering up imperfections and buffering out excessive noise, the hidden downsides of popcorn ceilings have been coming to light for a while now: For one, they're now viewed as the epitome of outdated, plus they're hard to clean – and in some cases, they could be hiding asbestos. Obviously, quite a poor package. 

Unfortunately, scraping popcorn ceilings off is a job that can require quite a bit of effort. Some people relent on their popcorn ceiling elimination dreams and just paint their ceilings instead. However, if you're set on scrapping the old thing, you can make the process easier with one laundry staple you likely already have on hand: fabric softener.

Before you can start scraping, you need to make sure the ceiling is moist for the popcorn finish to come off more easily. Obviously, water is the main ingredient to get the job done here, but fabric softener is a handy tool that makes popcorn ceiling removal drastically more convenient. When you add it into the mix, fabric softener slows down water evaporation and helps it soak into the ceiling better, softening the texture more efficiently.

To properly wet the popcorn ceiling before scraping, take a spray bottle and fill it with warm water. Then, add a tablespoon of liquid fabric softener to the water. Any kind you have on hand will get the job done, as long as it's in liquid form. Once you've mixed your solution, spray it evenly across the entire ceiling, making sure it's fully saturated. 

From there, let it sit for up to 15 minutes to allow the water and fabric softener to soak into the ceiling well before you start scraping. If you start to feel that the scraping is becoming more difficult, give the area another small spray with the mixture and let it soak in again.

When removing popcorn ceilings, there are mistakes you'll want to avoid. While the ceiling should be damp enough to soften the popcorn texture, you don't want to oversaturate the area. Too much moisture can damage the surface underneath the popcorn finish, opening doors to more repairs than you've bargained for. It's best to err on the side of caution and not go overboard with water and fabric softener on your ceilings. Regardless, at least this moist solution will make the scraping a bit less tedious.