How to Clean High Ceilings
High ceilings are often overlooked when cleaning the house; however, these spots attract the most dirt and dust. While it is important to make sure that your furniture is squeaky clean, those high ceilings should be clean too since any accumulated dirt may fall off to your floor and even to your food. To clean those high areas, just follow these safety tips:
Prepare your cleaning materials first.
Gather all the needed materials first such as a cleaning cloth, broom with a long handle, dust mop, a bucket of warm, soapy water and some old sheets of newspaper or drop cloth. Make sure that you have enough space to operate so that you won’t accidentally trip on any of these. Prepare all these things before going up the ladder.
Use a sturdy stepladder.
Purchase a stepladder from a reputable store and make sure that each step is strong enough to support you. Balance the legs of the ladder evenly on the work area and check if the surface is uneven or if there are wet spots. Cover the floor with the newspaper or the drop cloth. Your cleaning tools should also be within reach but don’t take too many items with you.
Create ample space to operate.
Tuck your kids to bed for an afternoon nap or place them in another room in an enclosed area where you can check up on them from time to time while you clean those high ceilings. They should not be anywhere near those ladders or cleaning materials. Turn off the ceiling fan to stop the dust from filling the air inside the room.
While you’re at it, you may want to clean the fan first too. Open the windows to let fresh air in but anytime you feel that there’s a strong breeze coming, close them right away to prevent any accidents especially if you’re atop the stepladder.
Clean thoroughly.
With your damp cloth filled with a touch of soap and warm water, wipe clean all high surfaces, starting from the ceiling fan to the ceiling edges and any nearby tall furniture items. Do not attempt to bring the bucket of water atop the ladder especially if you don’t have enough space. Come down and rinse the cloth before climbing again to wipe off the soapy residue.
A good alternative is to attach a clean cloth to a broom to improvise. Use it to wipe hard-to-reach areas such as tall window frames. As added protection, use gloves and goggles.