How to Get Water Stains Off a Ceiling

Co-authored by Raymond Chiu

Last Updated: February 17, 2022 References Approved

Water stains on your ceiling can dramatically reduce the resale value of your home and be a terrible eye sore. Whether you're planning to move, have some repairs to do, or just want to spruce your place up, repairing water stains can be a relatively simple and inexpensive project that you can do yourself.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Fixing Water Stains on a Drywall Ceiling

1
Find the source of the moisture. You may find an obvious leak in a pipe or fixture on the floor above the damaged ceiling, but it may also be more difficult to pinpoint.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 5 November 2019.}
- If you don’t locate the source of the moisture prior to doing the repair, the problem will just keep coming back.
- Wear gloves, safety glasses and a dust mask while looking for and repairing the leak. Depending on how long the leak has gone unrepaired, there could be mold present.
- If there is an extensive amount of mold, hire a professional to remove it safely.
2
Determine the extent of the damage. If the stain is from a long since repaired leak and the damage is only aesthetic, you may be able to remove the stain with a little elbow grease.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 5 November 2019.}
- Use a one to one water and bleach mixture to try to blot the stain away. Be sure to wear safety glasses and gloves when you apply it.
- If that doesn't work, wait until it dries completely and simply primer and paint the stain to match your ceiling. As long as the drywall is intact and the leak is repaired, you're done!^{[3]
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3
Remove any damaged drywall. Depending on the extent of the damage, you may just need to cut out a bit of drywall or you may need to remove entire portions.^{[4]
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- If you only need to remove a small portion of the ceiling, use a keyhole saw or similar tool to remove the affected area.
- If the damage is extensive, you may need to use the claw end of a hammer or a crowbar to remove all of the damaged material.
- Ensure all stained drywall is removed and that any material remaining is dry and not sagging.
- Clean the area with household cleaner to ensure mildew and mold does not develop.
4
Repair the hole in the drywall. Now that all of the damaged material is removed, it’s time to replace it with new drywall. ^{[5]
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- Cut a portion of drywall that is the same approximate size as the area you cut out of the ceiling.
- If the hole you are patching is small, simply place the newly cut drywall into the hole, then use drywall joint compound to fill the gap and serve as glue to keep it in place. Use a putty knife to ensure it is flat and even.
- If the hole is larger, you may need help holding the replacement drywall in place while you use the joint compound to fill the gap and set.
- Allow the drywall joint compound to dry thoroughly, then use fine sand paper to ensure it is flat and even.
5
Repaint the newly repaired area. You will need to use a coat of primer on the drywall first, followed by a paint that matches the ceiling color.^{[6]
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- Many hardware stores can match the color for you if you provide them with a sample.
- Repainting the entire ceiling will ensure the color matches throughout.
- Adding a layer of shellac before you primer can help seal the repair.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Fixing Water Stains on a Popcorn Ceiling

1
Locate and repair the leak or source of moisture. Just like with a drywall ceiling, failing to repair the leak will only result in having to repeat the repairs.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 5 November 2019.}
- Make sure to wear protective equipment as you do repairs in the event mold has grown due to the moisture.
- If your popcorn ceiling was installed prior to 1979, it may contain asbestos. In such a case, it may be better to contact a professional to conduct the repairs.
2
Decide on the extent of repair that's necessary. If it's an old stain from a long since repaired leak, you may be able to simply bleach or paint the ceiling to cover the stain.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 5 November 2019.}
- Try using a one to one water and bleach mixture to remove light stains. Make sure to wear protective glasses and gloves while applying the mixture.
- For darker aesthetic stains, simply primer the spot to seal it and cover it with a matching shade of ceiling paint.
3
Use a scraper tool to remove the damaged popcorn material. Due to the moisture, it should scrape off fairly easily.^{[9]
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- Remove the popcorn material from the affected area with an extra inch or so on each side.
- Scrape it until only the flat drywall is visible. The drywall may also have water damage on it.
- Wear safety glasses and a dust mask to protect yourself from the falling material.^{[10]
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4
Assess and repair the drywall damage. You may not need to cut out or repair the water damaged drywall.
- If the drywall is merely stained, you can seal it with a product like KILZ paint that will prevent the damage from spreading and serve as a seal. ^{[11]
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- The damaged drywall will not be visible after you apply new popcorn material.
- If the water damage to the drywall is substantial, follow the repairing a drywall ceiling steps above to repair it.
5
Apply new popcorn material to the ceiling. As long as you’re certain the drywall is sound and dry, you can simply apply new popcorn material to the affected area.
- If you repaired the drywall, ensure it is dry, sanded and clean so the popcorn material has a sound surface to stick to.
- Use the ready-made popcorn material that comes in a tub. The spray can be difficult to control for small applications.^{[12]
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- Try your best to match the thickness and texture of the existing popcorn material on the ceiling.
6
Prime and paint the repaired area. Once the popcorn material is completely dry, you can paint the repairs to match the existing ceiling paint. Painting the entire ceiling will ensure the color matches throughout.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Fixing Water Stains on a Wood Ceiling

1
Repair the leak and check for rotten wood. Wood ceilings are much more difficult to repair after water damage stains it. Unlike drywall and popcorn ceilings, you cannot simply remove a portion of the ceiling and replace it without leaving visible signs of the repair.^{[13]
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- Ensure you have identified and repaired the source of the moisture. Failing to do so will result in needing to do further repairs.
- Wear gloves, safety glasses, and a dust mask to protect yourself from the possibility of mold.
- Rotten wood will need to be replaced.
2
Sand the top layer of damage from the wood. If the water damage has not soaked all the way through the wood but rather dripped from a crack or gap in the wood, you may be able to sand past the damage.^{[14]
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- Always wear protective equipment when operating power tools.
- Be careful not to sand in an uneven fashion so as to make any defined lines or textures in the wood.
- Once you have sanded the damage away, apply a sealer or stain to the wood.
3
Stain the wood. If sanding alone cannot do the trick, you can also use a darker stain to match the hue of the entire ceiling.^{[15]
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- If the water stain is black, this method may not work, but the darker colors could draw less attention to the damage.
- Some forms of wood cannot be repaired due to discoloration and any wood that is soaked entirely through will need to be replaced.
4
Bleach the wood. For lighter woods like knotty pine you can use oxalic wood bleach to remove the dark stains caused by water.^{[16]
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- Wear protective eye wear as the bleach is a fluid you will need to apply above your head.
- Use a sponge or rag that’s damp with clean water to wipe the bleach mixture on the ceiling in a controlled manner.
- Once you have finished bleaching, mix one part white vinegar and two parts water in a spray bottle and spray it at the bleached area to neutralize the remaining bleach.

Community Q&A

Question

I have tried many white paints to hide the stain, but they all just turn it gray. What can I do?

Community Answer

Try oil based paints if the stains are due to water leakage. Clean well before painting.
Question

How can I fix a water stain with mildew that's on my ceiling?

Community Answer

Clorox. Dab it on mildew with rag. Once it's dry, you can paint over it.
Question

I have had a leak through to the lounge that left a big, damp stain. What can I do?

Community Answer

First, remove that part of the ceiling and have someone fix the leak, so you don't have any further issues. Then replace that part of the ceiling, so it looks like nothing has happened to it.

Warnings

Wear a mask and safety glasses to keep dust, paint chips, and paint out of your eyes and nose.

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If there is loose paint that has to be removed before applying the KILZ, make sure it isn't lead paint. Get a paint testing kit at the home improvement store. Lead is especially dangerous around kids, so if you find lead paint, call in the experts. (Lead has not be used for around 50 years and where still existing is mostly found on wood and trim. Wall and ceiling paint will almost never have lead in it and would only be dangerous to work with if sanding creating dust.)

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If you have a "popcorn" ceiling, you might want to call in an expert. It may have asbestos in it, and you don't want to mess with that. (Actually asbestos is only a problem when you tear it down. Painting it will have no more affect than living with it.)

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