How to remove ghosting on ceiling

You can typically do this by turning on bath fans, which will have a drying effect on your building as you vent moist warm air to the outside and replace it with dry cold air. Finally, you will need to use a stain-killing paint to seal up the stains and then repaint the walls and ceilings.

It’s important to note that painting over ghost marks doesn’t work. You need to clean the walls and ceiling thoroughly so the paint will adhere properly. If moisture is the culprit, you have to dry them out, too. Even if the paint covers them, ghost marks will simply reappear over time unless the root causes are cured.

The good news for these homeowners is that the stains are usually not mold and they are unlikely to present a health hazard to the occupants or a structural hazard to the building. The problem they are describing is called “ghosting” or “thermal bridging.” While this issue is not harmful, it can be a nuisance.

Wipe the stains away with a dry cleaning sponge. Such sponges can be cleaned and reused. Dip a clean cloth in rubbing alcohol and use it to dab and blot the stains if some soot is still left on walls. Combine three or four squirts of liquid dish soap with 1 quart of water in a bucket if further cleaning is required.

Regular white vinegar is one of the most versatile cleaners. Not only will it break down oily soot stains, but it can even remove set-in nicotine stains. Mix one part warm water to three parts vinegar, then wipe gently with a soft sponge or microfiber cloth to remove soot from walls, ceilings, or woodwork.

Vacuum the damaged area, lightly brushing to remove the soot. Next, use a special dry cleaning sponge (chemical sponge) to wipe the soot. This is a very important first step; wiping with soot cleaner or water first can spread the soot and make it impossible to remove with a chemical sponge.