SUPER EASY way to Fix Water Stains on Ceiling or Wall - Without Painting It!

Stop painting over water stains on ceilings and walls! There is a quick and easy way to get rid of those stains.
This video is a step by step walkthrough of how to mix bleach and water to get rid of water stains on your ceiling. You should never paint over a water stain on a ceiling, unless you plan to paint the whole ceiling. Painting just a spot will still leave an obvious mark on your ceiling. Unless you know the exact color and sheen that was used on your ceiling.
This DIY bleach spray fix for water stains only works on white ceilings. The bleach will lighten any other color of paint. So, make sure to protect your walls, carpet, furniture, wall art, everything before spraying the water stain with the bleach and water mixture.
How to Fix Water Stains on Ceiling or Wall - Without Painting It! How to Use Bleach on Water Stains.
You can see the written steps for this here: www.abbottsathome.com/how-to-...
0:00 How to Fix Water Stains on Ceiling
0:10 Do Not Paint over Water Stains on a Ceiling
0:40 How to Mix the Bleach and Water
1:00 Set the Spray Bottle to Mist
1:25 Fixing the first Water Stain on our Ceiling
2:15 Water Stains on a Popcorn Ceiling
2:45 Lightly Spray the Water Stain
3:25 ONLY Use Bleach on White Ceilings
4:15 After Just 4 Minutes of Treatment
4:30 Fixing the Ceiling Water Stains in the Next Room
6:00 Sometimes you need 2 or 3 treatments
6:30 Watch Out for Bleach Fumes
7:00 The Water Stains are GONE!
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DISCLAIMER: I am not a professional. I am a DIYer with 20+ years in home remodeling and DIY. Abbotts At Home is not liable in any way for injury or loss resulting from any ideas or information I provide. No single KZbin video can teach you everything you need to know or warn you about everything that might happen. You should always do a lot of research from multiple sources to make sure you are ready to start a project. AND ALWAYS follow manufacturer directions on tools! DIY AT YOUR OWN RISK.
#WaterStain #homeimprovement #HomeHacks

[@AbbottsAtHome]

See more of my DIY Home Cleaning Tips here: kzbin.info/aero/PL63TJ6Vqtnfwsx68tqzDNPgbslRDU1DYa You can see the written steps for this here: www.abbottsathome.com/how-to-fix-water-stains-on-ceiling-leaks/

[@user-cd4mn3ew9p]

Hi. Thank you very much for the idea! Have you tried to paint the spot you treated with bleach? For example, you decided to repaint the ceiling year after it was treated with bleach? I'm afraid the bleach may remain for a while and interfere with new layer of paint. Thank you and good luck!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

@@user-cd4mn3ew9p I have painted over these spots, but it's generally years later. So, I'm not sure if the results would have been different right away. If in doubt, you can always seal the area with a good primer before painting. :)

[@user-cd4mn3ew9p]

@@AbbottsAtHome Thank you! :)

[@kevinstuart2517]

Thank you! Worked perfectly on a very dark stain about 12”” in diameter as well as several smaller and lighter stains.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

@@kevinstuart2517 Nice! So happy to help!

[@bellebottombleu2330]

I can't comment on the method as I haven't tried it yet but I notice you're replying to comments & questions 2 years after posting the video & I want to commend your dedication & helpfulness to your viewers, especially on this type of video that will help people for many years ahead. It's rare to see that on KZbin these days, so hats off to you for taking the time!!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Thanks! So nice of you to notice. 😊

[@Firemedic2105]

@@AbbottsAtHomejust want to reiterate that person's comment! I see stuff months or years later and want to ask a question but it's so rare anybody will never reply after the first few weeks!!! ❤

[@AbbottsAtHome]

@@Firemedic2105 I''m always happy to help when I get a chance. :)

[@Dracossaint]

​@@AbbottsAtHomeGood on ya! Hell yeah!

[@tovah2276]

@@AbbottsAtHomeYOU ARE A VERY SPECIAL YT’ER!! It is RARE to see any YT’er answer any questions as quickly as you do or even at all. Thank you. ❤ It says more about YOU and what you DO than anything at all. ❤❤

[@user-hq5mp3ie5p]

I've been dreading painting the entire ceiling and listening to the wife about it for over a year. lol I actually just got out of bed and did this at 3:13am and I watched the stain disappear. I am at a loss for words. I'm not going to say anything to the wife and say I painted it 5 months ago and tell I've been wondering why she's been asking me to paint it when I already did it. Thanks for a fixed ceiling and a good prank!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Timing is everything! So happy to help. Good luck with your prank! :)

[@twstvan93]

How did your prank go?

[@ellynduvall9823]

We've been looking at an old water stain on our bathroom ceiling for 2 years, trying to figure out how to fix it without re-popcorning the whole room. THIS IS AMAZING. I treated it twice and the next morning, after it dried, the stain was completely gone. Thank you SO much!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

You’re welcome! So happy it helped!

[@clynn4802]

I treated my popcorn ceiling in bathroom doing what she said…gone!!

[@vivianhudacek1556]

Thanks for commenting on trying this on old stains! Just what I was wondering.

[@spankynater4242]

I would have taken advantage of this to remove the popcorn ceiling.

[@briseboy]

Aaaccckkk! I have removed popcorning from entire ceilings, as well as spraying repairs. i suggest using drywall texturing instead, and of course taking advantage of opportunity to forever.remove popcorning when ceiling repair is warranted. You can easily clean painted drywall texture with long handled rushing. You cannot clean the popcorn stuff, only redistribute it on yourself and surfaces below.

[@RichRocketMan]

Wonderful video! Thank you. One note - wear goggles when sprying bleach water above you and cover any colored rugs/carpet below. 😊

[@jhouriet]

goggles yes! and maybe a ball cap or scarf to protect your hair...

[@free2beme773]

And old clothes you don’t mind ruining! Plus a mask rated to protect you from breathing in bleach, especially if you use a lot and if the window is not open.

[@ronb6182]

​@@jhourieton the goggles issue. make sure it's the liquid kind. Some goggles are open and safety glasses won't help much. A divers mask might be better. I've done stains with a bleach rag without spraying and put it on a flat mop holder and just dap the stain. And your not under the stain area either. 73

[@joew8440]

That’s two notes

[@JR-gp2zk]

I am going to definitely try this. Also, this is such an old school KZbin video when KZbin was awesome. Just a regular person giving advice. No sponsorship, no crazy graphics, or stupid skit.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Happy to help. Thanks! 😊

[@carlcushmanhybels8159]

Excellent demonstration. I used to be head of an ACE Paint Dept. Yes, 1 part Bleach to 3 (or 2) parts Water is also useful for removing mildew stains {1 to 3}. For Worse Water Stains (like from a flood, or roof leak), with serious brown stains then the bleach and water fix may not work, tho it will lighten the stains. If so don't just paint over them. The stain will soon come through. Seal the stain area with Kilz (not Kilz 2, that's water based. You need oil based to stop a water stain.) Or use BIN; that's shellac based, and quick drying. BIN will seal over most anything. Has a strong odor though (But clears with good e.g., fan ventilation). Clean up for BIN is denatured alcohol.

[@77thTrombone]

She cautioned against this on non-white paint. I'd've figure most pigments would not be responsive to bleach. Thoughts?

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Good tips. I'm a fan of Zinsser's BIN shellac primer and a few others. A good primer is a must when those stains won't go away. 👍

[@ashchowdhury2895]

After over a year of looking at the stain and procrastinating because I knew I had to paint the whole ceiling, I ran across your video and gave it a try. 3 days and multiple coats of bleach and water mix, the stains are gone! Thanks for posting!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Thanks, Ash! I'm so happy it worked!

[@ST-0311]

I'm not sure how the algorithm managed to recommend a 3 year old video, but I'm glad it did. I don't have any water stains, but this is invaluable information anyway. Great job!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Every once in a while, KZbin decides one of my older videos deserves a boost. I'm glad it was finally this one's turn. Most people will have to deal with a water stain sooner or later. Thanks for the nice comment. :)

[@HiVizCamo]

Great fix, I can say it works too, I've done it twice before. One word of advice to ppl, test your sprayer well with just water before you commit to using it with the beach solution. Some cheap sprayers dont want to spray properly angled up like this, and some send out large droplets among the fine spray even if they do. A big droplet can get away from you, wrecking fabrics or other surfaces if they react badly to bleach. Good advice to lay out cover sheets under this work to catch overspray!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Good advice! Thanks!

[@quintonstone7324]

I seriously thought I was gonna have to paint entire living room ceiling . decided to search youtube for a miracle fix and here it was. I could literally watch the large brown stain disappear in front of my eyes without having to damave the joint compound texture. I am ever so grateful.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

That's so cool! Thanks for letting me know. I love how many people this helps. :)

[@cavatina82]

Worked like a charm on my (unpainted) popcorn ceiling, I'm pleasantly surprised! Few safety tips though: - Wear gloves and make sure to cover your head, skin, and face (especially eyes) with a shield since you are spraying bleach overhead. - Wear a shirt which you don't mind ruining from spot discoloration. - Hold a piece of cloth nearby the sprayed area to absorb suspended mist. - Allow for proper ventilation to minimize inhalation. - Cover the nearby furniture if important. Good luck!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Glad it worked for you!!

[@jerrymcspadden3063]

BAM, my wife found this KZbin and I used 50/50 mix on two different stains. Have to tell you that this is an amazing solution to a water stain problem. We had one stain that took four applications but all stains are gone . My only regret is that I didn’t take before / after pictures to show everyone. Thanks for this DYI tip.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

You’re welcome! So happy it helped. 👍

[@nathanielhoy96]

This worked relatively well, even on a light beige wall 👌 I used 1 part bleach, 4 parts water though and was relatively conservative to account for the fact the wall wasn't white

[@billthetraveler51]

I’ve done this and worked great. I rented an apartment that the tenants had run the air conditioner while keeping windows open. The humidity condensed on the cold ducts and dripped onto the drywall. The landlord was super grateful because she was going to have a contractor replace the drywall. It wasn’t damaged. She was so amazed that she gave my first month free.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

I love this! You both did the nice thing and it paid off. She saved money and you got free rent. ❤️

[@stevenmoomey2115]

I did Commercial HVAC Service for over 40 years. I mixed up 16 to 1 Clorox, to spray the back of Ceiling Tiles, to kill any Mold on the Tile from a leak, I fixed. Stronger Solution dabbed on the Tile Face, often this didn’t hide the Stain. Let it Dry. I put down a drop cloth, Feather Painted the Tile in place with Kilz Low Odor Original Spray Paint. Customers would call into my work commending me for this.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Thanks for sharing those tips with us. Anyone struggling with stained ceiling tiles will definitely appreciate this. 😊

[@christopherlankenau6916]

This worked incredibly well for me, too. I had to treat the spots again on a second day but they are gone. Thank you so much! And you've eliminated my dread of any future water stains!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Fantastic, Chris! So happy to help. :)

[@staylor6245]

It worked! Several stains I sprayed. And one was in a weird place/corner. I dabbed it with a cloth. It worked just using a soaked cloth, too. Thank you a million times for putting out this video.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

I’m so happy it helped you Stuart!!! Thanks for the kind comment. 😊

[@kentuckywildchild4800]

Worked perfectly! Thank you so much for sharing.

[@charliesargent6225]

Can't believe people don't know this, bleach has been my go to for decades anytime there's stains, mold, algae, interior and exterior. Only thing, never overuse as it's so corrosive to metal, paint, any surface. I almost always dilute, leave on 10-20 minutes depending on the stain, algae, mold, then RINSE thoroughly. Use gloves and glasses! You did a great job pointing out all the steps in preparing and preventing problems.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Thanks! Good tips too. :)

[@pradipcalcutta]

Wow! I tried. Worked like a charm! Thank you so much.

[@Think4Yourself-]

This is absolutely amazing!! I had some serious water stains on my bathroom and living room ceilings. Like others have mentioned, I thought I'd have to repaint the ceiling in every nearly room in the house just to cover these couple sections. But I have this a try, and wow!!!!! The stains are GONE!!! Thank you!!!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

So happy to help!! Thanks for letting me know. I love getting these comments. 😊

[@blessdnina2737]

I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing this cleaning tip! My 7yr thought it was a good idea to fill cups of water and throw them during bath time…long story short it had left the ugliest stains on my bathroom ceiling. So your cleaning tip worked like a charm, my bathroom ceiling looks brand new! The trick is to layer like you said. Thank you again ❤️

[@AbbottsAtHome]

LOL, I feel your pain. My kids had fun throwing slime at my ceiling one day. I ended up with tons of dirt stains to clean off So, happy to help. :)

[@gotitdone]

Thank you for taking the time to record this. I will definitively use this in the future.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nozomilime]

Oh my goodness! Thank you so much for this video ❤️I was preparing for painting and then I came across this video! Worked like a charm!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

I Love that this video is saving so many people from the pain of repainting their ceilings. 🕺🕺

[@morgan3865]

This works great! I thought for sure I was going to have to paint the whole ceiling. Thank you so much!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Glad I could help!

[@hastyone9048]

Awesome, thank you. Same thing happened to me about two months after I repainted my whole dining room. Had a small leak in my attic from the HVAC system. Repaired the leak but had a stain form about two days later. This method worked really well. I was about to repaint the whole ceiling again. Bravo!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

So happy to help!

[@MinhNguyen-mo5fp]

Such a wonderful idea, thank you so much for taking the time to filming and post this to share with everyone.😊❤

[@AbbottsAtHome]

You are so welcome!

[@chizcake]

this works if you use a fine mist and do it in multiple sessions and don't soak the water stained ceiling. I super soaked my popcorn ceiling and it bubbled and the popcorn texture peeled off. It works, just be careful!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Yep, going slow with light coats is the best option. Thanks for sharing. 😊

[@ryanbeat5828]

WORKED IN LESS THAN ONE MINUTE!!!! This is the DIY hack of the year! Thank you!!!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

You're welcome!!!!

[@mikeyesunas808]

This worked great. On many of the home inspections I do there are old water stains on ceilings from leaks that were repaired long ago. Even when there is very little damage the discoloration looks bad. If you've fixed the source of the leak and you only have some staining, I recommend trying this. I had a leak from my ridge vent during high winds and rain a couple of weeks ago that left a yellow stain on the ceiling. A few sprays of bleach water and the stain was gone! Thanks for the tip!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Thanks for the helpful comment!!!

[@barriewright2857]

Thank you for the information, i have the same problem in my house as well.

[@nancycampbell9505]

Thank you, this worked perfectly. You would never know there was a stain and so easy.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Awesome! You’re welcome!

[@gitzed]

WOW!! This method removed my ceiling stains 100%. I am so happy to have come across this tip. Thank you for posting

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Yay!!! So happy to help. Thanks for the comment. 😊

[@tboneproductions2453]

Thank you. This worked really well on my popcorn ceiling.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

You’re welcome!! 😊

[@mzvirgo80]

Just tried this. Worked like a charm. Thank you so much.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

You're welcome!

[@solomonoverhead]

Dear @AbbottsAtHome: Y - O - U are a Godsend! I truly mean that. I was considering painting over a few spots on the ceiling caused by rain 🌧 due to less-than-proper-diligence by roofers laying new shingles; it just happen to rain 🌧 the second day of their working, and, most unfortunately, they neglected to cover certain sections of the roof properly before leaving. Smh. Alas! THANK YOU MOST TRULY!❤

[@AbbottsAtHome]

I hope it helps! Good luck. :)

[@traceyskinner444]

Yes!!! This DEFINITELY works!! Such a simple inexpensive solution. Thank you!!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

You're welcome!

[@chrispalmer6648]

I can definitely attest to this being a true fix. I recently had a bit of rainwater leak through my roof and onto my 2nd floor textured ceiling (not popcorn). After addressing the roof issue, I tried this fix on my ceiling and it worked perfectly. You can no longer tell at all that a water stain was even there to begin with and the bleach solution didn't cause any discoloration to the undamaged area surrounding where the water stain used to be. Thanks for this easy (and cheap) fix!!!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

So happy to share this easy fix!! It’s a huge time saver and it works so fast. 👍

[@andig739]

This worked for me. Thank you so much, saved me from having to paint my whole ceiling. ❤️

[@MD-qm6gy]

You guys all addressed the cause of the leak first, right? Also if you got water cause a stain on your drywall, very likely there mold on the other side. Painting is literally the last step, after replacing the area.

[@sheila7221]

I can't wait to try this - thank you for taking the time to share!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

You’re welcome!!

[@nathancoulombe8308]

It’s insane that I’ve gone this far in life without knowing this. This should be taught in schools! lol

[@AbbottsAtHome]

100% agree! 😅

[@muskyful]

This is a good fix for stains. I have also used Bullseye shellac base primer over water stains before painting a ceiling, otherwise they will bleed thru again.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Thanks for the tip!

[@Upkeep64]

Worked perfectly and saved me a lot of hassle. Thanks!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

You're welcome!

[@gordon-1]

Hurricane Matthew with 82 mph wind gusts (clocked 0.7 miles down river from my house) drove rain through a roof vent, which resulted in a 30" x 40" dark oval stain on my vanity popcorn ceiling. I applied undiluted 3% hydrogen peroxide four times to this stain to remove it. The advantages of 3% peroxide over bleach are no odor, no worries about drips harming carpets and no mixing. The disadvantage is that more applications may be required as it is weaker than bleach, although 12% and 34% peroxide solutions are available retail which would require dilution before application. As with any overhead work, protective glasses should be worn. Thanks for this video!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Thanks for the comment. I'm planning on trying Hydrogen Peroxide and OxiClean the next time this happens. Hopefully it works just as well as bleach always has. 👍

[@gl3605]

This definitely earned you a subscriber. 59 years old and I've never heard of this until right now. Thanks!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Glad I could help!

[@amandafelts87]

Thank you so much for this video! We had a big water stain in our master bedroom ceiling due to my daughter’s carpet getting wet from upstairs. We are getting ready to put our home on the market and this stuff saved our sanity! We thought we would have to paint our whole ceiling. Thank you again!! ❤️

[@AbbottsAtHome]

So happy to help! I hope you sell fast. 🤞

[@BroShaver]

Was just about to cutout the drywall! Thank you :)

[@AbbottsAtHome]

So, so happy you saw this first! 😊

[@rhw199]

Thank you for this! Worked to make our recent stain a thing of the past.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

You're welcome!!!

[@ashley433]

Thank you so much for posting this DIY. I just did this and it worked great!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

You’re welcome!! So happy it helped. 😊

[@amdunn6914]

Holy smokes, this is the best fix! I like to use products on hand, and this is one that not only works, but is easy to do. Thank you!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

You're welcome. :)

[@marcmalano]

Thanks for this tip! Took a few applications but worked like magic and easier than painting and having to deal with mismatched colors.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

You're welcome. Any time I can avoid painting a ceiling I'm a happy homeowner!

[@rlg222]

I will give this a try. Thank You!

[@SS-ud2cb]

Wow, Wow! Thank you so much for this tip! Gonna try it after my stains dry out!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Good luck!

[@dwong7000]

Thank you so much, works so well 👍👍

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Thanks! 😊😊

[@Suzeline]

Thank you sooo much for this video!! I thought I would have to repaint the area, but using this method the stains disappeared in minutes!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Glad I could help!

[@jacmeldent4951]

Fantastic! I had a HUGE terracotta stain on my bedroom ceiling where I had left the attic window, in the room above, open overnight (it rained heavily - duh!) and the plaster marks came through badly. I tried this trick you suggest, with bleach and water. I had to do it about 4 times, (leaving a couple of days in between every time for the bleach/water to dry properly) because the stain was so dark and extensive. I has now completely disappeared and you would never know the stain had been there. Thank you so much! I was thinking I would need to completely repaint the whole ceiling - now I know!!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

You're welcome! Thanks for sharing your steps. :)

[@RD-hj6uo]

Thank you so much for this video. We had two 3 feet long water stains from Hurricane Sally. We knew painting would not work. I watched your video and immediately mixed up the bleach solution. Let it dry over night and the next morning our ceiling was completely void of staining. Now it is completely white.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Fantastic! So happy to help. :)

[@drevlin3969]

Thank you for this helpful tip. It really does work. I had a massive water stain on my ceiling. It took the whole day to remove bit in the end ot worked. Much appreciated for the tip.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Glad it helped!

[@suehepworth7587]

Thank you so much for this. Worked brilliantly and saved us the job of painting the whole ceiling! Very happy 🙂👍

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Yea!!!! So happy to help Sue.

[@cengizhatiboglu8537]

Thank you sooo much! I was skeptical at first but 1/3 bleach 2/3 water; 3 applications over 3 hours did the trick and saved me from painting the whole ceiling 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@AbbottsAtHome]

You’re welcome!!

[@SHANDAA]

This is a life saver! Thank you!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

You’re welcome!!

[@pteddie6965]

Wow! What a great tip. I am visiting my granddaughter right now. I can't wait to get home and try this on my living room ceiling. Thanks for the tip and the video.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

You're welcome and good luck!

[@TheThesmyths]

Speaking in UK paint names here, you could put numerous coats on a waterstain and it will still show through. You need stainblock or an undercoat on the stain first and then paint. This is a good quick fix for a white ceiling.

[@lucichaplin4663]

Thank you SO much! I had some water damage after Storm Elsa and after calling our roofer, wanted to see about fixing the staining on our ceiling myself. This worked like a charm. So greatly appreciate you posting this video!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

I love that this video was able to help you! We went through a crazy week with Hurricane Harvey. Luckily our home had limited damage but my husband helped many neighbors gut houses and cut up trees that damaged roofs in our area. Hurricane winds are wild! Thanks for the comment. :)

[@BP-yc5nk]

Worked amazingly! So satisfying. Thanks again for the life hack.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

You are very welcome!

[@bloodybones63]

You're a good person for helping so many people. God bless you!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Aw, thanks! I'm happy to help. :)

[@gracefaul7222]

Thank you SOOOO much. We were getting ready to go and get some Kilz, but wondered if there was something that would do a better job. Your video came up after one where a gentleman was describing multiple layers of Kilz or another brand. So I’ll admit, we were skeptical of your simple bleach answer. Color us surprised, amazed, and overjoyed when four minutes in we found we were so wrong to doubt you. Again, a million thanks for saving the day (& the ceiling!)

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Thanks for this great comment! So happy to help. 😊

[@fabulousprofound]

I literally am in the same boat as you. I bought a can of Kilz and did a test sample on a piece of cardboard and t pits so bright white there is no way it would blend with the ceiling. Once I find a sprayer I’m going to attempt this instead.

[@michellehood3345]

Oh my freaking gosh...!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH...I think I was getting ready to ruin my ceiling with oil based primer !!!!...I really appreciate you taking the time to do this...💕💕

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Thanks! And good luck Michelle!

[@lincbond442]

This is great info. I had a ceiling collapse due to a faulty central air hook up. After the repairs were done, residual water in one beam stained the freshly plastered surface. I'm definitely going to do this before I repaint. Thanks!

[@SmileyBlue69]

Maybe put stain block in that area before painting as in time there is chance that beam might again cause staining to come through. Easier to do that than have to fix it again after painting.

[@davidsilvercreek8541]

Nice two piece crown molding... I enjoy seeing people take pride in their homes...

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Thanks!!

[@sher1059]

ok I am appreciative of this video..just an added tip. I used it like she said...but the stain did not look like it was fully coming out. I then added soapy hot dish water and sprayed the bleach on and used a white mr clean sponge. Came totally off! was so happy! of course ours was a white ceiling. I did not scrub heavily for obvious reasons.

[@meko8017]

This is a bad idea…bleach should never be mixed with dish soap. This will create toxic fumes which is extremely dangerous to your eyes, lungs and in some cases cause death.

[@di74100]

I hired a painter to paint over a small water stain on the ceiling. He told me that in order to make it looking right, he needed to paint the entire ceiling in the (large) great room. Thank goodness, he rescheduled on me! Since I was tired of looking at the stain, I started looking for other options and came across this video. I am now elated that he cancelled as this video saved me $1000+! Because the ceiling is taller, I used an extension pole and foam roller to roll the bleach water onto the stain. It took 6 rolls but the spot is completely gone. I also tried this on a water stain on a wall. I still have a few more rolls before it is gone but it is greatly faded at this point. The wall in that room is an off white and this method had no adverse effects on the paint color. However, as mentioned, since bleach is involved, this method may have an impact on your paint. Thank you for posting this video!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Nice!!! Clever idea with the roller on a pole. I'll have to remember that if we ever get a leak in our 20' high living room ceiling again. :)

[@ann-louisep7573]

This worked like magic at my mom’s house. Thank you so much! This saved a ton of money on painters.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

So happy to hear!!!!!

[@tonybeck7399]

The definitive solution to water marks on ceiling? Have tried a few variations before finding this. The most effective and least messy. Thank you.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

You're welcome!

[@martinstewart5205]

To avoid spraying bleach on your furniture use a large round lampshade as a shield and spray through the hole in the shade

[@AbbottsAtHome]

I love that idea!

[@LyranSoul]

Could also use one of those plastic shields they put on pets after surgery i bet.

[@pattywitrado594]

I wish I could share my pictures with you all. This really works. I used a spray of oxy clean cuz I didn’t wanna stain the carpet. It does take longer with oxy clean.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Thanks, Patty! So happy to help. :)

[@josephrobi6806]

I will try that thanks from Philippines 🇵🇭 😅Acadian

[@AbbottsAtHome]

You're welcome. Good luck!

[@oldhammeryyc1523]

I was seriously doubtful this would work but it’s a miracle of simplicity

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Well said. :)

[@diannerg11]

Thank you so much for this! You saved me tons of work.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Yay! So happy to help. :)

[@PJErvin]

If someone does plan to paint the ceiling, best thing to do is to seal the area where the stains are. Kilz make a product called Upshot which is basically a primer in a can that can spray upward. It’ll go on yellowish, but you paint over it and won’t have to worry about those stains seeping through.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Good advice. Thanks!

[@donnagagne3813]

I just tried this and am amazed. Thank you again.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Awesome!!!

[@Grez666]

Very likeable tutorial. Everything explained accurately and succinctly and no distracting muzak... All I will add is that this method does the same job on black mould in bathrooms and kitchens. Will keep even a damp shower-room mould free, and in that case, early treatment and maintenance gives consistent and permanent results.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Thanks!! And, yep, works on moisture mold too.

[@stickyprickle]

Like others, cannot thank you enough, saved me time and money, after replastering a damaged ceiling I had painted it 3 times and stain kept coming through the emulation, I was about to use a pva mix, thank goodness I didn’t, tried this and bang, the stain was gone. Be careful of inhaling a bleach mist but 10/10 for results! Now my wife will not be annoyed at me 👍

[@AbbottsAtHome]

☺️ So happy to help!!

[@christopheranderson8275]

Been remodeling for many years and never seen this done before. Very helpful thanks! Many textured ceilings aren’t painted at all just drywall mud finish. You might be able to dilute the drywall mud with water enough to potentially create a “paint” that would match your ceiling enough to cover any stains that you can’t remove. Many simply use Kilz or similar primer but I really like your technique much better for this. Water stains tend to bleed through too so I’m curious do those stains return over time?

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Interesting, you’re the 2nd person that’s mentioned they don’t think the textured ceiling is painted. It always has been in houses I’ve lived in. So, now I’m wondering what part of the country you’re in?? Maybe it’s regional???

[@christopheranderson8275]

@@AbbottsAtHomeyup some get painted by builders but most try to cover with the texture which is almost always drywall mud based which is water soluble. If it’s painted more than likely the previous owner did it to cover stains. Possibly smoke or water stains or they wanted to change the color. But typically no most ceilings are going to be unpainted especially on newer construction. It’s just cheaper and easier that way. Drywall mud is way cheaper than paint. 😂

[@AbbottsAtHome]

@@christopheranderson8275 I can't believe a builder would want to be cheap or cut corners. ;) Thanks for the info!

[@dellalderman8011]

We use sheetrock mud all the time in Fayetteville, NC. We have a textured flat "sheetrock" brush that you slap the thinned mud with that creates the finish. This is not the spayed on popcorn finish. Just a different kind of finish. Thinned sheetrock mud dries super white and can hide inprefections really well with the texture. A smooth ceiling takes alot more work to be "perfect" and they have to be painted when complete.

[@kd2239]

Water stains like that shouldnt bleed through if treated. The "water stains" is actually mould on the surface of the ceiling. If you were to look at it under a microscope you would see like a fur on the surface. The mould is not below the surface. Once sprayed with bleach it kills and dissolved and mould and it wont come back unless the ceiling becomes wet again.

[@crispinmathew8379]

I tried this ! Works like a dream. Thank you!!!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

You’re welcome!!

[@joerodriguez5394]

This worked for me! Thanks for the tip and video!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Glad it helped!

[@kcflyfishing902]

Nice work

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Thanks

[@twstvan93]

NIce, and thanks for taking the time to do this video!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

You're welcome!

[@zjxn06]

This worked for me. Thought I was going to have to replace ceiling drywall. Saved me a boat load of money!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Great! Thanks for sharing.

[@sabrinacollins941]

WORKED SO WELL! Non-popcorn ceiling but the kitchen sink had a leak that cause water damage on the basement bathroom. Let it dry out for a while… honestly just kept forgetting to pick up a spray bottle. Worked almost instantly on most of the spots. The darker ring one will probably need another round or 2. Thank you so much for the easy DIY fix! 😊

[@AbbottsAtHome]

You’re welcome!

[@vincentcottone8882]

Hi great tip I want to try it. Did you let the wet spot completely dry from the water damage before treating it with this bleach solution?

[@AbbottsAtHome]

I would let it dry out before treating. Make sure the source is fixed. And, let the ceiling dry out before spraying with bleach water. 👍

[@larryreynolds6353]

Excellent tip and explained and demonstrated in such an understandable way

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Thanks!!!

[@goddessflower4018]

Thank you! I was putting off dealing with it because I didn't want to paint. That was super easy and I didn't have to buy anything

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Yea!!!! I love hearing this is helping so many people. Thanks for the comment. :)

[@Gel2500]

Hi Stephanie, I am planning to use the bleach + water solution for ceiling water stains. Question: what is the recommendation in regard of the waiting time from the moment that have the stains and the momento to apply the solution? Thanks Gelacio

[@AbbottsAtHome]

I recommend repairing the leak, then let the ceiling completely dry, then treat with the bleach water mix.

[@tinmonkey3]

Were your stains recent? I was wondering if the bleach solution would work on an old stain? I have one that's 3 years old.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

I've used this on really old stains. It still works, as long as the stain doesn't have paint over it. :)

[@Rc-gt6lq]

Happened to come across this video , was a game changer, saved me from trying to paint with upshot or similar product which usually leaves an area you can see. I used a lens cleaner (very small atomized spray ) spray bottle that worked awesome, used 50 -50 solution. Its a 2 oz bottle but worked great no heavy drips. Did 3 applications , let dry an hour in-between. Thank you so much for that info much appreciated. Certainly worth a try by someone before painting.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Happy to help!

[@ajangrocks]

This actually worked for me really well.

[@AbbottsAtHome]

🕺🕺

[@aireenaafeeza9529]

Hi! This is a great video and I can't wait to try it out but I have a few questions : 1) How long does this quick fix lasts before the stain comes up again, assuming the source of the water leak causing this water stain was not fixed first? 2) Would it damage the paint in long term? Like if I were to spray bleach on it everytime the stain reappears, would it make the paint crack, or bubble up? FYI I have just painted my walls with a satin gloss white paint. The old paint was peach, so I had the walls prepped using some plaster ceiling compound and an undercoat before the paint. I thought the undercoat was water proof, but turns out it wasn't and the stain reappeared the next day after painting! I was so horrified, so I tried finding answers and found your video. I'm just worried of ruining that satin gloss fresh paint look after using this fix. Please help!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Hi! I definitely thin you should fix the leak before trying this. I wouldn't use this trick as an ongoing treatment. And, I'm sorry to say, I think the bleach probably will dull a high gloss sheen a little.

[@aireenaafeeza9529]

@@AbbottsAtHome thanks for your input! The leak is somewhere in the walls itself, so fixing is a big undertaking, but perhaps sometime in future 🥲

[@HappyLife-wv5ms]

How about just dabbing it on with a sponge so you do not need to worry about the spray landing on things below?

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Yep, that's a good idea too. Thanks for sharing. :)

[@hoksungyau8973]

It works! Thanks for the instruction!

[@AbbottsAtHome]

Glad it helped

[@Twin1y]

Thank you for sharing. I needed this 😊

[@AbbottsAtHome]

You’re welcome! 😊😊