Paint on ceiling

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Asher, it would be a help to know what kind of ceiling you had and your "previously unpainted" description offers more questions. Is this new construction? Typically, even that has some paint on it and you repaint the ceiling before you paint the walls. This is so that you get most of the paint specks and drips on the surface still to be repainted.

If you have a "popcorn" ceiling, these are repainted less often, I guess, because they do take a different technique. And you do get more of a broken up look to the wall paint mark. It is also a lot more difficult to prepare these for painting.

The big problem that you will have is matching the white of your ceiling to a paint color and flatness. You really can't get less than a gallon of paint mixed, normally, and white is the most difficult "color" to match because it has so many variations.

If your wall paint is a water-based latex and less than about 8 hours old, you MAY be able to wash the new paint off. But you could be making a lot more problems for yourself, as well. If you do have a fresh paint mark, mix 1 cup of ammonia to one gallon of water and, using a sponge that is just damp with this mixture, try this for cleaning the paint off. Your chances of having more problems with a popcorn ceiling are great if the ceiling material gets too wet. Your chances with painted drywall are better.

Please do wear splash goggles since you will be working with the ammonia solution above your head. Protecting your eyes is critical and no household job is worth the risk of the loss of an eye. "Safety glasses" will not offer adequate protection from splashes.

Henry in MI