how do i get whitewash/distemper or whatever it is off of my ceiling?

Answer 1

Do you mean artex?
If you do, it's the patterned finish a bit like rock hard plaster with stippling, or swirls done to it.
You cannot get it off, trust me, you would be best getting a plasterer in to skim over it.

Answer 2

If you lick your finger and wipe it over the surface and it comes off, the you need to use hot water to scrub it with a paste type brush, small areas at a time, then rinse with walm/hot water till it's clean.
If nothing comes off when you try it, then it's unlikely to move, assuming the surface is sound, you could wash the whole area, but I would if it were me put a coat of stabilising solution on the surface.
It's quite liquid and stinks a bit but you can thin it a little with turps.
The ceiling would then be ready for either emulsion, or if you were to paper it then you would not need to size as the solution would act as a sealer.

Good luck!!!!!

Answer 3

Whitewash/distemper should wash off with just water, well it did about 50 years ago, do they still sell that stuff these days.

Answer 4

Sugar Soap clears distemper

Answer 5

paste some lining paper about 4ft long stick it to ceiling leave for about 15 Min's then rip it off this should get a lot off in one go
get the rest of by wetting the ceiling with warm water let it soak in
then scrap the rest off or wash it of
once you have finished brush a watered down pva sealer over hte whole ceiling

Answer 6

a biscuit will usually coax a dog with distemper down

Answer 7

Try a steamer that removes wallpaper, when i used it it took off my artex on my ceiling.

Answer 8

use a scraper and get as much off as you can,then paint the ceoling woth a stabliser, then paint as normal hope it works gl