DIY Network

My wife and I quit smoking and we have tongue-in-groove ceiling tile squares in our basement. I'd like to clean all the old nicotine stains off them, but they aren't the washable kind and would just absorb the water if I use TSP and a scrub brush ( like I did on the rest of the house). Does anyone have a solution to this issue, short of replacing the tiles?
Thanks

Paint them? Acoustic ceiling tiles can normally be painted. I would get a good stain blocking water base primer, like Zinsser 1 2 3, and using a roller and brush, just seal over the stains to brighten the room. Check with a pro paint store first.

If you mix up some orange cleaner and water and use a sponge mop, being carefull not to have it to wet most of the stains will come off before tying to paint it. Just painting over the oily stains may not stay stuck.

If you can use any spray at all, use Krud Kleaner, which I've found at Walmart. There are a few different varieties of Krud Kleaner, so be sure to read the labels as you are looking for the one for walls/ceilings. We used this in my MIL's condo and it worked very well on walls.

If you can't use anything that will soak into the tiles, then get a can of Kilz primer and paint over the tiles. This will not only cover it up, but a good coat of Kilz will also stop any mildew/stains from coming through in the future and eliminate the odors that have collected up there.

I didn't know Kilz eliminated odors. Thanks for the tip!