preparation for repainting a ceiling

Hi guys
i need some advice on how much preparation a ceiling needs before repainting.

the surface is in a generally good condition

thanks

Your question is the equivalent of "how long is a piece of string"

Need more infomation to give you an answer.

*Why are you painting? change of colour/ problem with old paint?
*what type of material is the ceiling/type of paint on it?
*what room is it? a kitchen/bathroom or other
*what type of paint were you going to put on it?

They all may affect the answer you want.

But normally everything being Ok - wash with sugar soap, dry and apply water based paint-ceiling paint.

Gotta agree with durwood - if all is well with the surface - no flaking, peeling, etc - wash WELL with sugar soap. Ceilings are a pain to twash but I reckon it is really important to wash it down really well with sugar soap. I DIDN'T wash down a customer's kitchen wall well enough about 12 months ago, just gave it a quick wipe with sugar soap and a dry and repainted it with acrylic satin - about 2 months ago she asked me to come and have a look at it, and there are patches where the paint is lifting a bit - the bits I didn't wash thoroughly enough.

So keep a stiff upper neck and get into it!
Jeff