We love the air circulation and cool breeze they provide, but let’s face it: cleaning the blades of our ceiling fans is a much-maligned task.
With spring nearly upon us, now’s the time to put dusting these off on your to-do list. Here are some tips for doing it safely and quickly, too.
Don’t Skip over Fans
As tempting as it may be to simply not look up and let cleaning off the blades of your ceiling fans go, don’t do it. Dirt that piles up on your fans can lead to noisy operation and more importantly, motor damage if the problem gets bad enough. For members of the family or visitors with respiratory or allergy issues, swirling, dirty fan blades can also cause discomfort.
Tackling the Task
First, always turn off the fan before doing any cleaning. The blades should be at a complete stop. Then, use a pole duster that slides over the fan blade, allowing you to clean both the top and bottom of each blade simultaneously. Be sure not to apply too much pressure so you don’t warp or break the blades.
Need a deeper clean for fans with a grease or more significant build-up in the kitchen, perhaps? Use a step ladder and clean the fan’s blades by hand with a lightly dampened microfiber cloth and follow with drying with another cloth to remove moisture left behind. You may also need to enlist the help of a degreasing household cleaner for, especially stubborn grime. Use a clean cloth to remove dirt from the motor housing and any pull chains.
Want to try to prevent having to clean your fan frequently? It may help to go over blades with a microfiber cloth sprayed with an anti-static, dust-repellent product or with a dryer sheet.
The Pillowcase Method
Do you dread the dust shower of muck that inevitably falls from above when cleaning your ceiling fans? Try the pillowcase method of cleaning. Just cover the fan blade with a pillowcase and slide the case down the fan blade to catch the dust and grime inside. Then take the pillowcase outside, turn it inside-out and shake out the contents before putting it in your washing machine.
Fans Set High
Fans that are set especially high may require an extension duster or a taller ladder to reach. Enlist the help or a family member or friend to act as a spotter.
Ready to replace your home’s ceiling fans or need to troubleshoot a problem? Reach out to Stevens Electric in Fleetwood, Berks County, Pennsylvania, at stevenselectricllc.com or call 610-316-9998 and we’ll be happy to help!
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