Ceiling fans are notorious for gathering dust, grease, and all manner of daily detritus from our homes, but when they start getting grubby, not only does their functionality become impaired and they operate less effectively, but it can also have a detrimental effect on the quality of air inside the home.
Fortunately, while it does take a little time and effort (and if you don’t like the sound of this, you can simply hire a cleaning service to do it), there is a way to get your ceiling fans spotlessly clean:
Preparing to clean your ceiling fans
Before starting to clean any of the ceiling fans in your home, you must switch them off and gather the following items:
- A sturdy, indoor ladder
- A microfiber duster, cloth, or pair of old socks
- A cleaning solution
Once you’ve got these items to hand, spread an old sheet or some old towels underneath the fans to catch any dust or grime that may fall down in the process.
5 simple steps to squeaky clean ceiling fans
Simple and requiring minimal effort, here’s how to get your ceiling fans gleaming:
- Blade dusting
Using your microfiber cloth or an old sock (place your hand inside), dust the blades of the ceiling fan to remove the bulk of the dust and dirt that hasn’t yet become embedded to the surface.
- Blade deep cleaning
Using your favorite cleaning solution, moisten your cloth or sock, and clean the blades thoroughly from top to bottom, front and back. When doing this, it’s essential that your ladder be stable, and ideally, you should have someone there to steady you, or it, should the need arise.
- Motor housing cleaning
Take a dry, clean cloth, and lightly dust around the section of the ceiling fan that houses the motor. While this area likely won’t be as dusty and dirty as the blades, it should be cleaned every so often, nonetheless.
- Light fixtures and bulb cleaning
Some ceiling fans have lights and other fixtures incorporated into their design, in which case these must also be cleaned gently, with a soft, dry cloth or an old sock.
- Small components cleaning
Finish off the job by dusting and wiping down any of the smaller parts that may be attached to it, such as the blade holders and pull chain.
Additional guidance
Always use a cloth or sock that’s soft to avoid damaging the surface of the blades, or any other parts of the ceiling fan.
You can also use a soft brush (a paintbrush would work well) to clean some of the more intricate parts of the fan, or to reach areas that are hidden away.
Ideally, you should use a non-toxic cleaning solution; this will protect your ceiling fans, your health, and that of the environment.
Cleaning ceiling fans once a month helps to prevent a build-up of grime that’s tougher to shift, and makes your life easier. For ceiling fans in high-traffic zones of your home, monthly cleaning really is a must.
Some jobs are best left to the experts, and while ceiling fan cleaning isn’t exactly a hard job, it’s not entirely pleasurable either, and if you aren’t comfortable standing on a ladder or don’t have the strength in your arms to reach up and clean the blades, hiring a cleaning service is the safest, most effective solution.
