Blog Highlights:
- Ceiling fans can help circulate air; dirty ceiling fans on the other hand, will also circulate dust particles
- Turn off the ceiling fan before cleaning; make sure that its blades are no longer moving
- Use a ladder to put your head 1 foot above the ceiling fan so you can clean it properly
- Use a bed sheet, newspapers, or plastic sheets to help collect dust while you clean the blades with a duster
- Cleaning the ceiling fan with a pillowcase is a great way to clean the blades properly without spreading dust
- When using a vacuum attachment, clean the blades from the center and all the way to the tip
Ceiling fans help circulate air. Unfortunately, if they’re not clean, they can also circulate dust inside the house.
Cleaning ceiling fans can actually be quite challenging and even frustrating. While ceiling fan dusters can easily get rid of dust, using one carelessly can actually spread the dust particles around. This can cause irritations and it can trigger your allergies.
Before you start cleaning your ceiling fan, make sure that you turn it off first. Wait for the fan to completely stop moving so you can avoid hurting yourself or damaging your fan. Attempting to clean the fan while it is moving can also throw the fan off-balance.
As soon as it stops, you can begin the cleaning process.
The ceiling fan duster
As mentioned, ceiling fan dusters can easily get rid of dust on the fan blades, but it can also make a lot of mess. If you want to use one, you need to do so with caution. Do it slowly and stay away from the fan blade, making sure that the dust won’t get dumped on your head or on other furniture.
Use a bed sheet, newspapers, or a sheet of plastic so you can protect your carpets and appliances from dust. A vacuum cleaner will also come in handy when it comes sweeping up the clumps of dust that falls.
Using a pillowcase
A lot of people say that using a pillowcase is one of the best ways for you to clean up ceiling fans without creating a mess. Here’s how you can do it:
- Turn off the ceiling fan and make sure that no one will accidentally turn it on.
- Climb a ladder until your head is 1 foot above the ceiling fan blades.
- Use one pillowcase to completely cover one fan blade.
- Pull the pillowcase slowly and gently, making sure that you touch all the surfaces of the fan blade
- Trap all the dust particles as you pull off the pillowcase
- Do the same procedure for the rest of the blades
- Wipe the blades with a clean cloth afterwards
- Shake off the pillowcase and cloth outside or on the trash bin
- Wash the pillowcase in the washing machine afterwards
Using a vacuum
If you don’t want to use a ceiling fan duster or a pillowcase, you can opt to use a vacuum attachment to clean your ceiling fan.
Use a ladder so you can easily see the individual blades and use your vacuum’s extended attachment to clean the ceiling fan.
Be sure to run the attachment along each fan blade and slowly pick up all the dust on its surfaces. Start near the center and drag the attachment down the blade. Repeat this step until the blade is dust-free.
Do not move the attachment back and forth so you can avoid spreading the dust around or scattering it into the air.
Vacuum the floor afterwards to pick up any dust that has fallen off the fan blades.
Have your own ceiling fan cleaning tips? Tell us more about it below!