Easy and efficient tips for cleaning the ceiling fan

Ceiling fans are an essential part of every home. They circulate cool air through our homes and help us remain comfortable, especially now, during the hot, summer months. However, ceiling fans also tend to collect a lot of pollen, dust, dirt, grime, and even grease while they’re being used.

Now, if we do not clean fans periodically, this dirt not only gets spread all over our furniture and everything else in our homes, the fans themselves become less efficient. However, cleaning your ceiling fan isn’t very easy, considering they’re high up on the ceiling, and you’re liable to get debris all over everything that’s on the ground while cleaning them.

In this short read, we’re going to help you learn how to clean a ceiling fan without creating a mess on the floor below.

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Tools of the trade

To clean your ceiling fans, you do not really need any fancy equipment. Here’s a list of the tools you will need to do the job.

1. A step stool or a step ladder to reach your fans.
2. An old pillow case for the blades.
3. Any mind all-purpose cleaner
4. A microfiber cloth
5. A can of compressed air
6. Warm and soapy water
7. Vinegar
8. Water

The process

First, clean the blades

Let’s begin by cleaning up the ceiling fan blades. These are what often have the most dirt on them.

1. Make sure the ceiling fan is switched off to avoid injuries.
2. Position the step stool or ladder to have easy access to the fan blades.
3. Spray the inside of the pillowcase lightly with either the mild all-purpose cleaner or with a cleaning solution made of equal parts water and vinegar.
4. Slip the pillowcase over a fan blade and gently it outwards. This will capture the dirt from the top and bottom of the blade inside the pillowcase.
5. Repeat the procedure on the other fan blades.
6. Wipe the edges of the blade with a microfiber cloth in case there is any dust still sticking on.
7. Turn the pillowcase over outside the house and dust it thoroughly before washing it.

Next up, the fans lighting

A lot of ceiling fans have light fixtures on them, such as glass globe lights. Here’s how to go about cleaning them.

1. Turn off the lights in the globe and wait for the light bulbs to completely cool down before you begin cleaning.
2. Use a microfiber cloth to remove dust from the light bulbs.
3. After you are done dusting the bulbs, gently remove the glass shade or dome. Wash this with warm, soapy water and dry it completely before you fix it back in place.

Finally, clean the pull chain and ceiling fan motor

1. Once again, a dry microfiber cloth is what you need to wipe the fan’s pull chain and the motor.
2. Use the can of compressed air to remove any dust that may have accumulated in the motor housing.
3. Turn on the fan and make sure the blades are rotating in the correct direction. They ought to run clockwise in the summer and counterclockwise in the winter. 
4. If necessary, change the direction the blades are rotating. This is easily done by using a switch located near the fan motor.

Read more: Ceiling fan direction switch do it yourself

But what if my house has a really high ceiling?

Cleaning ceiling fans in homes with vaulted or really high ceilings can be more difficult than usual. However, worry not, because we’re going to tell you how to overcome that obstacle as well.

1. The first thing you will need to do is cover the furniture and floor around the fan with a drop cloth. You do not want to get the dust that is bound to fly around to get onto the floor or the furniture.
2. A step stool will be of no use in this situation. You will need a full-sized ladder to be able to access the fan.
3. If the ladder is tall enough for you to access the fan, then we’d advise you to try the pillowcase method to get the dirt and grime off the fan blades.
4. Otherwise, you will need to invest in an extendable duster, which is available in most local hardware stores and is very affordable. Be sure to choose an extendable duster with a flexible duster head.
5. Use the duster to clean the fan blades slowly. Angle the head in a way that allows you easy access to the top portion of the blades as well as the edges.
6. The same duster can be used to clean the fan motor casing as well.
7. Once you are done cleaning the fan, remove the drop cloth and vacuum clean the area and your furniture to make sure any debris that may have gotten on them is removed.

Read more: Can a wobbly ceiling fan fall?

Pro Tips

1. Be sure to exercise caution while using full-sized ladders. It is always a good idea to have a family member or a friend holding the ladder steady while you clean the fan.
2. Use a mask and protective glasses to make sure you don’t breathe in any of the dust or get it into your eyes.

Written by Narayan Shrouthy. September 22, 2022

Narayan is a content writer for Kukun. With experience in both content writing and editing, Narayan mixes his writing and love for reading with his passion for music. As an active musician, He aims to be a key player in Kukun's content experience.