Not a fan of the dust bunnies accumulating on your fan and in your aircon filters? It might be time for you to give them a good cleaning frequently to improve their efficiency and cleanliness especially if you have children who are sensitive to dust.
Whether you’ve got a standing fan, ceiling fan, tower fan, bladeless fan or air conditioner, we’ll teach you how to clean them thoroughly for a cleaner home!
Air Conditioners
Image source: Oasis
There’s no doubt that aircons are the best for offering some cooling relief. But they can become inefficient and fail to work at full capacity when clogged, leaving you with low airflow and uncool air.
Fortunately, doing a simple cleaning at home can help resolve it.
How to clean aircon
Image source: BILLY AIR CON
Cleaning the aircon air filter:
- Switch off your aircon and unplug it.
- Open up the aircon cover and remove the filter carefully.
- Clean the inside of the main body by wiping away the dust with a dry cloth and cleaning with some soapy water.
- Clean the aircon filter under running water. You may also vacuum to get rid of buildup.
- Ensure that everything is dry before being fitted back into the main body.
Cleaning the evaporator assembly and outlet:
- Using an old toothbrush, clean the top of the evaporator assembly and outlet gently.
- Suck out the remaining dust inside with a vacuum cleaner.
Tip: If you are sensitive or allergic to dust or other allergens, wearing a face mask when carrying out the cleaning can help alleviate your discomfort.
When to clean aircons
If your household uses the aircon on a daily basis, make sure to get your aircon serviced once every two to three months. But if you use it minimally, ensure it stays in optimal condition by getting it serviced at least once a year.
In between aircon servicing, it’s possible to also keep your aircon clean by giving its filter a quick clean on your own every once or twice a month. Some benefits of doing so include:
- Cleaner air
- A lower electricity bill thanks to improved efficiency
- A longer lasting aircon as the cooling compressor won’t be overworked by dirty filters
Standing Fans
Image source: Homekit News & Reviews
Standing fans are definitely a common sight in many households. Unlike ceiling fans, you can easily bring them to wherever they’re needed by plugging their switch into the socket for some quick cooling action.
How to clean standing fans
- Unplug the fan for your safety.
- Remove the metal grille case on your fan carefully. There are usually buttons to push to release it, or a screw that secures the halves together.
- Wipe down the metal grille with a solution of mild dish soap and warm water.
- Detach the blades and soak them in a bucket of soapy water (or a water and vinegar mixture) for a few minutes.
- Rinse the blades off with clean water and ensure they have dried completely before reattaching to the fan.
- Wipe your fan, stand and base down with a microfiber cloth dipped in soapy water (You could use a mixture of water and vinegar in a 1:1 ratio to disinfect naturally as well).
- Let your fan air-dry for a while more before you turn it on again.
Tip: Prevent dust from building up on your fan with a subtle fan cover. Clean hard to reach nooks and crannies with a narrow vacuum attachment. It can also be a lazy method for cleaning if you’re not feeling up to dismantling the whole fan!
When to clean standing fans
Make it a point to clean your standing fan out once every few weeks to keep it functioning optimally. You can lightly dust off allergens with a fan cleaner scrub weekly also to reduce build up. A little effort will go a long way!
These fans tend to collect dust in their metal grille and blades. Keeping them clean will prevent dust pollutants from being circulated through the air, which may trigger allergies. Dust caught in its mechanisms can also cause your fan to malfunction.
Ceiling Fans
Image source: Singapore Ceiling Fan
Ceiling fans circulate conditioned air evenly and are great for improving airflow in a room to aid in evaporative cooling. As a plus point, they are also fairly simple to clean!
How to clean ceiling fans
Image source: Mr. Right Ideas!
- Use a ladder or chair to help you comfortably reach your fan’s blades.
- Slide a pillowcase over the blade and then pull towards you such that all the dust falls in the pillowcase, leaving you with no mess! (You can shake out the dust in a bin and turn the pillowcase inside-out for a wash in the washing machine.
- Turn the fan manually and repeat with each blade.
- Finally, give each blade a final wipe down with a damp microfiber cloth so any remaining dust particles will be picked up.
Tip: Whip up a DIY dust repellent spray by mixing water and liquid fabric softener in a 4:1 ratio. Spritz it on a microfiber cloth and wipe both sides of the fan blade to limit dust pickup. The fabric softener creates a thin barrier that limits static cling, which is what attracts dust.
When to clean ceiling fans
Besides circulating dust and allergens, a ceiling fan can become quite unsightly when dust starts to build up on the edge of its blades.
Try and set aside time to give it a good clean once every three months. If you find having to set up and climb up and down a ladder a huge hassle, why not consider investing in an extendable duster to save you the trouble!
Watch how our Extendable Cleaning Essentials work their way up those ceiling areas so you don’t have to climb up ladders.
Tower Fans
Image source: House Weather
Tower fans are a quiet and space-saving solution to sweltering heat. Better yet, keeping them clean is a simple and convenient process because unlike conventional fans, a tower fan should never be disassembled or opened. Doing so may in fact cause it damage!
How to clean tower fans
- Turn off your tower fan and unplug it from the socket.
- If your tower fan has a panel, unscrew and detach it.
- Remove dust from the grilles by vacuuming them with a brush attachment.
- Clean inner fan blades by sending quick blasts of air through the front of the fan with a can of compressed air.
- Finally, replace the panel if you’ve removed it, and give the exterior of your tower fan a good wipe with a soft, microfiber cloth.
When to clean tower fans
Maintain your tower fan by doing the above process every two to three weeks. But if you are faced with a lot of dust in your area, you should give your fan a clean twice a week.
An uncleaned fan can result in clogged filters and grilles that prevent the tower fan from running smoothly.
Bladeless Fans
Image source: Chicago Tribune
First developed by Toshiba in 1981, bladeless fans have been well-received for their sleekness and safety. Thanks to their bladeless design, they’re relatively easy to clean as well!
How to clean bladeless fans
For a bladeless fan, all you’ll want to do is unplug it, then use a dry or damp cloth to give the loop’s interior and exterior a good wipe. There’s no need for any detergents or polishes to be used.
Note: Never spray any liquid directly into the fan!
But if you really want to get into all the dirt lodged in the motor of your bladeless fan, consider using a vacuum to gently suck out dust from its ventilation pores as shown in the video below.
Also check out on StyleMag: Effective Cleaning Tips For 15 Areas Of Your Home
When to clean bladeless fans
Give your fan a wipedown whenever you see that dust has started to settle on the rims. Make an effort to clean your fan once every few weeks as well in order to prevent any dust from building up as well.
So now that you know all these tips and tricks, it’s time to get down to busting all that built up dust! We hope this guide has been informative and useful for you in keeping the dust bunnies away for good. Feel free to drop a comment down below on which appliance you’ll be giving a good clean next!
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