Why Fans Get So Dusty
A ceiling fan works hard in a Florida house. The front edge of each blade catches dust as it spins, and because the blades sit above eye level, nobody notices until the fan starts throwing it around the room.
Fans are one of the things customers point out after we leave. In Rita's words: “They got my baseboards, they got my fans, they got places I didn't even know existed.”
How to Clean a Ceiling Fan, Step by Step
- Turn it off and let it stop. Use a sturdy step stool, not a chair.
- Use an old pillowcase. Slide it over one blade and pull it back slowly. The dust stays inside the case instead of falling on the bed or couch.
- Wipe each blade with a damp cloth. Get the top, the bottom and the front edge. Dry each blade so it does not leave a film.
- Do the housing and the light. Wipe the motor housing and the downrod. If the fan has a light, wipe the glass with the bulb cool.
- Then do the floors. Some dust always gets away, so clean the fan first and vacuum after.
How Fans Fit Into Each Clean
- Standard clean: ceiling fans and light fixtures dusted.
- Spring clean: ceiling fan blades and housing wiped, and light fixtures and covers cleaned.
- Move-out clean: ceiling fan blades wiped as part of the landlord-ready checklist.
If yours have not been touched in a while, a spring clean or a deep clean is the place to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do house cleaners clean ceiling fans?
We do. Ceiling fans and light fixtures are dusted on a standard clean, and the blades and housing are wiped on a spring clean. On a move-out clean, the fan blades are wiped too.
Should I clean the fan before or after the floors?
Before. Dust falls when you clean a fan, so always work from the top of the room down and do the floors last.
