Cleaning fans: some tips to remove dust and dirt without disassembling them
Sometimes there's nothing quite like using a fan to cool ourselves down - and it's certainly a lot less expensive than using the air conditioner (AC). However, care must be taken to properly maintain fans, which are used constantly for weeks or months on end in summer, and then almost always get stored away for the rest of the year.
Whilst in storage, fans get covered in dust, cobwebs and even pet hair. And if the environment is humid, dirt easily gets "baked on" and difficult to remove. Furthermore, their construction makes them difficult to clean properly and some models cannot be disassembled.
So how do you clean fans properly? There are several methods that we can use to remove dirt from fans without even having to disassemble them.
It is always best to do a thorough cleaning of fans before starting to use them, and it is advisable to dissassemble them to do so. But, as stated earlier, it is not always possible (or practical) to do this with certain models.
Don't worry, though: you don't have to breathe dust and dog hair! In fact, you can try out the cleaning methods described below:
If the dirt on the fan is dry and there are no sticky deposits, the cleaning method is really simple: if you have a garden and a leafblower, you just need to take your fan out and blow all the dust and dirt with this blower. If it's powerful enough, you shouldn't need to do anything else.
If you don't have a leafblower at your disposal, you can still easily clean the fan at home using a can of compressed air. These are readily available online and in most stores. Disconnect the fan from the power supply, and then just direct the nozzle of the can of compressed air over the various parts of the fan to dislodge dust and dirt.
A less effective method is to use a hair dryer: the jet of air is less concentrated and powerful, but it will remove most of the dust and dirt.
If you are doing this cleaning chore indoors, it's best to place a slightly moistened cloth (a dishcloth or an old towel) over the back of the fan so that all the dirt and dust that you blow away will be captured.
Ready to breathe clean air again?
