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How to Clean a Ceiling Fan

A ceiling fan can be a smart-looking, functional, and versatile addition to any room. It offers a cool breeze on a hot summer day and pushes warm air down during cold weather months (when run in reverse), all while serving as a stylish decorative home accent. However, just like any other appliance in your home, it can get quite dirty and dingy, which not only looks unattractive but can cause dust to circulate in the air, noisy operation, and even motor damage. Take the proactive approach to ceiling fan maintenance to ensure smooth and quiet operation for years to come.

How to Clean Ceiling Fan Blades

• Turn off the ceiling fan and make sure the blades come to a complete stop.
• Dust fan blades weekly with a soft, clean cloth or a specialized duster that simultaneously cleans the top and bottom of each fan blade.
• For a more thorough cleaning, place a sturdy step ladder beneath the fan and gently wipe each blade with a damp microfiber cloth, then follow with a clean, dry cloth.
• Using another clean, dry cloth, wipe down pull chains and the motor housing.
• Spray the motor housing with compressed air to remove any dust and debris.
• Do not use abrasive cleaners, toxic chemicals, alcohol, baby wipes, or alkaline cleaners as they can scratch, discolor, stain, and even destroy the fan blades.
• Once the blades are thoroughly cleaned, spray a clean microfiber cloth with anti-static, dust-repelling spray and wipe both sides of every blade. You also can make your own spray, mixing four parts water to one part fabric softener in a clean spray bottle.

How to Clean a Combo Ceiling Fan & Light Fixture

• With the fan and light turned off, remove the bulbs and glass shades by turning the mounting screws counter-clockwise.
• Fill the kitchen sink or a large basin with warm soapy water and let the glass shades soak, using a soft sponge to remove any stubborn dirt or dust. Rinse and dry thoroughly.
• Carefully inspect the rubberized gasket around the base of each shade and replace it if you see signs of wear or damage.
• Replace the glass shades carefully and tighten the mounting screws to avoid rattling and shaking during fan operation.
• Replace the lightbulbs, sit back, relax, and enjoy the gentle breeze of your ceiling fan.

Here’s something else a ceiling fan can do – help reduce heating and cooling costs. When running clockwise, the fan pulls cool air upwards to help lighten the load on your central AC system. The opposite is true in the winter when you reverse to push warm air back down to your living spaces.

At Messmer Mechanical, we can do even more to reduce your heating and cooling costs, and it all starts with annual system maintenance. So, if it’s been a year or longer since you had your heating or cooling system tuned up and inspected, contact us today for the prompt, reliable service.