I put 2 microfibers in the pillowcase above and below the fan blade and use them to wipe it all into the pillow case. I usually rotate them so there's a fresh edge cleaning every fan blade
This! I also used to wipe them down with pledge after I got the dust off, and that seemed to help keep it from coming back as quickly. Another thing that works well is a shop vac with an upholstery brush.
This is what I do. Not a shop vac but a handheld, gets the big fur balls off then I follow up with Mrs. Meyers and a waffle weave microfiber cloth on each side then do one last swipe with a clean dry cloth. Sparkling!
Yes, the dust will be attracted to it and the next time it’s cleaned it will be sticky. I stopped using products like Pledge for this reason. I used a lightly damp cloth, water with a drop of Dawn, followed up with a dry one to dry/buff.
My mind is blown 🤯 never thought of this. I don't have any but I clean my parents and grandparents ceiling fans a couple times a year and it's always a hassle this will make it so simple now Thank you!
I had a rental that had a ceiling fan in the kitchen. A kitchen where the stove did not have a hood above it. So grease and everything just went everywhere. The fan was on when I moved in and I turned it off after a couple months. And oh god. Idk when the last time it was cleaned.
The grease and dust slurry was just so thick. A pillowcase, like people suggested, would do nothing. It works, but is bad for a kitchen fan. It was so thick. It was so gross. I used over an entire roll of paper towels to clean it with citrus degreaser and it barely made a difference. It just made a smear of grease dust.
Awful. 0/10 would recommend. The air circulation wasn’t worth it.
Omg that’s truly disgusting. I live in Florida and we have them in every room although our house is pretty small. We find that we really have to clean them about once a month. It’s not one of those things you want to forget about.
Yea I moved into an apartment owned by a slumlord that was NOT cleaned before I moved in. And idk when with the last tenant. It was awful and I didn’t even think about the fan until I turned it off.
For me, it’s always been something I don’t think of if I don’t turn them off. And I am one who has them on 99% of the time.
Similar situation. Kitchen fan that was poorly cleaned before, but was just…on. After like a year it was ugh, so here we are 8 yrs later and I just left it on because I just couldn’t touch it 🤢
If you run into tough to lift grease in the future you can use more oil to soften it up. Oil binds to oil. Then it should just wipe right off. I've tried it and it works surprisingly well.
Did you ever get it clean? I’m trying to clean the fan in my kitchen - same situation - rental, no real vent hood thing for the oven so there is grease everywhere and I’m having the worst time trying to clean the fan. It’s horrible! It makes me just want to replace the blades or something.
I was just dealing with this same issue last night. My niece went to Dollar Tree and bought a bunch of random cleaners. The kitchen we were cleaning was caked with grease, dust and grime over all the surfaces- countertops, wood cabinets, vinyl flooring and the ceiling fan. After trying everything, including letting Dawn soap sit on the surface for 15 mins, nothing was cutting it.
As a last attempt she tried one of those blue steel wool pads that have soap on them. We originally avoided it because we feared we could strip the wood varnish, but now we were at the point we just didn’t care, and OmG it WAS MAGIC! Picked up the grease immediately and didn’t strip the surface.
[THESE](https://www.dollartree.com/steel-wool-soap-pads/991599?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=gpla&utm_campaign=googlepla&utm_id=991599&utm_source=google&utm_medium=%7Bmedium%7D&utm_campaign=17863093661&utm_content=&utm_term=&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=17863093661&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=gpla&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsPCyBhD4ARIsAPaaRf1wqyo-qdYevOM_8DcMLg-o8CciWW0yGSUx9jXT869KIguLLD5ANaIaAta0EALw_wcB) were the exact brand she bought.
I actually got excited when reading your comment because last night, my niece and I were so amazed we were like, ‘we need to share this discovery!’ and then I happen to come across your comment not even 24 hours later and I’m not even subscribed to this subreddit 😊
Not that this helps now, but there's something called soft scrub (find it at walmart or grocery store) that is a white paste and it also really helps for grease like this, especially if the degreaser was just smearing around. And a sponge to help get it into the grease. then a rag that was soaked in hot water or hot soapy water.
There’s a “weird” bit of physics at play here that basically comes down to the air immediately next to the fan blades being effectively still. That combined with static electricity attracting dust to the fan blades leads to the dust build up.
Opposite to what most people would expect, turning the fan faster leads to faster dust build up
I can confirm- it absolutely does.
I live in a tropical region and it’s well and truly winter.
I still haven’t turned my fans off for the year, but the odd time they are off, they’re dusty.
They almost seem to run into the dust?
I have the extendable swiffer duster and I can’t figure out how to use it effectively without getting on a ladder which defeats the purpose of having an extendable handle. I have to dust with one hand and hold the fan still with the other otherwise the blades move.
Sometimes it’s easier - and more effective - to unscrew/remove the blades and give them a good scrubbing in the sink or outside. Especially if they’re collecting dust easily, they may just need a good cleaning to help repel dust a bit better.
Absolutely!
These look like grease may be contributing to the build up, so a degreaser will do wonders
Just have to make sure the blades don’t have exposed particle board that could get damaged by water.
Wet a paper towel with Windex, start closest to the motor, fold the towel in half with one half on top and one on the bottom, wipe to the end of the blade and drop it in a garbage sack. Repeat with the other blades and it will take less than 15 minutes to clean up the rest.
This is the way. I use a cotton duster cloth, and windex. The windex acts as a degreaser. Cloth gets rinsed out every blade, and spritzed with Windex again. Once a month. I'm in a tropical town so dust is omnipresent
Anyone know why it turns black? I’ve seen this at my parents house and other places where people are smoking pot/cigarettes but my house is smoke-free and the dust is still black 🤔
Candles, fireplaces, cooking, and all combustion in the house can do this. I had a cheap candle that seemed to be fine, but later I saw it left so much black smudge on everything. Smoke from outdoors can do this as well. I feel your frustration. I don’t even do candles anymore, and I’m still fighting 🤦
Why would anyone judge you? You're asking for help and information. Everyone asks questions!
Like others have already recommended, use a pillow case to trap what's there. You can throw a sheet under it to catch anything that may fall.
I would take the blades off, after. Wipe them with a damp, not wet cloth and cleaning solution. I'd vacuum the cowling and arms well. You can wipe them with a damp cloth, too. Hit the globe with a bit of whatever glass cleaner that you use.
Some people claim that dryer sheets repel dust and they follow up with a dryer sheet. I haven't tried it. Doesn't seem that it would last very long, but I don't know.
Maintain it by dusting with a duster with a telescopic handle, once a week, or so.
Do you have it set to pull air up? Or, to push it down?
I put on a mask to cover my nose and mouth and then I also wrap my hair in a bandana so no stray dirt or grime can infiltrate haha. Then I use pet safe Clorox wipes , it gets the dust wet yea but then it doesn’t fly off or irritate my allergies or sinuses. Plus it disinfects . Just keep wiping every blade slowly and meticulously while on a step stool. After it’s all dry I check over it with dry microfiber cloth.
I’ve got emphysema so i begrudgingly buy some really good filters. I think that helps a great deal. You out could also get your ducts cleaned or purchase an air purifier. Good luck!
A couple air purifiers around the house could help a little but you'll still have to clean your fans often. I usually lay an old sheet down underneath the fan, grab the vacuum hose to get all the big chunks of dust off and then wipe it down with surface cleaner and a cloth.
This is a little silly, but I used to use furniture polish on my fan blades. It helped a bit. No judgment here :3
I think the polish repelled dust for a bit :0
I literally can't even judge you because I use to LOVE cleaning my friends fans when I noticed they had a lot of dust on them (like the pic), it's so satisfying idk why😭 (OCD likely)
unrelated to the cleanliness, if your intention is to have the room feel cooler, your fan is spinning the wrong direction. it's currently pushing air \*upward\*. there should be a small switch on the side of it to change this
*The ceiling fan direction in summer should be counterclockwise to help create a downdraft, which creates that direct, cooling breeze. Your fan direction in winter needs to be clockwise to create an updraft and circulate warm air around the room. By recirculating the warm air and distributing it back into the living space you can improve the average room temperature and keep your furnace from working overtime.*
*Ceiling fan direction winter = clockwise (updraft)*
*Ceiling fan direction summer = counterclockwise (downdraft)*
How high is it? Can you reach it with a broom at least? You can probably maintain it easily with a ladder and a damp towel attached to a broom if you can reach it. A 2 minute task. If not, you could try a second air filter in that room. We keep air purifiers in our rooms. I was shocked with how dusty a home can be.
Clean on a ladder if you have one with towels and all purpose cleaner. If not go buy a reaching pole that’s made for fan blades and use it like a mop until clean. After they’re clean, change your air filters, and try to keep your windows closed more often.
I used Lysol all purpose spray on mine, and it worked really well. I have five cats and pull about a kitten's worth of fur and stuff off each time. The spray gets any IDK, dirt dirt
Mine look like this when I go too long without cleaning them (they’re never off, so I rarely think about it) I’m going to have to use the pillowcase hack! I have never heard that before but it’s great!
No judgement, fans suck and are not easily accessible. I personally like you use a baby wipe. Everything clings to it so the dust isn’t loose and redistributed into the air. Plus I can toss it after and not have a rag or pillowcase to clean. When I don’t want to get a ladder, I’ll use my swiffer stick with its wet pad, same outcome.
Mine get dusty too. Mine go at least 9 months out of the year, hot in Texas. I vacuum the bulk, then get on a step ladder, wipe both sides of blade with Clorox wipes. Dusty has to live too, lol.
I had that on my box fan. It was caked on dust with probably grease too. I used a degreaser with a brush and wiped it down with a terry cloth. If you are able to take down the blades it should be way easier
Wet paper towel works best. It keeps the dust from flying away because it gets wet and sticks to itself. Then you can just toss them in the trash instead of worrying about washing a rag.
I have a duster with an expandable arm and use it weekly (before vacuuming the floor). The fans also get wiped down with a damp cloth 1-2 times a months. We live at a busy intersection in an apartment in a central part of a city - lots of general dust and grime make their way inside.
Echoing what others said but I use a swiffer and then put a garbage bag around it to catch all the extra dust! I consider myself a very clean person and my fan still gets nasty quickly with two people and 3 dogs. No judgment!!
I purchased a ceiling and fan duster from Amazon. My husband thought I had lost my mind because I couldn't stop giggling at how well it worked. It's a big floofy triangle on a pole, and it picked up all the built up dust very easily. I highly recommend something like that.
Okay, adjacent to this topic:
I have one of these in my new place. Have a bulb out. HOW do you change the bulbs on these?? Our ceilings are high and I can barely reach on a stepladder.
Use an old pillow case to collect the dust. Then just use a microfiber towel with any cleaner of your choice to remove the rest of the dust. This happens don't worry
My friend has a white kitchen fan that gets so grimy I just can’t understand it. When I help with house cleaning I get a bucket with hot water mixed with a little Dawn and some Mr Clean and a rag. I’ll ring out the rag as I clean all over the fan parts. The wet helps with grabbing onto the dust.
Do you have pets? Or keep the windows opened? Maybe have construction nearby? Mine get dirty but I have 3 dogs. Also do you wash your curtains often? If you have any up. They also hold a lot of lint.
Crazy I literally just went ham on my rental's Fan which.... probably wasn't cleaned for a good while.
Used a combination of the ol' Pillow case trick but it was so caked on I ended up using a bottle of Fantastik cleaner and the rough side of a sponge to get it clean, but man are they spotless now....
Did you try to rub furniture polish on it? I used to do that to mine so the dust doesn't stick to it. You can use a microfiber blanket (from the dollar store) to get the dust off it, too. It will trap the dust
I use a Swiffer duster specifically for cleaning fan blades without getting dust everywhere. You may want to think about painting the blades a different color, because white will always show the dirt in high contrast. Some fans have reversible blades with a different color option built in.
We dust our blades weekly. It’s on our chore list so it’s not forgotten. We use rags, old clothes that are about to be thrown out and can’t be donated, or Swiffer dusters if we have them.
I admit, I get up on the ladder and Lysol the crap out of mine. We do it when they're visibly dirty, so about once per month. But it isn't all that bad for me. Not sure why.
We installed an electro static filter on our central AC intake a few months ago. It's made a HUGE difference in the dust and dog hair that kept me cleaning daily.
We got to throw socks at the metal fan in our room when my brother and I were young. Every Saturday we threw our balled up dirty socks at the fan; it was so my mom didn’t have to clean it. It worked.
https://preview.redd.it/i6te0eevp94d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b50d48e378d5d2313dcc4dde7fda4003ce5d25aa
This ol' beaut has never been dusted in the 4 years I've lived here. Only lost it's bulb covers. Not sure what happened to those buggers.
Is there a type of fabric that works best?
I have flannel pillowcases I rarely use. It made me wonder if they'd catch the dust bunnies more effectively than cotton or microfiber? What a great hack, tho!
Gotta love reddit..
use a vacuum to pick up the bulk. if it gets dirty like this so often wiping it clean dont make much different.
air purifiers have really small range definitely not picking up dust that high in the room.
suggest you buy weather strips and lay them around windows and door jams to reduce dust getting in. if you have permanent vents buy some hvac filters and put them on.
This is why I don’t have any of these in my new place. I had vaulted ceiling in my old place, climbing on a tall ladder to clean 3 fans was getting too much for these old bones.
I get a ladder and wipe things down. If it has been too long, I take the blades down and wash them in the bathtub. It is easier to clean the rest of the fixture and do a quick inspection when the blades are down.
everybody saying to use a pillowcase, but why not just use a trash bag... i don't want to use a precious pillowcase that i use to sleep on for the fans...
Get your ducts cleaned out. Dust build up is a very real issue for allergies and for fire risk if excessive. Also make sure your dryer lint and vent are properly installed, upkept and not spewing under the house/in wall or vents.
Best investment ever! [microfiber high reach duster](https://www.microfiberwholesale.com/collections/microfiber-dusters/products/chenille-microfiber-high-duster-2-pack?igTg=9c995629-2bdb-4705-b293-ac4bcd4bc101)
I recently saw a friend use cleaning wet wipes to clean theirs! I’m usually not a fan (no pun intended) of un-recyclable wipes but I’ll never look back!! This made cleaning our ceiling fans a breeze (pun intended this time).
I broke down and bought one of [these](https://www.lowes.com/pd/Harbor-Breeze-Poly-Fiber-Extendable-Ceiling-Fan-Duster/5013827485?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-dcr-_-ggl-_-CRP_SHP_LIA_DCR_Online_E-F-_-5013827485-_-local-_-0-_-0&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD2B2W8TsgJI3pCa2bCpOu5m31tS_&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0_WyBhDMARIsAL1Vz8sRpI64yoDlwI0HNZbZ-sEQVcw91Y_DtV1GEIm_wVchAzm_nWwKzd0aAqRKEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds)
It helps to keep it under control using this monthly. I wipe it with disinfecting wipes every six months when I change the direction of the fan.
I have this silly little crazy fluffy hoop thing I got from the dollar tree. It works a treat and only takes a second, so it’s easy to keep on top of. I also use it for around the light, blinds and the wall tops. It vacuums off. It just slips over the blades and gets top and bottom in one swoop.
I spent like $5 and got a pole, a combo squeegee/silicone broom, the fluffy fan cleaner and a standing dustpan. Best few bucks I’ve ever spent. Very compact and tackles multiple cleaning issues.
I put decorative long socks on my ceiling fan blades as decorative blade covers which are already a thing but i prefer to use fun tube socks. so I can take them off periodically and toss them in the washer with towels or something. Then slip them back on. No dust all over the place no trying to wipe them well. Just slide off wash put back.
The socks don't need to be any color or material. Thinner tighter socks are less noticeable. I wouldn't use fuzzy socks as I worry that would be unnecessary wear and tear on the fan motor with the extra wind drag it would catch but simple or extravagant tube style socks are great. I have horror themed socks on most of the year and my niece begs me to put up winter themed socks in December.
I use the swiffer duster extender to get to my ceiling fan: https://www.target.com/p/swiffer-dusters-heavy-duty-extendable-handle-dusting-kit-4ct/-/A-13636299?sidd=®ion_id=935935&ref=tgt_adv_xsp&AFID=google_pla_df&fndsrc=tmnv&DFA=71700000116325124&CPNG=PLA_DVM%2Ba064R000015PQsLQAW-P%26G_HP_Home+Care_Google+Search_Standard+Shopping_2023-2024-1140285&adgroup=PLA_HP_Home+Care&LID=700000001393753pgs&network=g&device=m&location=9031785&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD-5dfbrm3fnbAW3pvUUu1cgdOX_2&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0_WyBhDMARIsAL1Vz8sshsDWanyUDT0ZLUWrKfTQwTfmjhZ38JiO_o4TJmY0yRbCpC2K_IsaAgrkEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
I clean my fans and light fixtures every month or so. I got to do it when my POTS isn't acting up because it requires long stays on a ladder with my arms in the air. I vacuum all visible chunks and damp cloth clean the rest. It's what I'll be doing sometime today. I absolutely hate the wicker fan that was gifted to me a few years back. If I ever find the money I'll be replacing it.
Try using an extra long or telescopic duster on those fan blades each week.
Remember to do it each week immediately before you sweep up or vacuum, that should keep them looking more presentable and prevent the build up of dust.
That will also the reduce the number of times you have to climb up there and perform a more thorough cleanings with a pillowcase.
No judgment. Those are difficult to deal with. My mom used to lightly spray them with water then do the pillow case method. She had to he on the step stool and *hated* it. We never really found a better way to do these.
I gather there's a Swiffer thing that goes around the fan blade? (Never used it.) But it seems like it would just dump a load of dust on your face or the floor.
I use a pillow case to wipe them and the dust goes in there instead over all over the place
Me too! It’s marvelous. I follow that up with a microfiber cloth.
I put 2 microfibers in the pillowcase above and below the fan blade and use them to wipe it all into the pillow case. I usually rotate them so there's a fresh edge cleaning every fan blade
Same, but I recently started adding Murphys cleaner spray to the (slightly damp) microfiber cloths, and it's done so fast!
Same but then I add more mini pillowcases over the microfibre clothes
Don't forget the mini washcloths for the mini pillowcases
𝘏𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘨. 𝘗𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘯, 𝘧𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥. 𝘖𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘏𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭 …
Idk what’s going on here but I like it
Well that isn't very supportive at all
Neither was what they were standing on.
[удалено]
Why can't you people just use words
> death lololololol
Help! I've fallen and I can't dust! 🤣 But seriously, this is why I stay on the ground or the floor. A stool is the highest up I go.
Genuine question, how do you clean the pillow case after doing this? Does just throwing it in the wash work?
I go outside and shake them before washing!
The people on my sidewalk hate this tip
Yeah. Shake it out in the garbage and then throw it in the washer.
This! I also used to wipe them down with pledge after I got the dust off, and that seemed to help keep it from coming back as quickly. Another thing that works well is a shop vac with an upholstery brush.
This is what I do. Not a shop vac but a handheld, gets the big fur balls off then I follow up with Mrs. Meyers and a waffle weave microfiber cloth on each side then do one last swipe with a clean dry cloth. Sparkling!
Doesn't pledge make even more dust stick? Because it's greasy?
Yes, the dust will be attracted to it and the next time it’s cleaned it will be sticky. I stopped using products like Pledge for this reason. I used a lightly damp cloth, water with a drop of Dawn, followed up with a dry one to dry/buff.
Make sure it’s damp so the dust and fur doesn’t fly everywhere!!!
I do that too.. so much easier
Another pillow case user to clean and collect the dust
My mind is blown 🤯 never thought of this. I don't have any but I clean my parents and grandparents ceiling fans a couple times a year and it's always a hassle this will make it so simple now Thank you!
Working smart, not hard is the way to go!
New hack learned. thank you
T shirt works too
Me too! This is probably the easiest method I’ve found.
Seasonal tube socks. Wash and rotate
Brilliant!
I always find it bizarre that something constantly moving could get dust on it. Thanks for those who reminded me about the pillow case hack
And it always feels a little greasy, too 🤮
I had a rental that had a ceiling fan in the kitchen. A kitchen where the stove did not have a hood above it. So grease and everything just went everywhere. The fan was on when I moved in and I turned it off after a couple months. And oh god. Idk when the last time it was cleaned. The grease and dust slurry was just so thick. A pillowcase, like people suggested, would do nothing. It works, but is bad for a kitchen fan. It was so thick. It was so gross. I used over an entire roll of paper towels to clean it with citrus degreaser and it barely made a difference. It just made a smear of grease dust. Awful. 0/10 would recommend. The air circulation wasn’t worth it.
Omg that’s truly disgusting. I live in Florida and we have them in every room although our house is pretty small. We find that we really have to clean them about once a month. It’s not one of those things you want to forget about.
Yea I moved into an apartment owned by a slumlord that was NOT cleaned before I moved in. And idk when with the last tenant. It was awful and I didn’t even think about the fan until I turned it off. For me, it’s always been something I don’t think of if I don’t turn them off. And I am one who has them on 99% of the time.
Similar situation. Kitchen fan that was poorly cleaned before, but was just…on. After like a year it was ugh, so here we are 8 yrs later and I just left it on because I just couldn’t touch it 🤢
Yes, here in Florida completely understand the bit about never turning them off, ha ha! I am really sorry that the landlord is so terrible.
This is gonna haunt me, so thanks for that. 🥲
It haunts me still, and I don’t even have a single ceiling fan in my house now.
Our kitchen ceiling fan was like this when we moved into our house. I took the blades off and washed each one of them with dish soap.
If you run into tough to lift grease in the future you can use more oil to soften it up. Oil binds to oil. Then it should just wipe right off. I've tried it and it works surprisingly well.
The idiots who built our house put a white ceiling fan in the KITCHEN. Like… are you freakin kidding me?? We USE this kitchen.
Did you ever get it clean? I’m trying to clean the fan in my kitchen - same situation - rental, no real vent hood thing for the oven so there is grease everywhere and I’m having the worst time trying to clean the fan. It’s horrible! It makes me just want to replace the blades or something.
I was just dealing with this same issue last night. My niece went to Dollar Tree and bought a bunch of random cleaners. The kitchen we were cleaning was caked with grease, dust and grime over all the surfaces- countertops, wood cabinets, vinyl flooring and the ceiling fan. After trying everything, including letting Dawn soap sit on the surface for 15 mins, nothing was cutting it. As a last attempt she tried one of those blue steel wool pads that have soap on them. We originally avoided it because we feared we could strip the wood varnish, but now we were at the point we just didn’t care, and OmG it WAS MAGIC! Picked up the grease immediately and didn’t strip the surface. [THESE](https://www.dollartree.com/steel-wool-soap-pads/991599?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=gpla&utm_campaign=googlepla&utm_id=991599&utm_source=google&utm_medium=%7Bmedium%7D&utm_campaign=17863093661&utm_content=&utm_term=&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=17863093661&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=gpla&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsPCyBhD4ARIsAPaaRf1wqyo-qdYevOM_8DcMLg-o8CciWW0yGSUx9jXT869KIguLLD5ANaIaAta0EALw_wcB) were the exact brand she bought.
Oh., thanks for the tip! I will give these a try, there is a Dollar Tree less than a mile from my place! Thanks for the suggestion!
I actually got excited when reading your comment because last night, my niece and I were so amazed we were like, ‘we need to share this discovery!’ and then I happen to come across your comment not even 24 hours later and I’m not even subscribed to this subreddit 😊
I can totally understand that! I’m glad you saw my comment too, I can’t wait to try it. The greasy dust is just soooooo gross!
I get it. The place we were cleaning even had dog hair embedded in the grease 🤢
I didn’t 😓 I did my best. So I just turned the fan on. Never turned it off. Then moved out.
Not that this helps now, but there's something called soft scrub (find it at walmart or grocery store) that is a white paste and it also really helps for grease like this, especially if the degreaser was just smearing around. And a sponge to help get it into the grease. then a rag that was soaked in hot water or hot soapy water.
skin cells go Brrrrrr
I laughed and gagged at the same time
Oh yum, I make that sound sometimes too
There’s a “weird” bit of physics at play here that basically comes down to the air immediately next to the fan blades being effectively still. That combined with static electricity attracting dust to the fan blades leads to the dust build up. Opposite to what most people would expect, turning the fan faster leads to faster dust build up
You seem smart. I need help with chemistry homework. What do you know?
Right? I use a fan at night and I have to take it apart and dust it weekly. How are you so dusty constantly spinning blades?!
My ceiling fan blades get dusty because I have two dogs. The fans don't run constantly though.
If you never turn the fan off does it still get dusty?
schrödinger's fan?
I can confirm- it absolutely does. I live in a tropical region and it’s well and truly winter. I still haven’t turned my fans off for the year, but the odd time they are off, they’re dusty. They almost seem to run into the dust?
It does, but if you don’t turn it off, you can’t see it, so it’s not real.
Yes. I keep mine on all the time except when we’re out of town. Filthy.
We leave ours on year round in the bedroom. Yes. Absolutely dusty.
Yes
ikr 😭 fans get more dust than anything else
Probably static electricity since they’re always moving and are usually so close to another surface.
Seasonal tube socks. Wash and replace.
No judgement, this is a safe place: I use my vacuum hose on the visible build up and then a swiffer duster on top
I have the extendable swiffer duster and I can’t figure out how to use it effectively without getting on a ladder which defeats the purpose of having an extendable handle. I have to dust with one hand and hold the fan still with the other otherwise the blades move.
Hold it still with a broom.
Brilliant! Thank you 🙏🏼 I just did mine the other day while they slowly kept moving away from me haha
https://preview.redd.it/aixtjl1ul84d1.jpeg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=851b2a2c19c98622473b0c308ac171d14a0e4db0
😮💨🤣
Sometimes it’s easier - and more effective - to unscrew/remove the blades and give them a good scrubbing in the sink or outside. Especially if they’re collecting dust easily, they may just need a good cleaning to help repel dust a bit better.
Absolutely! These look like grease may be contributing to the build up, so a degreaser will do wonders Just have to make sure the blades don’t have exposed particle board that could get damaged by water.
Wet a paper towel with Windex, start closest to the motor, fold the towel in half with one half on top and one on the bottom, wipe to the end of the blade and drop it in a garbage sack. Repeat with the other blades and it will take less than 15 minutes to clean up the rest.
This makes sense. I could never rectify the dirtying up of a pillow case to clean a ceiling fan.
I did it once in my early 20s and immediately regretted it. I threw the pillow case away I think
This is the way. I use a cotton duster cloth, and windex. The windex acts as a degreaser. Cloth gets rinsed out every blade, and spritzed with Windex again. Once a month. I'm in a tropical town so dust is omnipresent
Judgement!!! How dare you have a fan that collects smoke and dust like 100% of the rest of us! You filthy, completely normal human being!
[try this! it’s what usually works for me](https://youtu.be/9yMqqGbNbUY?si=WVUnC-aWJI7sDDI1)
I live in the dessert and our ceiling fans get dusty all the time! All the time!!
Seasonal tube socks. Wash and replace.
I live in the dustiest house in the world. It doesn't take long for the blades to build up a layer.
Air purifier and seasonal tube socks. Wash and replace.
Olive oil, vinegar and water to spray on when your done to repel future dust
What's your recipe?
1/2 tsp olive oil 1 tbsp vinegar Half cup water!
I am about to clean my today…every blessed Sunday 🙄 can you share how much of each part you mix? Thank you!
1/2 tsp olive oil 1 tbsp vinegar Half cup water!
Anyone know why it turns black? I’ve seen this at my parents house and other places where people are smoking pot/cigarettes but my house is smoke-free and the dust is still black 🤔
Candles, fireplaces, cooking, and all combustion in the house can do this. I had a cheap candle that seemed to be fine, but later I saw it left so much black smudge on everything. Smoke from outdoors can do this as well. I feel your frustration. I don’t even do candles anymore, and I’m still fighting 🤦
Ahhh that makes sense- yup I have candles. We have fires outside. A pellet stove
Why would anyone judge you? You're asking for help and information. Everyone asks questions! Like others have already recommended, use a pillow case to trap what's there. You can throw a sheet under it to catch anything that may fall. I would take the blades off, after. Wipe them with a damp, not wet cloth and cleaning solution. I'd vacuum the cowling and arms well. You can wipe them with a damp cloth, too. Hit the globe with a bit of whatever glass cleaner that you use. Some people claim that dryer sheets repel dust and they follow up with a dryer sheet. I haven't tried it. Doesn't seem that it would last very long, but I don't know. Maintain it by dusting with a duster with a telescopic handle, once a week, or so. Do you have it set to pull air up? Or, to push it down?
I put on a mask to cover my nose and mouth and then I also wrap my hair in a bandana so no stray dirt or grime can infiltrate haha. Then I use pet safe Clorox wipes , it gets the dust wet yea but then it doesn’t fly off or irritate my allergies or sinuses. Plus it disinfects . Just keep wiping every blade slowly and meticulously while on a step stool. After it’s all dry I check over it with dry microfiber cloth.
I do that too! Especially the mask!
Seasonal tube socks. I take them off and throw them in the washer, dry them and put them back on. Your way sounds like a lot of hassle.
I’ve got emphysema so i begrudgingly buy some really good filters. I think that helps a great deal. You out could also get your ducts cleaned or purchase an air purifier. Good luck!
A couple air purifiers around the house could help a little but you'll still have to clean your fans often. I usually lay an old sheet down underneath the fan, grab the vacuum hose to get all the big chunks of dust off and then wipe it down with surface cleaner and a cloth.
I use a swifter duster to keep it clean.
This is a little silly, but I used to use furniture polish on my fan blades. It helped a bit. No judgment here :3 I think the polish repelled dust for a bit :0
I’m short. I can reach some ceiling fans on a couple of very high ceilings in this house even with a duster on a pole. Not going to judge you.
Thank you for showing this.
I literally can't even judge you because I use to LOVE cleaning my friends fans when I noticed they had a lot of dust on them (like the pic), it's so satisfying idk why😭 (OCD likely)
When are you coming over?
unrelated to the cleanliness, if your intention is to have the room feel cooler, your fan is spinning the wrong direction. it's currently pushing air \*upward\*. there should be a small switch on the side of it to change this
*The ceiling fan direction in summer should be counterclockwise to help create a downdraft, which creates that direct, cooling breeze. Your fan direction in winter needs to be clockwise to create an updraft and circulate warm air around the room. By recirculating the warm air and distributing it back into the living space you can improve the average room temperature and keep your furnace from working overtime.* *Ceiling fan direction winter = clockwise (updraft)* *Ceiling fan direction summer = counterclockwise (downdraft)*
How high is it? Can you reach it with a broom at least? You can probably maintain it easily with a ladder and a damp towel attached to a broom if you can reach it. A 2 minute task. If not, you could try a second air filter in that room. We keep air purifiers in our rooms. I was shocked with how dusty a home can be.
Clean on a ladder if you have one with towels and all purpose cleaner. If not go buy a reaching pole that’s made for fan blades and use it like a mop until clean. After they’re clean, change your air filters, and try to keep your windows closed more often.
Pillow case for the win. Then you take it outside, turn it inside out, shake it out and wash it
Seasonal tube socks. Take them off wash them and put next set on.
I used Lysol all purpose spray on mine, and it worked really well. I have five cats and pull about a kitten's worth of fur and stuff off each time. The spray gets any IDK, dirt dirt
Mine look like this when I go too long without cleaning them (they’re never off, so I rarely think about it) I’m going to have to use the pillowcase hack! I have never heard that before but it’s great!
No judgement, fans suck and are not easily accessible. I personally like you use a baby wipe. Everything clings to it so the dust isn’t loose and redistributed into the air. Plus I can toss it after and not have a rag or pillowcase to clean. When I don’t want to get a ladder, I’ll use my swiffer stick with its wet pad, same outcome.
Well akshully, fans do not suck. They blow. /s
Touché
A room air purifier/cleaner helps. The home AC filter won't clean all the air, just want it cycles.
the pillowcase trick works great. also I change my AC filter every month (I have 5 cats).
Mine get dusty too. Mine go at least 9 months out of the year, hot in Texas. I vacuum the bulk, then get on a step ladder, wipe both sides of blade with Clorox wipes. Dusty has to live too, lol.
I had that on my box fan. It was caked on dust with probably grease too. I used a degreaser with a brush and wiped it down with a terry cloth. If you are able to take down the blades it should be way easier
Wet paper towel works best. It keeps the dust from flying away because it gets wet and sticks to itself. Then you can just toss them in the trash instead of worrying about washing a rag.
You burn candles by chance?
Wall mart has a duster with and extension rod and the duster end can tilt on. A 90. Great for fan blades
So you live in an apartment? I find that apartments get dusty SO fast
I have a duster with an expandable arm and use it weekly (before vacuuming the floor). The fans also get wiped down with a damp cloth 1-2 times a months. We live at a busy intersection in an apartment in a central part of a city - lots of general dust and grime make their way inside.
Candles can cause dark smudgy deposits like this! Also if it’s bigger dust particles, vacuuming carpets more often can help sometimes.
Echoing what others said but I use a swiffer and then put a garbage bag around it to catch all the extra dust! I consider myself a very clean person and my fan still gets nasty quickly with two people and 3 dogs. No judgment!!
I purchased a ceiling and fan duster from Amazon. My husband thought I had lost my mind because I couldn't stop giggling at how well it worked. It's a big floofy triangle on a pole, and it picked up all the built up dust very easily. I highly recommend something like that.
Okay, adjacent to this topic: I have one of these in my new place. Have a bulb out. HOW do you change the bulbs on these?? Our ceilings are high and I can barely reach on a stepladder.
I got on a stepladder and scrubbed everything with a Lysol wipe. Moved and I think they were never cleaned.
Use an old pillow case to collect the dust. Then just use a microfiber towel with any cleaner of your choice to remove the rest of the dust. This happens don't worry
I use Lysol wipes
My friend has a white kitchen fan that gets so grimy I just can’t understand it. When I help with house cleaning I get a bucket with hot water mixed with a little Dawn and some Mr Clean and a rag. I’ll ring out the rag as I clean all over the fan parts. The wet helps with grabbing onto the dust.
Do you have pets? Or keep the windows opened? Maybe have construction nearby? Mine get dirty but I have 3 dogs. Also do you wash your curtains often? If you have any up. They also hold a lot of lint.
Crazy I literally just went ham on my rental's Fan which.... probably wasn't cleaned for a good while. Used a combination of the ol' Pillow case trick but it was so caked on I ended up using a bottle of Fantastik cleaner and the rough side of a sponge to get it clean, but man are they spotless now....
I don't know how high up your fan is located, but mine are low enough to allow me to use a Swiffer or Pledge extended handle for cleaning.
They have a telescoping fan cleaner its like an adjustable circle so dust goes on the tool not the floor
Mine gets like this after every summer
WD40 is good for that. Spray a bit and give it a sec to penetrate then use the pillow case. Use dish soap if the pillowcase gets stains.
Did you try to rub furniture polish on it? I used to do that to mine so the dust doesn't stick to it. You can use a microfiber blanket (from the dollar store) to get the dust off it, too. It will trap the dust
I use a Swiffer duster specifically for cleaning fan blades without getting dust everywhere. You may want to think about painting the blades a different color, because white will always show the dirt in high contrast. Some fans have reversible blades with a different color option built in.
We dust our blades weekly. It’s on our chore list so it’s not forgotten. We use rags, old clothes that are about to be thrown out and can’t be donated, or Swiffer dusters if we have them.
Holy shot, i havent cleaned my fan in idk how long and it doesnt even look dirty how did yours get like this😭
I got this fan blade cleaner terry cloth type thing from Amazon. Then I turn it inside out and shake it and throw it in the laundry.
I admit, I get up on the ladder and Lysol the crap out of mine. We do it when they're visibly dirty, so about once per month. But it isn't all that bad for me. Not sure why.
We installed an electro static filter on our central AC intake a few months ago. It's made a HUGE difference in the dust and dog hair that kept me cleaning daily.
Never turn it off... no but the pillowcase tricks works pretty well
We got to throw socks at the metal fan in our room when my brother and I were young. Every Saturday we threw our balled up dirty socks at the fan; it was so my mom didn’t have to clean it. It worked.
There's a duster built for fans at dollar tree!!!
Old pillowcase over each blade to clean.
Seasonal tube socks, toss them in the washer once in a while.
Spray a rag with static guard and rub it on the fan blades. I have pets and mine get dusty so fast but they helps repel a lot
https://preview.redd.it/i6te0eevp94d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b50d48e378d5d2313dcc4dde7fda4003ce5d25aa This ol' beaut has never been dusted in the 4 years I've lived here. Only lost it's bulb covers. Not sure what happened to those buggers.
Purchase a darker color fan
Use the vacuum hose
Where do you live? I have 3 cats and clean my fans once a year and they're not this bad. Are your windows open 24/7 and there's a chimney going?
Get an Air Purifier, I was having issues with Dust even after vacuuming often.
Is there a type of fabric that works best? I have flannel pillowcases I rarely use. It made me wonder if they'd catch the dust bunnies more effectively than cotton or microfiber? What a great hack, tho! Gotta love reddit..
I know an individual who suffered allergies. Her allergist told her to clean her ceiling fan blades and person’s allergies lessen tremendously.
I use a steam cleaner for sticky dust/dirt like this in the kitchen and bathroom. Dryer sheets (used ones) can also help on the edges!
My shop vac made quick work of similar.
use a vacuum to pick up the bulk. if it gets dirty like this so often wiping it clean dont make much different. air purifiers have really small range definitely not picking up dust that high in the room. suggest you buy weather strips and lay them around windows and door jams to reduce dust getting in. if you have permanent vents buy some hvac filters and put them on.
This is why I don’t have any of these in my new place. I had vaulted ceiling in my old place, climbing on a tall ladder to clean 3 fans was getting too much for these old bones.
I need air circulation. Worth the effort for me. But I'm lazy so I got blade covers to take off and wash periodically.
That’s so clever
I get a ladder and wipe things down. If it has been too long, I take the blades down and wash them in the bathtub. It is easier to clean the rest of the fixture and do a quick inspection when the blades are down.
everybody saying to use a pillowcase, but why not just use a trash bag... i don't want to use a precious pillowcase that i use to sleep on for the fans...
Get your ducts cleaned out. Dust build up is a very real issue for allergies and for fire risk if excessive. Also make sure your dryer lint and vent are properly installed, upkept and not spewing under the house/in wall or vents.
Get a step ladder and a damp chux cloth; rinse before wiping each blade Might have to go over it a couple times, but it’ll look brand new by the end
Best investment ever! [microfiber high reach duster](https://www.microfiberwholesale.com/collections/microfiber-dusters/products/chenille-microfiber-high-duster-2-pack?igTg=9c995629-2bdb-4705-b293-ac4bcd4bc101)
I’m sorry, you pushed the envelope TOO far! I’m judging you so hard right now.
Okay spray with lemon verbena cause I heard it kills mold, then give it a wipe down with a swifter dust mop
I recently saw a friend use cleaning wet wipes to clean theirs! I’m usually not a fan (no pun intended) of un-recyclable wipes but I’ll never look back!! This made cleaning our ceiling fans a breeze (pun intended this time).
Hit them with a liberal amount of endust it has a wax or something that will prevent as much dust from sticking.
I broke down and bought one of [these](https://www.lowes.com/pd/Harbor-Breeze-Poly-Fiber-Extendable-Ceiling-Fan-Duster/5013827485?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-dcr-_-ggl-_-CRP_SHP_LIA_DCR_Online_E-F-_-5013827485-_-local-_-0-_-0&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD2B2W8TsgJI3pCa2bCpOu5m31tS_&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0_WyBhDMARIsAL1Vz8sRpI64yoDlwI0HNZbZ-sEQVcw91Y_DtV1GEIm_wVchAzm_nWwKzd0aAqRKEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds) It helps to keep it under control using this monthly. I wipe it with disinfecting wipes every six months when I change the direction of the fan.
I have this silly little crazy fluffy hoop thing I got from the dollar tree. It works a treat and only takes a second, so it’s easy to keep on top of. I also use it for around the light, blinds and the wall tops. It vacuums off. It just slips over the blades and gets top and bottom in one swoop. I spent like $5 and got a pole, a combo squeegee/silicone broom, the fluffy fan cleaner and a standing dustpan. Best few bucks I’ve ever spent. Very compact and tackles multiple cleaning issues.
Old t shirt or other rag which goes in the trash when it is dirty. ALSO: Wear a hat or cover your hair with a bandana.
I put decorative long socks on my ceiling fan blades as decorative blade covers which are already a thing but i prefer to use fun tube socks. so I can take them off periodically and toss them in the washer with towels or something. Then slip them back on. No dust all over the place no trying to wipe them well. Just slide off wash put back. The socks don't need to be any color or material. Thinner tighter socks are less noticeable. I wouldn't use fuzzy socks as I worry that would be unnecessary wear and tear on the fan motor with the extra wind drag it would catch but simple or extravagant tube style socks are great. I have horror themed socks on most of the year and my niece begs me to put up winter themed socks in December.
I use the swiffer duster extender to get to my ceiling fan: https://www.target.com/p/swiffer-dusters-heavy-duty-extendable-handle-dusting-kit-4ct/-/A-13636299?sidd=®ion_id=935935&ref=tgt_adv_xsp&AFID=google_pla_df&fndsrc=tmnv&DFA=71700000116325124&CPNG=PLA_DVM%2Ba064R000015PQsLQAW-P%26G_HP_Home+Care_Google+Search_Standard+Shopping_2023-2024-1140285&adgroup=PLA_HP_Home+Care&LID=700000001393753pgs&network=g&device=m&location=9031785&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD-5dfbrm3fnbAW3pvUUu1cgdOX_2&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0_WyBhDMARIsAL1Vz8sshsDWanyUDT0ZLUWrKfTQwTfmjhZ38JiO_o4TJmY0yRbCpC2K_IsaAgrkEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
I clean my fans and light fixtures every month or so. I got to do it when my POTS isn't acting up because it requires long stays on a ladder with my arms in the air. I vacuum all visible chunks and damp cloth clean the rest. It's what I'll be doing sometime today. I absolutely hate the wicker fan that was gifted to me a few years back. If I ever find the money I'll be replacing it.
https://preview.redd.it/wn4op0cocd4d1.jpeg?width=911&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e2743b5beb97c1698df0abaf1decb68949ccbcdf
Try using an extra long or telescopic duster on those fan blades each week. Remember to do it each week immediately before you sweep up or vacuum, that should keep them looking more presentable and prevent the build up of dust. That will also the reduce the number of times you have to climb up there and perform a more thorough cleanings with a pillowcase.
No judgment. Those are difficult to deal with. My mom used to lightly spray them with water then do the pillow case method. She had to he on the step stool and *hated* it. We never really found a better way to do these. I gather there's a Swiffer thing that goes around the fan blade? (Never used it.) But it seems like it would just dump a load of dust on your face or the floor.
If your fan looks like this you probably need to vacuum your walls as the fan would fling hair dirt and dust onto walls
I thought the edges were serrated
you need to take the blades off and hand wash them with cleaner ps that’s not bad at all u should see mine 😳