Bathrooms are some of the most heavily used rooms in homes today. And located in most bathrooms exist one unsung hero: the exhaust fan. Bathrooms are subject to heat and moisture due to their nature on a very regular basis. These conditions are perfect for the growth and development of mold and mildew, especially if efforts are not made to dry the air. That is where your exhaust fan comes in. Through your exhaust fans moisture (and foul smells) are taken up and out of the home through an outside vent. This helps keep your bathroom dry.
But when was the last time that you noticed this little gadget, let alone cleaned it? If your exhaust fan is not cleaned regularly, this could impede its function and render it useless. Don’t let that happen to you! Here is how you can clean your bathroom exhaust fan this weekend.
Get Your Supplies Together
Before you get started, having all your supplies ready will help this task go by faster and smoother. Here is what you will need:
-Ladder
-Screwdriver
-Flashlight
-Microfiber cloth
-Bucket
-All-purpose cleaner
-Vacuum
Getting Started
To prevent electrical related accidents, be sure to switch the breaker connected to the exhaust fan to the off position.
If the outside of your fan is particularly dusty, take a moment to remove that dust first using your microfiber towel and all-purpose cleaner.
Once the outside housing is dusted, move on to remove the fan cover. Some models come off with a little bit of pressure, while others you will need a screwdriver to remove the plate.
Once the faceplate is removed, you can soak it in warm water and all-purpose cleaner while you dust the fan blades. This is only necessary if your first round of cleaning did not fully get the job done.
Using your hose attachment for your vacuum cleaner, remove the bulk of the dust on the fan blades. After that, you can use your microfiber cloth and all-purpose cleaner to remove the rest of the dust and dirt from the blades.
Once everything is clean and dry, reinstall the faceplate and turn the breaker back on. Before turning out the lights, do a test run to make sure the fan works smoothly.
And voila! This whole process should only take you half an hour. A small time investment that makes a big difference in the long run.
At SHI, we do all sorts of home maintenance. If you have called us out to snake your drains or remove the sediment in your water heater, we can dust your bathroom exhaust fan while we are at it! Don’t forget to ask about this service the time you call us out to your home.
By Strouse Home Inspections 2-16-2023
