How to Clean a Portable Fan
This is my seventh summer without air conditioning, so I consider myself an expert on household fans . To be clear, I do this by choice: I don’t like cold air conditioning enough to really need it. My little fans are enough for me and I’m happy. That is, as long as they are clean. Dusty and dirty fans are rough and less efficient. To get the full potential of your fan, you’ll need to clean this bad boy, and with the hottest months yet to come, you’ll need to do it immediately.
How to Clean a Box or Table Fan
First turn off the fan. Now examine it. Is the front panel removable and are the screws visible? Use a screwdriver to remove the front and back plates. Use a vacuum cleaner with a hose to suck the dust off them, and then wash them with soapy water. Any dish soap will do . If there are a lot of grates or lots of tiny holes that would be a pain to stick a sponge into, fall back on the handy old trick of just tossing them in a bath of soapy water. Bonus points if you want to make the oven racks at the same time .
If you manage to detach the blades, throw them into the foam too. If you can’t find the owner’s manual or don’t know how to remove it (or at all), just use a soapy sponge. My rule of thumb is that I only detach things that I am absolutely sure I can attach back. It’s supposed to make your life better, not stress you out or force you to find a new fan.
Use soapy water to clean the inside of the fan housing, as well as the outside and cord, but never touch the electrical components. Air dry any loose parts by placing them on a towel and use another dry towel to thoroughly dry the machine itself. Do not attach anything until everything is completely dry.
If you can’t (or don’t want to) take the beast apart, still use a vacuum hose to suck dirt out of any grates, especially in the back where it gets clogged. A hose attachment with brush works great for this. Wipe it with a soapy sponge and dry it thoroughly with a towel, then let it air dry for a day or so before plugging it back in.
How to Clean a Tower Fan
A tower fan is not that easy to disassemble, and you probably won’t even be able to do it, so we’re not going to discuss that here. Instead, here’s what you can do: With it unplugged, use a vacuum brush attachment to suck out any dirt you see on the back.
You can also try blowing it out. First, you can use some compressed air that you use to clean your computer keyboard. If you don’t have a can, you can also try using a hair dryer, as you would when cleaning a radiator . In my experience, tower fans get quite dusty there, so you might want to put an old sheet or grocery bags down there to catch the dust bunnies that fly out.
Then wipe the vents with a microfiber cloth. You want it to be dry; if you use a wet one, water may get in there and you won’t be able to dry it properly. Unfortunately, a tower fan will not be as spotlessly clean as a box fan that can be disassembled.
Again, if the user manual says everything is fine (and you’re sure you won’t void your warranty) or you see any obvious screws, feel free to try taking the case apart. Once unscrewed, you’ll be able to separate the outer casing, gaining access to the outer panels themselves so you can throw them into the bathtub, or at least really blow them with compressed air from behind. Wipe the inside of the machine with a rag.
Again, don’t reassemble until everything is completely air dried. Just in case, leave the disconnected parts on a towel for the whole day to avoid damaging the machine. In case you damage it or decide it’s better to spend some money rather than do all this, here’s my list of the best fans you’ll get right now .
Oh, and if you ended up here because you wanted some tips on how to clean a ceiling fan, that’s a whole different story. Actually, this is such a story . You’ll need a vacuum cleaner and a soapy sponge, just like with the smaller fan, but you’ll also need a rag. Good luck!