If you have ever walked into a bathroom with the fan running and it was hot and humid, it’s time to clean your bathroom fan. Not only will you be helping your energy bill by removing excess humidity from the air, but you’ll also be protecting yourself from mold, mildew, bacteria, and viruses. Bathroom fans are relatively easy to clean. This article will teach you how to clean a bathroom fan in five easy steps that should take less than 30 minutes to complete, depending on the size of your bathroom fan unit and accessories. Let’s get started!
Step 1: Prepare
Turn off and unplug your bathroom fan and remove it from your wall. If you’re lucky, you may have a built-in fan that you can simply pull down; otherwise, most fans are affixed with screws on either side of your wall. Once they’re removed, they can be washed under running water—it’s best to avoid using soap or other cleaning products as these will collect around the blades and cause them to become dirty over time.
Step 2: Gather Your Supplies
Depending on how dirty your fan is, you may need more than just some water and your cleaning supplies. If it’s really bad, consider mixing together a cleaning solution made of equal parts vinegar and water.
Step 3: Remove the Cover
Now that you’ve taken out all of your fan’s components, it’s time to remove its outer casing. There are usually two screws near each corner of its base—remove these and set them aside. If there are any additional screws holding it together, be sure to take those out as well. Once you’ve removed all of these fasteners, gently pull off your fan’s cover. You may find that some pieces stick due to water damage or other build-up—try pulling firmly but carefully if you do run into resistance.
Step 4: Wash Down
After you’ve sprayed it all down, take some time to spray down your fan blades with water and let them sit for at least 10 minutes. For any hard-to-reach places where mold has built up, dip a Wowables® Reusable & Biodegradable Paper Towel into your vinegar solution and wipe down your fan blade. Once you've gotten as much gunk off as possible, use a Lola® Jumbo Microfiber Cleaning Cloth for more gentle drying. Be sure to thoroughly air out your bathroom before you start steaming again!
Step 5: Replace Cover and Test
With your fan installed and cleaned, replace your cover. Plug it back into its electrical outlet and turn it on. Now you can test that all of your settings are working properly! In many cases, bathroom fans are hooked up to light switches so you can turn them on and off with ease. If that's not something you want for your fan, simply replace its switchplate (we'll touch on that step below). After checking out how everything looks and sounds, wipe down your installation area with a Lola® Anti-microbial Clean N' Wipe™ Cloth to remove any lingering dust or grime.
Cleaning your bathroom fan may not be the most enjoyable or convenient task, but it is important to do so regularly to keep your bathroom clean and odor-free. The instructions above will help you clean your bathroom fan in five easy steps. Just remember to turn off the power to the fan before starting so you don’t get shocked!
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