How do you clean a ceiling fan?

How to clean a ceiling fan, step by step

To clean a ceiling fan without spreading dust, keep it off, vacuum the loose dust before you wipe, and catch what falls on a sheet. HDB's home care guide on electrical accessories suggests removing thin layers of dust with a vacuum cleaner and brush attachment, wiping thicker dust off the top and bottom of each blade with a damp cloth, and avoiding shaking or bending the blades excessively.

Ceiling fan cleaning is quicker with everything ready: a vacuum with a brush attachment, two cloths, an old sheet and a stable step ladder.

1. Switch off at the wall. Turn the fan off at the wall switch and wait until the blades stop completely.
2. Lay a sheet below. Spread an old bedsheet over the bed, sofa or floor under the fan to catch falling dust.
3. Set up a stable step ladder. Stand it on dry, level floor, close enough that you do not stretch to reach.
4. Vacuum the thin dust. Run the brush attachment along both sides of each blade.
5. Wipe each blade. Wipe the top and bottom of each blade with a damp cloth, holding the blade with your other hand so it does not bend.
6. Dry the motor housing. Wipe the motor housing with the dry cloth so no moisture gets inside.

Stop the dust shower

Vacuuming first removes most of the loose dust, but thicker layers tend to drop as soon as you wipe them. An old pillowcase keeps that ceiling fan dust off you and your furniture.

Slide the pillowcase over one blade until the whole blade is inside. Press the fabric gently against the top of the blade with one hand, support the blade from below with the other, and draw the case slowly back towards you. The dust stays inside the case instead of falling. Work blade by blade, emptying the case into a bin bag if it fills.

Then wipe each blade once with the damp cloth and wash the pillowcase on its own.

What not to use

HDB's home care guide says not to use ammonia or bleach-based cleaners or any harsh cleaners, as they may wear away the surface finish and warp the blades. A damp cloth is what it suggests for thicker dust. Never mix bleach with acid-based cleaners or ammonia.

Do not spray any liquid straight at the fan, as it can run into the motor housing. Wring the cloth well and wipe instead, and use a soft cloth rather than a scouring pad or stiff brush.

If you keep several cleaners at home, read why mixing cleaning products can be dangerous.

Tighten loose screws

A fan that rattles or shakes after cleaning may simply have loose screws. HDB's home care guide explains that loose screws can make fans noisy or shaky, that the fan's own vibration loosens them over time, and that you can tighten them with a screwdriver.

With the fan still switched off at the wall, check the screws that hold each blade in place and tighten any that turn easily. Do not overtighten them, and do not open the motor housing or the cover at the ceiling, where the wiring is. If the fan still wobbles once the screws are firm, see the guide on ceiling fan wobbling for what to check next.

How often, and when to call someone

HDB's home care guide says to clean your fan at least once a month. For a wall-mounted fan, remove the front grille first.

If your ceiling is too high to reach safely from a step ladder, get help rather than stretching or stacking furniture. When you book a cleaner, ask whether they can reach high fans.

If the fan hums without turning, sparks or will not start, leave it switched off and do not take it apart. Have it checked by a Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW), and call 995 if there is fire or smoke. The Energy Market Authority (EMA) has a page on engaging licensed electrical workers. EMA says electrical work in an HDB flat needs a Licensed Electrician, the class of LEW approved for loads of up to 45kVA.

If you are replacing an old fan, read about ceiling fan installation first. If the fan is part of a bigger clean, the deep cleaning checklist helps you plan the other rooms.

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