Wait, I’m Supposed to Clean That?
You know how to clean the kitchen, bathroom, and the rest of your household. But how do you clean a ceiling fan? Walls and baseboards? That disgusting filter in the over-the-stove vent? No worries, here’s how to tackle the more forgotten chores.
Ceiling Fans
The ceiling fans in my house run constantly. I tell myself it’s to keep the air from getting stale and to move the AC or heat around, but it’s mostly because they get filthy, and I do not want to look at that. However, they’re easy to clean, and I try to remember to do it once in a while. There are two basic methods: one using a pillowcase and the other using an extendable duster. The first step with either method is to turn the fan off.
Pillowcase: This method requires an old pillowcase, a sturdy stepstool or chair, and a damp cloth. It’s my favorite method because the dust is trapped in the pillowcase.
- Use the stool or chair so you can reach the fan and slide the pillowcase over a blade so the opening is closest to the motor unit.
- Next, hold the pillowcase tight around the blade, pull it toward the end, rubbing off the dust as you go.
- Carefully rotate the blades and repeat until all of the blades are clean.
- Use the damp cloth to clean up the motor unit.
- Take the pillowcase outside to shake off the dust before tossing it in the wash.
Extendable Duster: This is your option for hard-to-reach fans you can’t reach safely with a stool or chair.
- Starting at the base of the fan blade (closest to the motor unit), sweep the dust to the end of the blade and off.
- Using the duster, gently rotate the fan to the next blade and repeat.
- Use the duster to get into the crevices around the motor unit. Finish by sweeping or vacuuming the dust that fell off the blades.
- To save yourself some labor, make sure you’re dumping the dust on the floor, not your furniture.
Baseboards
Baseboards are prime real estate for grime and scuffs. They’re generally dirtiest in high-traffic areas; the low-traffic areas usually just need a good dusting. If they’re dirty or scuffed, you’ll need to attack with a cleaning solution. A multi-purpose cleaner will work, or you can mix up a solution of water, a couple of drops of dish soap, and a splash of vinegar.
- First, vacuum or use a dust mop or microfiber cloth to remove loose dirt and dust.
- Next, dip a rag or sponge into the cleaning solution and wring well. Too much water can damage wood or painted surfaces.
- Working in small sections, scrub away scuff marks and grime. Use a dry cloth to dry each section to prevent damage.
- Take advantage of the antistatic properties of dryer sheets by rubbing a fresh sheet along the baseboards to repel dust.
Walls
Washing most walls is straightforward; a couple of cleaning cloths (one damp) and maybe a little multi-purpose cleaner are all you need. Like baseboards, they’re usually dirtiest in high-traffic areas. Low-traffic areas and the upper parts of the walls might just need a good dust mopping session.
Start by using a dust mop or a broom covered with a towel to remove loose dirt and dust.
If you’re spot cleaning, hit the highlights, like the area around light switches and other scuffs and spills with the damp cloth. If it’s a full-on wash, work from the top down, drying with a clean cloth as you go.
However, the walls in some rentals are painted in flat white paint (you can tell it’s flat if there is absolutely no shine), which just happens to be the fussiest of all the finishes and is the hardest to clean. Why this is the top choice of landlords is beyond me, but whatever.
If you have been blessed with flat paint, stick to spot cleaning only. Use a white cleaning cloth so you don’t accidentally transfer color.
- First, do a spot test with a very damp rag in a spot that isn’t too visible, like behind a door or in a closet. If the paint doesn’t come off or become discolored, you can proceed.
- Use a dust mop to remove dust, then very gently wipe stains and scuffs. If plain water isn’t getting the job done, mix up a solution of warm water and a couple of drops of dish soap. Add a little baking soda to the water.
- Finally, using a dry cloth, pat the area dry.
Over-the-Range Exhaust Hood Filter
An exhaust hood’s entire purpose is to pull steam, noxious gases, and other cooking byproducts from the air, improving air quality and protecting kitchen surfaces. They have a filter that generally pops or slides out.
Since one of those other cooking byproducts is grease and oil, filters get really gross. Luckily, cleaning them is pretty simple. You need very hot water, a tub or a sink with a stopper, a degreaser, like Pine-Sol or a degreasing dish soap, and a scrub brush. For a little extra boost, you can sprinkle it with a little baking soda.
Filters are usually easy to remove; they might have a latch or just slide out. Mine (the revolting picture above) slides out from a metal lip.
- Using a paper towel, scrub as much gunk off the filter as you can.
- Fill the tub with hot water and the degreasing soap, then submerge the filter. Let it soak for about 30 minutes.
- Scrub the filter with the scrub brush to get rid of any lingering grease and rinse thoroughly. If they’re still sticky, sprinkle some baking soda on the filter and scrub it again.
- Let the filter air dry completely before reinstalling it.
Other Overlooked Areas
Here’s a list of other areas that people often overlook. These generally just need a wipe with a damp cloth or dust mop.
- Doorframes, window sills, and tracks
- Under furniture
- Doorknobs and cabinet handles
- Remote controls
Do you have a random thing that needs cleaning, and you don’t know where to start? Let me know in the comments!
