If you can’t remember the last time you wiped the dust from the ceiling fan hanging over your dining room table, consider this a sign that it’s time. Use an old pillowcase, rather than a duster, to neatly clean your fan blades without scattering dust down below, suggested cleaning expert Brandon Pleshek, owner of a Wisconsin-based cleaning company. (Pleshek, who was also a source in our piece on The Pink Stuff, has sponsorships with and makes affiliate revenue from cleaning products. However, he has no financial tie to anything recommended in this article.) Fit the pillowcase around the blade, hold the ends closed, and pull toward you; then repeat with each blade. Just be sure to take proper precautions if you’re climbing a step stool to reach your fan. If it’s been a while since you last dusted your blades (or you have a light-colored ceiling fan), you may notice left-behind dirt and sticky residue. In this case, Pleshek said the best course of action is to grab a screwdriver and remove the blades to properly scrub them down. Using a sponge or a microfiber cloth, clean them with warm water and a small dab of Dawn dish soap to cut through the buildup of grease and dirt.
