How to clean bathroom fan?

Here is how to clean a bathroom fan:

Remove the Fan Cover

Turn off power to the fan at the circuit breaker or unplug it for safety123
Remove the cover by pressing in the prongs on the sides or unscrewing it123
If the cover has a light, disconnect the wire before removing it3

Clean the Fan Cover

Soak the plastic cover in warm soapy water for a few minutes, then scrub with a cloth or soft-bristle brush13
If the cover has a light, simply vacuum off dust and wipe clean with a damp cloth, do not submerge in water3
Let the cover air dry while cleaning the fan3

Clean the Fan Blades and Motor

Use a vacuum with brush attachment to remove most of the dust from the fan blades and motor13
Wipe down the fan components and housing with a damp microfiber cloth to remove any remaining dirt13
If the fan motor is removable, unplug it, remove the mounting screws, and vacuum or blow dust off with compressed air3

Clean the Housing

Vacuum and wipe down the fan housing with a damp cloth to remove dust buildup123
Avoid getting water inside any electrical components2

Reassemble and Test

Reinstall the fan motor if removed, plug it back in and replace the mounting screws3
Put the cover back on by inserting the mounting wires into the slots and gently pushing into place3
Turn power back on and test the fan to ensure it is working properly and is quieter12

Clean the bathroom fan every 6 months to maintain performance and prevent issues like mold, mildew and motor burnout134. Proper cleaning can also help reduce fan noise4.

Key insights

Cleaning the bathroom fan is crucial for preventing mold, mildew, and even house fires caused by dust buildup.

Cleaning the cover of the bathroom fan involves filling up the sink with warm water and adding a couple drops of dish soap, making it an easy and effective process.

🧹 Using a vacuum with a crevice attachment followed by a brush attachment is an effective way to remove dust from the fan motor.

️ Components should be handled with a light touch to avoid causing damage during the cleaning process.

🧹 Cleaning a bathroom fan involves using a toothbrush to clean the fins and wiping it down with a damp microfiber cloth.

Timestamped Summary

00:00 Clean your bathroom fan every six months to prevent mold, mildew, and potential fire hazards, and make sure to turn off the power before removing the fan cover.

00:42 Disconnect wires, remove vent cover, clean with warm soapy water.

01:02 Soak, scrub, and dry the fan, and use a vacuum with attachments to remove dust and clean the fan motor.

01:45 Gently clean the fan components with a damp cloth, and if needed, remove the fan by unscrewing it for a deeper clean.

02:40 Clean bathroom fan by vacuuming, using compressed air, and wiping with a damp cloth, then reinstall and close the cover.

Video Full Text

00:00 Hi I'm joe a family handyman you know that little fan in the ceiling of your bathroom is more important than you might think it gets rid of odors airborne contaminants and moisture in the air well. If the fan is covered in dust it's going to lead to mold mildew and possibly even a house fire. You want to clean this fan at least every six months today. I'm going to show you how to do that now before you even get started with this project. The first thing you want to do is turn off the power to the fan you can do it here at the switch or to be extra safe flip the circuit breaker now to remove the fan cover. A lot of these are pretty much the same you just gently pull down on them squeeze.

00:42 These wires together and they pop right out if you happen to have a vent cover with a light you'll need to disconnect the wire. Powering the light cleaning the cover is pretty simple just fill up your bathroom sink with warm water add a couple drops of dish soap.

01:02 Let it soak for a few minutes then scrub the fan with a cloth or a brush and place it on a towel to dry. If you happen to have a fan with a light do not submerge it in water simply vacuum it off and then wipe it clean with a damp cloth use a vacuum with a crevice attachment to remove most the dust then switch to a brush attachment for the fan motor.

01:45 Components maintain a light touch so you don't damage anything. Once the dust is all removed take a damp microfiber cloth and wipe down all the fan components now if your fan is in need of deep cleaning don't be afraid to remove the fan. A lot of these are only held in with two or three screws. Some fans are held in with no screws. This is a typical fan first thing you want to do is unplug the power supply to the housing and then a lot of these fans just pop right out. Next remove the mounting screws that hold the motor to the housing then lower the motor from the housing.

02:40 Once you have the fan removed you can vacuum it with a brush attachment or take it outside use. Some compressed air. A toothbrush comes in handy to clean the fins. Once you have all the dust removed you can wipe it down with a damp microfiber cloth wipe the housing down and the fins of the fan. Some of these fan motors you can take apart further if you need deeper cleaning. You can use water just be sure not to get the motor wet now that the fan's all cleaned up time to reinstall it. In the housing. Last step to this project is installing the cover just squeeze. The mounting wires together slide them into their slot go ahead and close the cover that's it clean bathroom fan for more great cleaning tips like this head over to familyhandyman.com.