Clean Your Ceiling Fan With a Pillowcase

on March 16, 2009 at 4:00 PM

With spring cleaning under way (well, I haven't actually done a lick...LOL!), I have to say I loved this easy tip on how to clean a ceiling fan from Real Simple magazine.

After hearing a friend's fan-blade-dust-dinner-party disaster story, I have a little ongoing anxiety about post-winter fan blade dust buildup. She was hosting an end-of-winter dinner party with friends, and she not only burnt the roast, but also her husband, in a desperate attempt to clear out the smoke from the burning roast, turned on the ceiling fan, which threw giant clumps of dust all over her pretty dinner table. Oh my!

So this tip caught my eye. Real Simple reader Maryellen Klements offered up this awesome tip for cleaning ceiling fans with a pillowcase. Just hook the open end of the pillowcase over the fan blade and pull it across the dusty blade, catching all the dust inside the case. I think I might figure out a way to add some dusting spray to the case beforehand too.

+++ What about you? Got any secret spring cleaning tips to share?

About the author Sheri Reed

is a writer and the Entertainment, News & Sports editor for The Stir. She loves a good film, watches lots of good TV and follows Ryan Gosling's every move because she has to -- for work.

Filed Under: chores

Comments (19)

TigerBaby69

on Mar 16, 2009 at 4:22 PM

OMG that is a brilliant idea! I feel like an idiot for not thinking of that! lol

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hsalvatore

on Mar 16, 2009 at 4:45 PM

Right there with you TigerBaby! Thank you, Sheri, we're down DEEP south, and have them in every room. I have to clean them off constantly, and I never had this trick before.

KrisOtherMama

on Mar 16, 2009 at 4:51 PM

Great idea!! I will definitely be trying it!!

RanaAurora

on Mar 16, 2009 at 5:37 PM

Interesting thought.

Just so you know, fans gather dust ALL the time. Even in the summer when they're on almost 24/7, they'll have like, an inch of dust come fall, even if you dusted at the start of the hot season.

Another suggestion I've loved is to rub them with dryer sheets after dusting, but I have yet to try it.

Mylovngheart

on Mar 16, 2009 at 5:44 PM

GREAT idea, thanks for the tip!

zombie_mommy

on Mar 16, 2009 at 6:02 PM

I have to dust our fans all the time. This is a great idea!

Taviesmommy

on Mar 16, 2009 at 6:20 PM

Awesome tip! Hubby and I just noticed that ours is getting kind of scary looking - I was dreading dusting it - this will be much better.

RyleeMendez

on Mar 16, 2009 at 6:22 PM

Flylady taught me that :)

redrose2681

on Mar 16, 2009 at 7:10 PM

thats a great idea~thanks!!

haroldswife

on Mar 16, 2009 at 7:27 PM

I've been doing that for years. Then you just turn the pillowcase inside out, after you have gone outside, and shake it like a rug. It is awesome. If you use Liquid Gold on your ceiling fans, they just shine and don't collect as much dust, either.