How to keep your extractors clean!

How to Clean Your Extractor Fan Properly

So while letting your extractor fan get dirty causes no end of headaches, the solution is breathtakingly simple.

What You’ll Need

Newspaper or an old sheet
Stepladder or a stable base (or just a really tall friend?)
Bucket of soapy water (washing up liquid is fine)
Wash cloth or rag
Towel
Duster*
Hoover/vacuum
Screwdriver (if your fan has a cover)

*We’ve seen people recommend a toothbrush or a paintbrush or similar. A duster is better idea since it’ll collect the dust, rather than just knock it out into your bathroom

Recommended:

Something to keep the filth out of your hair
If there are signs of mould, then use a facemask

Not Recommended:

Scouring agents or brush pads will scratch smooth surfaces and add more places for grime to collect

Preparing

Turn off the power. Please. Just turn it off.
To turn it off, use either the switch or the circuit breaker

Lay down your sheet or newspaper in order to catch anything that falls out – which is hopefully just dust
Cover your mouth and hair or be prepared to breathe in some very unpleasant particles

Removing the Cover

Unscrew the cover and remove/slide it off
You might have to reach behind the cover once loose to undo any spring clips
If just a bit dusty: use a vacuum on both sides
If mouldy or sticky: Pop the cover into some soapy water of its own and let it soak

Dusting

You can use a vacuum here, but a duster is likely easier and more effective
Dust behind the fans inside the vent
Clean behind the back of the fan blades, if possible
Sweep the rest of the fan unit with the duster
Remember that the goal is to remove the dust, not push it out into the rest of the room

Scrubbing

Double check you turned the power off. Just for me. I worry
Dip your cloth or rag in the soapy water and get scrubbing in and around the unit
Wring it out between uses so you’re not just moving the dust around
You might need to scrub a few times, and you might have to scrub pretty hard