A Simple Guide: How to Clean a Bathroom Fan

Your bathroom exhaust fan works hard to remove moisture, odors, dust and other debris from the air. Knowing how to clean a bathroom fan can help keep it working properly while helping your bathroom feel fresher and more comfortable.

Over time, dust can collect on the fan cover, blades and inside the housing, making the fan work harder than it needs to. Fortunately, cleaning a bathroom exhaust fan is a relatively quick and easy home maintenance task that can help keep it running smoothly for years to come.

There’s no magic formula for how often you should clean your exhaust fans, but at least once a year, you should plan on a thorough cleaning. How often your bathroom gets used will determine how often the fan needs to be cleaned. If you have pets, you will most likely see more debris on the cover, and you’ll need to clean your fans more often. In the winter, when showers run hotter, and there’s more steam in the bathrooms, you might see the need to clean your fan more often too. A highly trafficked bathroom, like a kids bathroom, that is used more often by more people, will require more frequent cleaning to operate at its best. Basically, the more a fan is used, the more quickly it can wear down. If your fans have noticeably weaker airflow, or start to rattle, it’s time for a cleaning.

You’ll need the following supplies to clean your bathroom exhaust fan. The good news is, you probably already have these on hand.

• Screwdriver (If it’s essential to remove the fan cover.)

• Vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment, or a small handheld vacuum

• Microfiber cloth

• Soft brush or old toothbrush

• Mild dish soap

• Warm water

• Small bucket or sink nearby

• Step stool or ladder

• Safety glasses

• Optional: Canned air or another manufacturer-approved method for removing dust from hard-to-reach areas

1. Before cleaning your bathroom exhaust fan, turn off power to the fan at the breaker or service panel. Make sure the fan and any built-in light are completely off before you begin.

2. If your vent has excessive dust build up, you might want to vacuum or wipe it down as a first step after turning off the power.

3. Next, remove the exhaust fan cover with a screwdriver, if necessary. Many exhaust fan covers are attached with springs, and are simple to remove. Once you remove the cover, you can access the inside of the fan and clean the grille itself too. If your bathroom exhaust fans have built-in lights, you will need to remove the light cover and bulb before cleaning the fan.

4. Now, it’s time to clean the cover or grille of the fan. Place it in soapy water, and scrub it until all the dust, hair and debris are gone.

5. You can now carefully and gently use a damp (not wet) microfiber cloth or a vacuum brush to clean any dust and debris, along with pet hair, off the fan blades. For stubborn dust or debris build up, you can use a toothbrush to clean the hard-to-reach corners of the housing unit.

6. Completely allow the cover to dry or dry it with a towel. Then reinstall the cover of the fan.

7. Check that your fan is now fully functional. A clean bathroom exhaust fan should run without rattling sounds or excess vibration and the airflow should feel stronger. If this is the case, then you have done your job.

There are two main, simple maintenance tips to help your bathroom exhaust fans operate well. First, regularly check for dust build up, and take care of it right away. Second, listen to the sound of the fan. In particular listen to hear if it sounds louder or rattles, which can indicate that something is loose or wearing out.

Most bathroom exhaust fans will last for years with routine cleaning. Cleaning your exhaust fans is a small home maintenance task that can help keep your hardworking fans operating as intended. If you find that you do need a new bathroom exhaust fan, McCoy’s can help! We have plenty to choose from.