How to: Clean Your Bathroom Extractor Fan to Ensure Quiet and Efficient Running

Listen: your bathroom extractor fan is dirty. Really dirty. Okay, we don't know that, we have no way of knowing that, but it's an educated guess.

Extractor fans in the bathroom get very dusty, and if they're not maintained regularly they just blow dirty air around.

Cleaning the fan is a quick and easy task that reduces odours by up to 80% (no, we don't know how that was measured either), and clearing the mould and mildew that builds up cuts down on the energy consumption of the device.

And if you've splashed out on an especially quiet model, all that build-up puts strain on the motor and makes it louder, effectively nullifying that sound investment.

Cleaning the Fan - You need:

1. Screwdriver to take off the cover, if you have one
2. A bucket full of soapy water
3. Something to clean it with, like a sponge or rag
4. A dry dish towel
5. A duster
6. Window cleaning fluid
7. Cotton buds for the finicky parts
8. Newspaper on the floor, to catch the stray bits of dust
9. A step ladder, if your fan is installed in the ceiling
10. A shower cap to keep your hair clean during the whole process

How To Clean the Bathroom Fan

1. Take off the fan cover and soak it in the soapy water
2. Remove the fan blade and wipe it with the window cleaning fluid on both sides
3. With a damp cloth, wipe away any build-up or debris
4. Locate the motor and clear debris away from it with the cotton buds
5. Put the extractor fan back together and enjoy the results!

You're done! That was quicker than you expected, right? To ensure the efficient running of the fan from now on, make sure it is cleaned regularly.

Another good tip is to leave the fan running for 10-15 minutes after a shower to clear the area of contaminants. The Timer Module helps you with this - you can adjust the time you want the fan to still be on after one leaves the bathroom.

Image credit: Sinead Fenton on Flickr (Creative Commons)

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