Happy November!
Can you believe it’s already November? With winter quickly approaching I want to share with you a great trick for keeping your vents clean. Our vents get so dirty because we use them all summer long, to run the air conditioner, and then all winter long, to run the heater. But how often do you take time to really clean them? If you’re like me the answer to that question is, “not often!” The good news is that I’m going to teach you how to make them super easy to clean. What the secret?
WAX
Yep, wax. Just like you use on your car. I know it seems crazy but it works great and makes the vents easy to clean because the dust just wipes right off! This is one of those handy dandy tricks I learned from my mom years ago. Here’s what you do:
Step 1
Remove the vents and wash them.
There are two ways to do this, either one is fine.
1. Place the vents in the sink and fill it with soapy water. Then wash them just like you would the dishes.
or
2. Wash them each individually. This is how I do it.
Step 2
Let the vents dry. Make sure they are completely dry before before applying the wax. I let mine dry overnight and then wax them in the morning.
Step 3
Wax the vents. Apply wax liberally, just like you would when waxing the car.
Don’t forget the underside!
Step 4
After the vent has been completely covered, buff off the wax.
This task can be a little tedious but it is so worth it! Spending a little time to wax all of your vents will keep them clean longer and it will make maintaining cleanliness quicker and easier!
Have fun waxing!
About Todays Post
Great tip. I must try this. Too bad you can’t wax the whole house, lol.
Yeah, that would be nice! I’ll try to think of more things you can wax.
Anna
http://www.askannamoseley.com
My husband would love if I did this!
You just had a baby, you should have him do it.
Anna
http://www.askannamoseley.com
This is a great tip! Any tips on how to clean window blinds??
I do! I think I will make that my post for next month because I’ve had a lot of people asking me that lately. I will probably be posting about it next week on my blog if you’d like to stop by and check it out.
Anna
http://www.askannamoseley.com
I’m keeping an eye out for your window blind tip! We have the wide faux wooden blinds and they are necessary to keep the morning and evening sun out…but I hate cleaning them!!!!! Until then I’ll be waxing my vents!
Ugh, yeah I hate cleaning them too. I think you’ll like my solution.
Anna
http://www.askannamoseley.com
Great idea! My hubby is a plumber and he recommends waxing your shower walls all the way to the floor (DO NOT DO THE FLOOR). He says you should do it ever 6 months. It keeps the soap scum from sticking and just makes it easier to clean. He’s right! It takes for ever, and you have to start with a totally clean scum free tub, but it is very worth it! The wax will naturally just wear off over time, so no striping needed.
That is a GREAT idea! If I had a fiberglass shower I would totally do this!!!
Anna
http://www.askannamoseley.com
P.S. I’m going to share this on my FB page.
Is this only for fiberglass?
I just discovered your blog….2 days too late. I spent about 4 hours the other day cleaning the vent for the return air for our air conditioner. It is permamently hinged to the frame so it can’t be removed to clean. So with it closed (to clean one side) meanwhile dripping cleaning solution back on my face and head, I tried about 7 different “tools” to clean EACH AND EVERY little flange and they had very sharp edges. Then I had to clean from the inside so it was hanging from the ceiling still attached to the frame (welded on…no screws).Then the cleaning solution was dripping on my floor. Yes, I put bath towels on the floor to protect the carpet but still a mess !!! Not only was it messy, time consuming and tedious, some of the paint was removed in the process. Needless to say, I am going to spray paint, let it dry and THEN I WILL APPLY WAX. Long-winded I know but I had to express my frustration ! I’m old enough to be your grandmother and consider myself pretty darned experienced on the best ways to do things after all these years but this is one idea I never considered. SEE, you CAN teach an old dog new tricks !
I feel really bad for you but reading this I am cracking up. I’m sorry you had such a hard time cleaning your returns, looks like I just found another topic for a post!
Anna
http://www.askannamoseley.com
I do this to my showers,my tub instructions recommended it,works great and doesn’t really take that long,very much worth the time and effort.I also put glass wax on my shower doors….
Anna,
I stumbled upon your AMAZING site today from Pinterest and I saw in the comment stream about posting tips on how to clean window blinds and I have been searching your site in vain trying to find that post. We have faux wood blinds on every window in our home, came that way, and it takes me an entire weekend to cleam them. Please direct to your post, I can really use all the helpful hints, advice, tools you want to throw my way! I love your blog, by the way and I am so happy I came across it!
Alison
I could kiss you! Many times I have sat on the potty, LOL, looking up at those darn things and shake my head at how nasty they get and it happens so fast! Thank you! This will help immensely. I am also going to wax my ceiling fans!