How to clean your air vents with ONE simple tip that will keep them looking brand new with MINIMAL work!
Here are a few more cleaning ideas we think you’ll find helpful – How to Clean Your Oven, Simple Cleaning Kit for Kids, and How to Clean Spilled Candle Wax.
Vent Cleaning Made EASY!
The vents in my house get so dirty- 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’s the secret?
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! Let me show you how –
The Easiest Way to Clean Your Air Vents
SUPPLIES –
- screwdriver (to remove the vents)
- warm soapy water
- sponge
- dry towel
- wax
- microfiber sponge or clean soft rag
DIRECTIONS –
- Remove the vents and wash them. Unscrew your vents from the ceiling and wipe them down with warm soapy water. For grimy vents with a decent dust build-up, place them in a sink filled with warm soapy water and wash them just like you would the dishes. Let the vents dry completely, otherwise the waxing portion of this chore won’t work. (I often let mine dry overnight and then wax them in the morning.)
- Wax the vents. Using the microfiber sponge, apply wax liberally, just like you would when waxing the car. Don’t forget the underside! After the vent has been completely covered, buff off the wax.
- Replace the vents. Immediately screw them back into the ceiling, and you’re good to go!
Cleaning your vents can be a little tedious when you’re doing your whole house, but spending a little time waxing them will keep them cleaner longer, and it will make maintaining that cleanliness quicker and easier!
Have fun waxing!
About the Author: Anna is the creative blogger from Ask Anna. She loves to answer your household questions about cleaning, organizing, decorating and more! Anna was a monthly contributor on Somewhat Simple in 2011- 2012.
I have often taken vents out and worked on them. However, we bought a new condo a few years ago and there is a vent that seems to be painted into the wall. It is up high and I am no longer good at climbing around and cleaning higher things. Do you have any suggestions regarding this? I hope so. It really bothers me.
Hmmmm…. this is the beat way I have found, but it does require reaching up high. 🙁 Sorry I am not much help!
This sounds to good to be true. Can’t wait to see other things. It is marvelous what y’all are doing. Congrats
Good idea. How do you clean the vents above the stove,oven ?
Run them through the dishwasher.
I wax my stove. Best thing I’ve ever done
Bleach my lovelies. Drop those vents and exhaust fan covers into a sink of warm water and bleach and leave them over night. Most of the time there’s no elbow grease, you just have to rinse clean and voila! (And I’ll be waxing them next time I do this too, great tip!)
Do you think this would work with ceiling fan blades?
This would probably work great for ceiling fans, as well!
I am going to try to wash the vents that I cam remove in the dishwasher. Has anyone tried this b/4?
Yep! I was mortified when I found a filter that wasn’t even mentioned in the manual…after overhauling the whole dishwasher…it runs better, cleans better too!
I take my vents and wash in the dishwasher twice a year. Works great. Now I’m going to try the waxing after cleaning.
Wow. Never would’ve thought of using wax!!! Smart & simple, great tip!!!
Will this work with the plastic vents used on some bathroom fans?
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! 🙂
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
use a pair of kitchen tongs with micro fiber clothes wrapped around them and secured with rubberbands. some end dust or pledge to “wax” if you like. or if they are wood blinds maybe “liquid gold”.
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….
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
my forced air guy swears by natural bristled paint brushes to clean vents. havent tried it yet, he did a great job last time he was here!
Is this only for fiberglass?
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.
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
My husband would love if I did this!
You just had a baby, you should have him do it. 🙂
Anna
http://www.askannamoseley.com
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
Too bad we can’t wax the kids! 🙂
I found posts on doing the same thing to ceiling fan blades and stainless steel!