Do electric appliances attract dust?

What is dust?

Dust bunnies - chunks of dust that you can encounter at home - are actually a composition of many substances. That includes outdoor particles that have infiltrated the house through the window, door and street clothes as well as organic matter that is “produced“ inside the house.

Among other things dust is made up of soot particles from exhaust emissions, dirt on street shoes, fibres from textiles and paper, sand, soil, crumbs and rocks. Mites and their excretion, bacteria and small organisms such as mould spores, lint, dead skin cells, hair, plant parts (e.g. pollen) and many more also contribute to dust.

The dust bunny’s natural habitat is located underneath beds and closets. If they are not chased away in time, they seem like monstrous entities to scared toddlers, because move ghostly on their own with every draught.

! Nevertheless dirt can be extremely dangerous for children and people with allergies. Once a certain intolerance has been developed, the usual cleaning of the house might not be enough anymore. In that case we recommend air purifier units with increased filter capacity. They catch household dust and remove germs, viruses and bacteria from the indoor air.

Dangers of dirt

Seeing that is usually takes up a central space on the ceiling or the room, a dirty fan is not very pleasant to look at. Some motor housings of ceiling fans have ventilation slots that get clogged up by a dust layer. This film can make heat release difficult for the device, in the worst case causing malfunction. The additional weight constrains its rotation and airflow performance. The biggest danger is an overheating of the motor which promotes fire or damage. As maintenance work is not compulsory for ceiling fans, careful handling and cleaning is advised.

! Dust itself is not particularly electrically conducting. However when moistened by humid air it can lead an unwanted current flow to the fan.

Underneath the flare of the ceiling fan with light fixture or a normal pendant light dust particles in the air become visible. Dirt on lamps is quite problematic. It darkens the light intensity (with the power consumption staying the same) and creates unsightly spots in the cone of light. On LEDs and incandescent lamps deposits can even cause overheating and other damage.

Impurities like spots due to water and limescale, food particles and greasy fingers, discolouration due to grease in the kitchen air or cigarette smoke further “pollute“ the fans. Greasy deposits have their own weight that impacts the carefully adjusted rotor blades and causes an imbalance. The even, smooth operation of the fan is restricted, in the long term this can lead to damage of the bearings.

At the beginning: Safety first

Before beginning with any maintenance or cleaning work on the fan or other electric devices cut off the power supply. In case of small portable units it is enough to unplug the unit. Permanently installed ceiling fans should be disconnected on the fuse box. If the daylight in the room is not sufficient for the cleaning of the ceiling fan light a battery-operated torch light can help.

Do not clean the motor casing with a wet cloth, instead please make sure the cloth is wrung out and only slightly damp. All detachable parts such as protective grille and fan blades can be washed off and scrubbed properly.

Maintenance and care

Small fans can be disassembled before cleaning to reach to blades that are protected by the grille. Some fan blades with laminated film must not be cleaned with damp or wet cloth. Others can be put in the dishwasher. Carefully read the instruction manual that comes with your fan for more information.

In combination with a UV lamp fans are used as efficient insect traps. They require cleaning more frequently so that unsightly debris can be removed. Detachable parts can usually be cleaned with water. The motor housing however should not be washed with water or wet cloth because electric appliances and water generally do not get along very well. Outdoor devices are subjected to contamination by particles and further impact by weather. Fans for outdoor areas and damp rooms require extensive cleaning. Increased humidity and evaporation from shower gels, bath oils and washing machine can lead to smears on fans in bathrooms. You might know this film from tiles and other bathroom furnishings. In case of extremely hard water it can be enough to just touch the fan with wet fingers to change settings and water spots are all over the device. On high gloss metal housings the result does not look very appealing. In order to stop these deposits from accumulating or becoming encrusted, lukewarm water with vinegar can be used. The acid dissolves the lime. Fans for damp rooms and outdoor fans are protected against splashing water with a special IP ratings. As they are exposed heavily to weathering, plant parts and insects, it is acceptable to clean them with a damp cloth. Even though these models are resistant to high humidity, they should not be exposed to water directly.

In contaminated areas such as workshops, hobby room and garage we recommend dust-proof fans.

Summary

Ceiling fans and the small portable fans need some cleaning every now and then. They are exposed to insects, grease spots, contamination by soot, dust, cigarette smoke and small particles, etc. Not only at home, but also in public areas such as cafés and restaurants messy eating is bound to happen, and greasy fingers are used to turn devices on and off. Particularly portable summer fans suffer from being touched by smudgy fingers from eating fruit or ice cream, when children are playing with the units, the light fixture or shiny metals are touched. Apart from grease or water spots, loose hairs or small particles from the air can settle on the surface.

Dust and grease exist even in the most well-kept households. Usually it is enough to thoroughly clean the fan once a year. If the air is polluted strongly by dirt, smoke, weathering or greasy vapour from the kitchen, the unit should be cleaned more often to prevent sticky parts on the inside. The frequent cleaning of electric appliances is not only beneficial from an aesthetic point of view, but also protects the motor against overheating. The impact of fire prevention by means of cleaning fume hoods should not be disregarded, either. Replacing filters should be done in regular intervals.

Antistatic cloth and brushes with soft bristles are great for cleaning fans. Ceiling fans are reached easily with a feather duster, most of them come with extendable telescopic bars. The glass shade on ceiling fans with lights should be cleaned regularly from dust. Please only ever use water if it is explicitely stated in the instruction manual that its use is allowed. In that case it is acceptable to use a mild cleaning agent and a cloth that has been wrung out properly. Humidity and water must never get close to the electronics on the inside. Unfasten all washable parts and let them dry before reattaching them later on.

Generally speaking: Fans circulate air inside the room. The more lint and dust there is on the ground, picture frames, cupboards and so on, the higher are the chances that some of it builds up on the fan itself. A minimum of homemaking protects your electric devices.

Begin to clean the fans only after they have been disconnected from the power supply! Unplug the units and cut off ceiling fans from the power supply on the fuse box respectively.