We recently made an article about how ceiling fans are often overlooked and how to clean them. Another item that is often overlooked at cleaning time is ceiling and wall vents!
Here in Florida, the vents you see on the ceiling and on walls are air conditioning vents. Some are intake vents. Those suck in air from your home, blow outside or into your air conditioning unit and blow back in as cool air.
The other vents are outlet vents. Those are the ones that blow out the cooled air into your home. The few months of the year it is cold enough to turn the heat on they take in cooler air and blow out warm air.
Both vents suck in and out dust and dirt
Both the intake vents and outlet vents tend to accumulate dust and dirt on the outside over time. The intake vent has a filter on the inside that filters out most of the dust and dirt. But it never traps all of it.
Over time the dust in the air sticks to the outside of the vent, causing a buildup of dust and dirt. The outlet vents have cleaner air but over time they too get a buildup of dust and dirt that flows out the small spaces of the vents.
Because it happens very slowly over time most people don’t notice it, just like the dust on your ceiling fans. But once they do it is a bit of a shock to see how dirty they are! When they get very dirty they can hold mold and allergens, making you sick or increase allergies.
Cleaning wall and ceiling vents
When Covenant Cleaning Services does a deep clean, we always clean the wall and ceiling vents. We know they are overlooked just like ceiling fans. So we make sure we clean those first, especially since they are high or on the ceiling.
You always want to clean from the top down as any dirt and dust not picked up will fall down toward the floor. Often you will need a small ladder or stool to reach the vents. If you can, move items and furniture out of the way directly below the vent.
You also can lay down a drop cloth under the vent to catch dirt that falls off. The best way to catch most of the dust and dirt is to use the attachment hose on your vacuum cleaner. Use a brush attachment at the end.
Then turn on the vacuum and carefully stroke the brush over the vent openings or holes, going over and over it to get everything. Try to push the brush as deep into the fins or holes as you can to get as much dirt as possible.
Once you have gotten all the dust and dirt that you can with the vacuum, spray the vent with your favorite all purpose cleaner and wipe it well with a microfiber rag. Or cloth rag or washcloth if you don’t have microfiber rags, which is what we use!
Don’t forget to wipe down and clean the wall or ceiling area around the vents. Dirt often builds up around the vents also. If you can’t use a vacuum cleaner to clean the vents other ways to clean them is to scrub them with the end of a broom or use a brush.
You can even use a paintbrush to wipe off the dust and dirt. However using a broom or brush will make all the dust fall down onto the floor. So have the area below the vents prepared with a cloth and move items out of the way.
Then wipe them well with a general cleaner and rag. A sponge works well too. If you want to really clean them well you can unscrew them, take them down and wash them in soapy water. Some vents come off with a quick release button or lever.
Wall and ceiling vents maintenance
Once you have the vents clean you want to keep them clean to prevent mold buildup, sickness or allergy problems. A quick wipe with a Swiffer duster, broom or brush every few weeks will keep the dust away.
Wiping them down with a rag and cleaner once a month will keep them looking like new. Don’t forget the wall or ceiling area around them also. Now you have nice, clean air vents and fresh, dust free air!
If that sounds like a lot of work, let Covenant Cleaning Services do a deep clean of your house or office and we will get all your wall and ceiling vents sparkling clean and dust free! Call Covenant Cleaning Services at (407) 282-2250 or visit our contact page and get a free quote today!
