Being Practical...

We try to stay practical about most things.  We don't have a lot of choice, we don't have a lot of $.  One of the things we do, is to try & keep with maintenance of our appliances & electronics.  The most basic of all forms of maintenance is the one that most people never do.

That's right cleaning these items will extend their lifespan & improve their performance.   We're going to use fans as the primary example.  A well used fan is going to get disgusting.  A disgustingly, dirty fan does not work as well as a fan in good repair.  A fan in good repair will last longer than one not taken care of regularly.

Every fan is different, so you may have to investigate how to disassemble it.   Some, but very few, actually come with instructions on how to clean the fan.  There are three primary parts of a fan.

1. The outer cage/box
2. The blade assembly
3. The motor

Things you will need.

1. Small brushes, a toothbrush or a cleaned old mascara wand
2. Clean rags
3. 409 or other cleaner (soapy water)
4. Screwdrivers 
5. WD40 or machine oil

Steps:

1. Unplug the fan
2. Remove the grills & the blades (if possible)
3. If the grill & blades can be completely removed, take them to the sink of bathtub & clean them there.  This will get messy.
4. Once those are cleaned, dry them completely
5. Take your brushes & begin to remove all dust & debris from the inner parts of the fan. (You can use a vacuum or hair dryer on cool/low for this part in the beginning.)
6. Once the fan is cleaned, oil the motor & the blade shaft
7. Reassemble the pieces.
8. The fan is now ready to be used.

I know that sounds like it's common sense, but most people never think about cleaning their fans.  Fans should be cleaned seasonally & before they are put away for the year.  Fans that aren't cleaned lose performance & overheat, which leads to mechanical failure.  Fans that are not cleaned regularly are havens for dust mites, allergens, dead bugs & other nastiness.  Never buy a fan that will not let you break it down, so you can clean & there are lot of those kind on the market.  Fan manufacturers don't want you to clean your fans, they want the fan to break &  for you to have to buy a new one.

This is a simple, practical way to save $ by taking care of a household appliance.  Guess what, this also works on computer fans.

Cya