CLEAN CEILING FANS

WHY DO THIS?

Dirt, dust and debris get caught on your ceiling fan and then are dispersed throughout your home, causing aggravating allergies and leaving a layer of dust on your furniture. Every two months, take the time to clean your ceiling fan to avoid these problems.

what you'll need

• all-purpose cleaner
• canned air ($5 at your local hardware store)
• screwdriver
• soft cloth or baby wipe
• ladder

how to:

Safety Note: Cleaning your ceiling fans usually requires a ladder. Please use ladder safety precautions at all times.

1. 1
   Make sure your ceiling fan is turned off. A ceiling fan blade is dangerous when it’s moving and can cause serious injury. If you use an on/off switch to control your fan like a light, place a piece of tape on the switch to keep it off during the cleaning process.
2. 2
   Place a ladder directly under the ceiling fan and make sure it’s stable. Make sure someone is there to spot you for this cleaning task.
3. 3
   Once you’re near the fan, open the compartment that surrounds the motor. You may need a screwdriver to do this. Using your bottle of canned air, spray the motor to remove dust, dirt and other debris. Then, close the compartment.
4. 4
   Turn your fan until you can easily access a blade. Spray your all-purpose cleaner on a soft cloth, and wipe the top of the blade until you’ve thoroughly removed the dirt and dust. Repeat this step for each fan blade. Note: Avoid the fan's motor and always keep it dry. Any moisture on the motor could ruin the electrical components.
5. 5
   If your fan is connected to light fixtures, now would be a good time to clean those, too! Here’s how: Clean Glass Light Fixtures with Denture Tablets.
6. https://brightnest.com/todos/clean-ceiling-fans

CLEAN YOUR FLOOR FANS

WHY DO THIS?

Floor fans get a lot of use during the summer months, which means they fill up fast with dust and dirt. If your fan has developed a grunge look, it’s probably time for a clean. This is generally a quick task that leaves your air cleaner and your house cooler.

Difficulty: 

 

 

Time: 15 minutes

what you'll need

• screwdriver
• two soft rags
• a bucket of warm water
• liquid dish soap
• a towel

how to:

1. 1
   Turn off and unplug your fan. Never attempt to clean your fan while it’s still connected to a power source.
2. 2
   Remove the fan’s front grill by unscrewing it with your screwdriver. If your floor fan doesn’t have screws, there should be clips holding the front grill to the back grill that you can pop off with your fingers. If it’s unclear what to do, consult your owner’s manual for directions.
3. 3
   Some fans may have a blade cap, which is located in the center of the fan blade. Unscrew this until it is loose and then pull it off.
4. 4
   Slide the fan blade off the back grill. Again, consult your owner’s manual if you have any questions.
5. 5
   Optional: Remove the back grill from the base of the fan. Some fans have a back grill nut that needs to be unscrewed before you can do this.
6. 6
   You should now have three parts to clean: A front grill, the fan blades, and a back grill. If your fan has a lot of dust and debris built up, take a rag and remove as much as you can now, before you start rinsing with water.
7. 7
   Add about 1/2 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid into the bucket of warm water.
8. 8
   Dip a clean rag into the bucket of warm water and wipe down the fan blades and grills. If your fan has a lot of dirt, make sure you rinse the rag frequently to avoid just spreading dirt around. Note: Be careful not to get the fan motor wet while wiping down these areas. The mechanical parts can be damaged by water.
9. 9
   After you have rinsed all surfaces thoroughly, take a dry rag and wipe the surfaces down one last time to remove any leftover debris.
10. 10
    Lay the grills and fan blades on top of your towel to dry. Allow the pieces to completely dry before your reassemble the fan.
11. 11
    Stay cool, my friends.
12. https://brightnest.com/todos/clean-your-floor-fans

NEED TO COOL OFF? TRY THESE 5 FAN TRICKS

High temps are breaking records left and right this summer. And if you don’t have central AC, your house is probably feeling like a sauna these days. Enter your savior: the classic fan.

This basic, inexpensive appliance can be the difference between misery and comfort, so don’t just set it down anywhere – maximize its potential! By using a few strategic tricks, your home will drop a few degrees in no time.

Don’t thank us, thank your fan.

Create a Crosswind

Creating a crosswind is a refreshing one-two punch: you’ll get hot air out while also pulling cooler air in. The first step is to close up your house during the day – close windows, drapes, blinds, everything. You don’t want any sun-warmed heat getting in. Note: This will make your home darker, so if you’re partial to a lot of natural light, you may want to choose being warm over a dark room.

When the sun sets, swing open your windows and grab two standard fans. Place one fan facing out of a window in the room you want the coolest. Then, use a second fan to create a strong flow of air towards that fan. Do this by setting up fan #2 so it’s facing inwards, and is either in front of a second window or pushing air into the room you’re trying to cool. This setup will remove stale, hot air out and bring in fresh, cool air.

Use Tall Windows

This trick is all about getting hot air out. If you have tall windows (lucky you!) place your fan as high up as possible, facing out of the window. A shelf, ladder or stool can help with this. Remember, hot air rises, so the goal is to push as much hot air out of the house as possible.

Switch Directions (of Your Ceiling Fan)

If you have a ceiling fan, switch the fan direction so that it moves clockwise instead of counterclockwise. That way, instead of blowing warm air around the room, it will circulate heat up and away. Be safe and make sure you turn the fan off before adjusting. Ceiling fan a little dirty? Read: Clean Your Ceiling Fans.

Make a DIY AC Unit

Don’t have an air conditioner? Make one! This quick project will have you reaching for a sweater in no time. Place a standard fan on the ground (or as low as possible). Put a large bucket of ice directly in front of the fan. The fan will blow air over the ice, cooling it in the process. It may not be pretty, but it’ll keep you cool. If a big bucket of ice sounds like a lot of work, a wet washcloth will do roughly the same time – just place it over the front of the fan. Tip:Keep one window open so hot air can escape.

Trick Mosquitoes

Okay, so maybe mosquitoes don’t make a room hotter, but they certainly make a sticky, sweaty day worse. To stop mosquitoes from bothering you, hang out directly in front of a fan. If you have a patio, bring the fan with you! Mosquitoes can’t land in a crosswind and hate flying against it, so they’ll avoid breezy areas.

https://brightnest.com/posts/need-to-cool-off-try-these-5-fan-tricks

5 EASY WAYS TO KEEP YOUR HOME SPIDER FREE

Spiders.

If that word sends shivers down your spine, you’re not alone. According to a recent BrightNest poll, 85 percent of people Hate spiders with a capital H. But just because the eight-legged arachnids aren’t welcome in your home doesn’t mean they’ll always stay away.

To keep spiders out of sight and out of mind, try one of these natural deterrents before reaching for the chemical spray.

Here are five chemical-free methods to rid your home of spiders:

1. Essential Oils

Essential oils in scents like eucalyptus and peppermint are basically spiders’ worst enemy, because they find the intense smells overwhelming. Fill up an 8 oz. spray bottle with water and add about 15 drops of the oil of your choice. Spray the solution in doorframes, floorboards, bookshelves and any other small crevices. See ya, spiders!

2. Chestnuts

Believe it or not, chestnuts secrete a chemical that spiders can’t stand, so place chestnuts along your windowsills, under the fridge, in dark cabinets and wherever else you frequently see eight-legged enemies. Tip:This only works if the chestnuts are fresh, so it’s best if you store chestnuts in the fridge. Switch out your chestnuts on a weekly basis.

3. Vinegar

In addition to keeping colors fresh in the laundry and elminating mold, white vinegar is a spider-fighter, too! To fight arachnids, combine water and a dash of white vinegar in a spray bottle. Then, spritz doorframes, windowsills, under cabinets and anywhere else you think spiders could enter your home (like a doggie door).

4. Citrus

Spiders hate citrus: lemons, oranges, limes – you name it. To spread citrus throughout your house, rub orange peels on any surface where spiders could creep around or fill a spray bottle with water and citrus juice for a natural-deterrent spray. For more ways to clean with citrus, read: Power to the Lemon: 10 Amazing Household Uses.

5. Keep It Neat

Spiders love to camp out and spin their webs in cozy crevices. To prevent this, dust often and keep clutter to a minimum, especially in small spaces like cabinets and drawers. Flatten and recycle cardboard boxes and empty paper bags. Use the hose of your vacuum to clean floorboards by running the hose along where the floor meets the wall and along the edges of furniture.
https://brightnest.com/posts/5-easy-ways-to-keep-your-home-spider-free