There is a never-ending war with dust, particularly on your ceiling fan. You would think it would be less likely to gather dust because it is constantly in motion, but unfortunately, that is not the case.
To minimize or entirely stop it from happening, knowing the reason why it happens will be helpful. So why does dust accumulate on ceiling fans?
A net charge leads to dust accumulating on ceiling fans. As the ceiling fan uses electricity to spin, friction is caused, leading to an electrical charge. This means that the dust particles charged by this attract other dust particles because of the electromagnetic effect.
It is usual for things to get dusty, like your window sills and tables, but ceiling fans seem to accumulate a ridiculous amount of dust. Essentially, the ceiling fan could be considered to be like a magnet because of how it attracts dust.
No one likes dust in their vicinity, especially if you have allergies. Therefore, finding ways to deal with it will be beneficial in the long run.
Why Is My Ceiling Fan So Dusty?
Fans are predominantly used a lot during summer or hotter weather (but also really useful during the winter). However, you may have noticed that a lot of dust tends to accumulate on the fan’s blades.
This isn’t ideal, but there’s a reason for it happening.
To figure out why so much dust is getting on the fan, we need to understand why the dust particles are attracted to the ceiling fan blades.
Dust takes the form of many things like dead skin cell flakes, dandruff, etc. An electric charge is the reason why these dust particles zero in on the ceiling fan. There is an electric charge that the dust particles in the air contain, and unsurprisingly, the blades of the ceiling fan also have an electric charge when they are in motion.
Friction is created when the fan is turned on, and the blades are spinning because the molecules in the air are being rubbed against. The friction created then leads to there being an electric charge created, known as static electricity.
This all leads to the ceiling fan blades attracting the dust particles floating about in the air. The more the fan is in motion, the more dust it accumulates.
How Do I Stop My Ceiling Fan From Collecting Dust?
Let’s face it, most people would like to avoid dusting at all costs, but sometimes that’s not possible, especially when you want your home to be clean.
Often, it is better to prevent things from happening rather than sorting them out once they have happened.
In this case, you want to prevent dust from accumulating on your ceiling fan rather than having to clean it off. Although it seems tempting to stop using your fan so that it does not attract dust, the truth is that it will still get some dust particles on it because dust is essentially everywhere.
One of the ways you can stop dust from accumulating on your ceiling fan is to invest in anti-dust fan blades. These blades are created using unique technology that helps repel dust and ensure that the amount of dust sticking to your ceiling fan is significantly reduced.
If you cannot afford to get an anti-dust fan, some of the other ways that you can prevent dust from collecting are to use furniture polish on your blades. The polish will leave your blades with a slippery coating where dust will not stick easily.
Another way is to use a spray that repels dust or a fabric softener cloth to lessen future dust.
How To Prevent Dust On Ceiling Fans
There are some easy ways to prevent dust from clinging to your ceiling fans. The overall method to achieve this is to make your home dust-free (but that’s easier said than done)!
- Ensure that you regularly wash and change your bed sheets as they are one of the places where you find dust particles due to dead skin particles and dust mites. Replace your sheets if you have had them for longer than a year.
- Invest in a dehumidifier. It will help bring the necessary humidity levels needed in your home. It also has a filter that will help collect any loose dust particles in the air. It must be cleaned regularly to continue working effectively.
- If possible, go for window blinds instead of curtains because curtains can attract a lot of dust and are usually a lot of work to clean.
- Also, look into using an air purifier as this will help filter the air and remove dust particles and other airborne contaminants.
- Regularly vacuum your house with a high-efficiency particular air filter vacuum. If you do not have a vacuum cleaner, sweeping works just as well as long as you regularly clean both your broom and your dustpan.
- It may not be enough to vacuum or sweep your house. Make sure that you also mop to get rid of any leftover dust.
- Try not to hoard things or have knick-knacks that gather and accumulate dust. They also require more effort to dust as opposed to a bare surface.
How To Clean Dust From Ceiling Fans
An effective way to clean your ceiling fan at home is to use a ladder and an old pillowcase.
If you do not have a step ladder, a sturdy chair works well, but you might need someone to help steady you.
You place the open side of the pillowcase over one of the blades all the way where it is attached to the motor. The blade will now be inside the pillowcase, and you will hold it down and slowly pull the pillowcase towards the edge.
This way, the dust falls inside the pillowcase instead of going all over the floor and creating a mess. Repeat the process for each of the ceiling fan blades.
Read our full guide on how to clean ceiling fans here.
Conclusion
Now that we know why ceiling fans accumulate so much dust, it is easier to try and prevent it from happening so much. It is never fun dealing with dust but knowing that it does not have to always be a hassle brings peace of mind.