How To Clean A Floor Fan To Keep Your Garage Or Workshop Fresh

Those who regularly undertake automotive or woodworking projects in their garages or workshops know that doing so can leave those spaces pretty messy. Even if you no doubt spend plenty of post-project time properly deep-cleaning the floors, dusting surfaces, and wiping down countertops, there are always spots and items that regularly elude such care.

Many of these garages and basement work spaces have some sort of floor fan strategically located in an out-of-the-way location to keep you cool during the job. It's also a safe bet that said fan has probably not had a good cleaning since the moment it was plugged in. Whether you realize it or not, that fan has been collecting airborne dust and dirt particles whether it's been running or not.

While a good workshop fan can help keep your garage cool with all that gunk caked onto the grates and blades, all that build up will eventually limit the free flow of air. Likewise, every time you turn it on, the fan will cast dust and allergens into the air around you, lowering the air quality in your work space. If left unchecked, the built-up dust and dirt may even impede the fan's operations, potentially damaging the motor to the point the device ceases to function. You can, however, prevent such damage and keep your space fresh by periodically cleaning the fan. 

You will need a few items on hand to deep clean your fan, though some of the standard cleaning gear you already have in your garage may do the job. That list includes a water hose, a bin of soapy water, a sponge, microfiber towels, and a shop vac. You may also need a screwdriver to remove the fan's front grate. With that gear on hand, follow these steps to clean your workshop floor fan.

1. Turn your fan off and unplug it from any power sources.
2. Remove the front grate of the fan by loosening fasteners or removing screws with a screwdriver.
3. Using the hose, rinse excess dust from the grate.
4. Soak the sponge in soapy water and wipe the remaining build up from the grate.
5. Rinse the grate with clean water, then dry it with a microfiber towel.
6. Use your shop vac to remove built-up dust and dirt from the fan's blade and housing. 
7. Wipe both blades and housing down, using a dry microfiber towel to remove additional build up.
8. If dirt and grime remain, use a very lightly dampened sponge to scrub the build up away.
9. Dry the fan blades and housing with a microfiber cloth.
10. Re-attach the front cover of the fan.

You'll want to be extra careful when cleaning the fan's housing, ensuring no moisture is allowed into the motor. With the front cover reattached, run the fan on low and high settings to ensure the blades are spinning freely within the grates. For best results, repeat this process as often as every month, or as needed.