Here’s the Best Way to Clean Your Home’s Air Vents

Your air vents might seem like one of those objects in your living space where you won’t have to lift a finger, and they’ll be self-sustaining — but that couldn’t be further from the truth. To maximize airflow and help maintain good indoor air quality, here’s the best way to clean your vents:

Turn Off Your HVAC Unit

Before you get started, it’s crucial to shut off your HVAC unit. If you opt to leave it on, you might find yourself with dust, dirt, and other debris blowing around each room you remove a vent from. Once the last gust of air blows from the vent, it’s time to begin the cleaning process!

Remove the Air Vents

Using a screwdriver, you’ll want to remove each air vent that’s located in your home. To avoid forgetting which vent went where, it’s best to complete this task on a room-by-room basis. Also, if you’re afraid of losing any screws during the cleaning, bring around a small, resealable plastic bag with you and place them in there!

Give the Vents a Bath

While it may seem simple to give each vent a dry wipe down, it’s much more effective to give your vents a quick bath. To do this, bring the vent to your kitchen sink and, with lukewarm water and a dime-sized amount of soap, give them a light wash.

Just keep in mind: since you wouldn’t want to scratch your vents, be as gentle with them as possible. If you need to remove any caked-on dirt or debris from the grates, use a soft bristled brush. Once complete, wipe them down with a clean microfiber cloth, let them air dry, and then vacuum out your air ducts.

Vacuum Your Air Ducts

Taking a vacuum cleaner with a long, narrow hose, you’ll want to vacuum any lingering dirt, dust, and debris that you see present. This is rather simple to do and will take no more than a few minutes per duct opening. After this step is complete, it’s time to reattach your air vent covers!

Reattach Covers

Once your air vents are completely dry (this will eliminate the potential growth of mold), resecure each one to its “home” duct, and you should be good to go!

Noticed Something Strange When Cleaning Your Air Vents and Ducts?

We can help! If you run into any problems with your home’s plumbing, heating, or cooling, and prefer to forgo the DIY route, our technicians are here to help! Visit our website to learn more about the services that we offer here at Pipe Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Inc., or call (865) 518-7008 to speak with a representative directly.