Spring Cleaning Blind Spots: The Most Neglected Areas that Affect Your Indoor Air Quality

Many of us engage in spring cleaning traditions to get a fresh start of the season by organizing and deep cleaning furniture, floors, windows, appliances, and more. Though the purpose of spring cleaning is to take care of regularly neglected areas in your home, there’s some items that never make it to some home’s spring cleaning checklist. Today, we are listing the most neglected areas of spring cleaning that need your attention ASAP to help improve your indoor air quality.

Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans help circulate air throughout your home, which makes them an energy-efficient way to boost your HVAC system’s performance when you rotate the blades according to the season —counterclockwise during the spring and summer, and clockwise during fall and winter. But simply rotating your fan blades isn’t enough, you also need to ensure they’re clean. Dust, cobwebs, and allergens can coat the top edges of the blades and the motor housing. As the fan spins, this debris can spread into the air, negatively impacting your indoor air quality and rendering some of your spring cleaning efforts useless. To clean your fan, make sure to use a microfiber cloth, damp cloth, or a ceiling fan duster to wipe both the top and bottom of each blade. Always turn off the fan and avoid pushing dust into the air —just wipe and contain.

Exhaust Fans

When was the last time you cleaned your exhaust fans? Though used regularly, they are easily one of the most forgotten areas when it comes to cleaning. Dirty exhaust fans can’t properly ventilate your home, leading to lingering odors, increased humidity, and even mold issues. Clogged fans can also overheat and perform inefficiently, which means the fan can take more time to reduce moisture or smells. This can end up shortening its lifespan and causing damage to the motor. Make sure to clean your exhaust fans (bathroom, kitchen, etc.) at least twice a year. Turn off the power to the unit first, remove the cover, and clean it with soapy warm water. You can also use a vacuum with a brush attachment to clean the fan motor and blades. If accessible, wipe down the interior housing as well.

Dryer Vent

The dryer vent is the duct that expels heated air, moisture and lint out of your dryer and to the building’s exterior. With regular use of your dryer, lint, fabric fibers, and other particles can escape the lint trap. These particles can accumulate in your dryer vent and clog your outdoor vent opening too. All the debris buildup can restrict airflow, cause longer drying times, and overheat your dryer. Because lint is also highly flammable, it can pose a major fire hazard for your home. In fact, clogged dryers are one of the leading causes of house fires. If you own a gas dryer, a damaged or clogged vent can also become a carbon monoxide poisoning threat. That’s why dryer vent cleaning is the one spring cleaning task that you truly don’t want to overlook. You can use a vacuum or a vent cleaning brush to gently remove lint from both the interior and exterior vent openings. However, for a thorough cleaning, it’s best to hire a dryer vent cleaning professional who can inspect and clear the entire length of the vent line.

Air Vents

Many people don’t realize the crucial role air vents play in keeping proper air circulation and maintaining consistent indoor temperatures, so they let them sit for months or even years drowning in dust. That’s because airborne particles (dust, pet dander, hair, etc.) get pulled in through return vents and settle on supply vents with the passage of time. Even mold spores can build up in your vents due to high humidity, leaks in your HVAC system, among other reasons. Not only do these contaminants reduce your system’s efficiency, but they can also spread in the air once your HVAC system kicks in —potentially triggering asthma and allergies symptoms for those sensitive to respiratory issues. As part of your spring cleaning, you can remove the vent covers and wash them with warm soapy water. You may also vacuum the outer area of the duct opening with a hose attachment to clean some of the accumulated dust and debris. For cleaning deeper into the duct, it’s always recommended to consult a duct cleaning professional to prevent damage to your ductwork.

AC System

While it’s customary for many to change the air filter as part of their spring cleaning rituals, there's a lot more that an AC system needs to be truly clean and prepared for the spring and summer seasons. That’s because after sitting idle during winter, your A/C system most likely collected debris on condenser coils, dust on blower components, and/or clogs in the condensate drain line. Dirty AC systems have to work harder to cool your home, which can lead to poor energy-efficiency, more wear and tear, and potential system failures. Besides replacing your air filter if it’s dirty, you can also start by clearing leaves and debris from around the outdoor unit, as well as hosing off the condenser coils (with the power off). However, a licensed technician can help you with cleaning the internal parts safely as well as tuning-up your AC system to ensure it is ready to keep you cool during the hot season. Remember that spring is the best time to schedule your professional AC cleaning and 20-point inspection.

Air Ducts

Your ductwork is like the cardiovascular system of your house —just like arteries carry blood to vital organs, ducts deliver temperature-controlled air throughout your home. Because ducts are such an essential part of your HVAC system, it’s important to have them inspected regularly. This is especially true after renovations or if your space has been exposed to environments conducive to contamination. Many home owners neglect this aspect, and may not know that their air ducts have been housing dust, debris, allergens, pet dander, and potentially, mold and pests over the years. Clogged air ducts can force your HVAC system to work harder and lead to poor indoor air quality and lingering odors that could potentially aggravate respiratory issues. While changing filters and cleaning the opening of your vents can be done yourself, professional duct cleaning is recommended to fully remove pollutants deep inside the ducts. So if your ducts have never been cleaned professionally or if it’s been over 5 years since your last cleaning, it’s a good idea to add this essential task to your spring cleaning checklist to ensure your ducts are in good condition and free from pollutants.  

Spring is the perfect time to refresh your home, and that includes the system’s that contribute to your indoor air quality. If you’re ready to kick off the spring and summer season with clean and healthier air, we are here to assist you with our professional HVAC, dryer vent cleaning, and air duct cleaning services.

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