How to Clean Vents In Your House (6 Easy Steps)

Having a home means protecting you and your family from anything that could potentially cause you harm. Everyone wants clean air circulating throughout their home at all times. Air vents help with that circulation, but eventually you start breathing in unfiltered air when they build up dirt. We want to tell you all about how to clean vents in your house. 

With this surefire, easy method, your vents will be in top shape to tackle all dust particles and dirt in the air. But, having clean air vents isn’t just about clean air. It’s about preserving and extending the lifespan of your AC components. So let’s explore how to clean vents in your house so you can go about your day. 

What You’re Going To Need To Clean Your Vents

When we think of how to clean vents in your house, we also need to consider what you’re going to need to get the job done right! So here’s what you’ll need:

#1 - Screw Driver

The vast majority of air duct vents are kept in place with tightened screws. In most cases, you’ll need a standard screwdriver to gain access to the AC vents and ducts. In some cases, you might need a power drill.

#2 - Scrub Brush

A long-handled scrubbing brush with some stiff bristles is ideal for cleaning your vents and getting rid of dust and dirt.

#3 - Vacuum Cleaner

How you approach this item is entirely up to you. A standard vacuum cleaner is absolutely fine. However, it should have a long hose attachment to reach more difficult places.

#4 - Broom & Cleaning Cloths

This is for debris and dirt clean-up at the end of the job to ensure your home remains neat and tidy. 

#5 - Water and Soap

The water should be warm, and the soap mild. This is going to come in handy when cleaning the inside of your air duct. Some air duct elements will need to be cleaned in the sink, like the cover. Larger machine parts might need a spray down with a hose, such as a fan element. 

Check out this article on household items you might not realize are polluting the air quality in your home. You’d be surprised what might be a problematic substance in your household. 

#6 - New Filter

Now, how to clean vents in your house job is complete without a new filter! But, this is the fresh start your HVAC system needs. We talk extensively about how often you should be replacing your air filter in a separate blog post. 

#7 - Optional Items

These are personal choice items, not required items: masks, goggles, and gloves. It’s just precautionary items that can be useful if you suffer from breathing conditions or have sensitive allergies.  

How to Clean Vents In Your House 

Okay, you’ve got your weapons of choice. Now it’s time to learn how to clean vents in your house thoroughly. 

Step 1: Power Off

Beyond getting your tools and equipment ready, it’s essential you turn the power to certain aspects of your HVAC off first. Leave the fans on for cleaning purposes, but have the heating and cooling systems offline for the duration of the cleaning process.

Step 2: Remove The Vent Covers

Taking your screwdriver, you will remove the screws from the vent covers. If you’re cleaning a floor register, then you’ll be able to just lift them up. You’re going to immediately focus on cleaning the cover. If it’s incredibly dirty before you even start taking it off, just use your vacuum to get a head start. 

Make sure you’re cleaning the vent covers with some warm soapy water, and if necessary, scrub them down. We advise you to be careful when scrubbing them so as not to damage the vents by removing their finish. 

Step 3: Tackle The Inside of The Duct

Now that the exterior vent cover has been addressed, it’s time for the main prize: the inside of the air vent. Take your long-handled scrub brush and extend it as far as possible, running it along the walls of your air duct. Once you’ve loosened a lot of the debris, you can start using the vacuum cleaner to get the dirt out of your duct once and for all.  

While we’re discussing how to clean vents in your house, you might be coming across some odors when performing this task. If you want to learn more about why you might be experiencing musty odors, burning odors, decaying animals, or any other odor, please check out some of our posts on these topics. 

Step 4: Wiping Down The Rest

With the vacuuming over, it is time to get your cloth and wipe it down from the inside. Using a microfiber cloth, you’ll slightly dampen it and use an all-purpose cleaner for stubborn dirt residing in the vents. 

Step 5: Clean Up

You’ve done all the hard parts. Now it’s time to call it a day and pack up your things and get everything clean. However, before you totally consider the job done, run your system for roughly a half-hour to filter out any remaining dirt and debris loosened up during your cleaning process but unsuccessfully removed. 

Step 6: Change the Air Filter

The final step in the how to clean vents in your house guide is to change out the air filter for a brand new one. This is only to be done after the half-hour filtering process. 

Conclusion

Everyone should have clean air vents in their home. This way, you keep the air pure and your family safe. When you learn how to clean vents in your house the right way, you’re doing your job protecting those you love. 

Cleaning your air vents is only one step in improving the overall air quality in your home. If you want a truly thorough cleaning, call a professional. At Crystal Clean Vents, we know how to make your vents good as new! So, schedule a cleaning or maintenance with us today. We serve the vast majority of Utah in duct defense, cleaning, and more!