Why the crazy get-up?
Because of this:
Which came off of this:
Which now, thankfully, looks like this:
Hubby’s office party is Thursday night.
Here.
It’s December, and I can’t pull the old “Wow, it’s hot in here, so I have to keep the ceiling fan going!” trick.
I had to clean them. The “great” thing about being a slob-blogger is that I can know exactly how long it has been since I last cleaned them. November 30, 2009.
Basically, a year ago.
OK, fine. OVER a year ago.
And if you’re thinking that I probably cleaned them and just didn’t write about it . . . you must be new around here. If I’m going to do a big cleaning project, I’m definitely going to give myself credit by blogging about it.
Mostly, I don’t clean them often because I don’t notice them often. But I also dread the get-up that is required to clean them.
What? You don’t wear a dust-mask, goggles, and a headscarf when you clean your ceiling fans?
I have to, because of my love of great excuses.
I’m allergic to dust, hence the dust mask.
I have a fear of going blind (it’s actually a recurring dream of mine) from huge chunks of dust falling in my eyes, hence the goggles.
And last but not least, who wants dust in her hair? Hence . . . the headscarf.
Yes, I’m fully aware that I have issues.
And I also cleaned my evidently-an-ideal-spider-habitat chandelier in the dining room.
It was pretty nasty. I’m not sure that I had ever really cleaned it. Maybe a gentle whack with a duster-on-a-stick, but that’s about it.
And here it is now:
I know that the difference doesn’t show up really well in the pictures, but . . . as often happens . . . I am truly amazed at how much of a difference it makes in the look of the room for this to be all shiny and sparkly like it’s supposed to be.
And not to make this a commercial or anything, but I have to say how much I love Pledge Multi-Surface Spray. I tend to . . . . ummm . . . . wait a while between dustings on objects like these. Which means that a little brushing of the dust doesn’t do much. I love this spray because it is fragrance free (eliminating my allergic-to-the-smell-of-cleaners excuse) and it can be used on glass, electronics, etc. So, in one step I remove the dust (not just spread it around) and also shine up the glass. Not that I’m an expert, but it also seems to “stay dusted” longer, specifically on my dust-magnet-black-TV.
Whew. Annual-ceiling-fan-dusting . . . done.
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Amy says
What a job- WTG! I put mine off, too. There are three ceiling fans in this house and I can't tell you the last time I cleaned any of them. Guess I should check how bad they are.
Amanda H. says
I feel your pain. A couple of days before Thanksgiving every year, I have to sit on top of an 8 ft ladder to clean my parent's ceiling fan along with the 6 attached lights that are a combo of glass and wood. I think this pain in the toosh ritual is my excuse for never cleaning my own fans, haha! I, too, am a Pledge Multi Surface fan. LOVE that stuff. Have you tried the wipes? They come in handy too.
hypnobarb1 says
I think you have just reminded me that I can't remember exactly when the ceiling fan and lights in the living room were last cleaned.
jmischler says
I swear your posts are like reading something I could have written. EVERYTIME! We could be twins!
peigi says
That stuff that falls off ceiling fans is gross! Also, I have that same chandelier. It is a spider’s dream. There have been times that I’ve washed every single crystal, but probably only 3 times in 10 years!
KayDee says
Reminds me of when I didn’t have time to clean the ceiling fan before my son’s birthday party. No problem–I’ll just keep it running. And then the helium filled balloons escaped and got tangled up in the ceiling fan and dust rained down on everyone and everything. I was horrified.
Dana White says
Oh my word. That is SOOOO something that would happen to me!!
Melissa says
Loving your blog, reading from the beginning! Two things 1) put a pillowcase over the fan blade, then wipe. All the dust falls in and you just throw it in the washer! (I usually need a couple cases to fit all the dust.) 2)We have the same chandelier. Spiders love it and I only notice when guests arrive. I hate cleaning that thing, but it is pretty!