The part of the bathroom everyone forgets to clean

9honey Living’s The Wash Up: Your 30-day spring cleaning guide is a month-long series aimed at making your annual house clean easier with hacks and expert advice.
When we think about cleaning the bathroom, the shower, toilet, bathtub, vanity basin and mirror all feature on the list.
In many cases that is the entire list, which can be enough for a weekly maintenance clean.
However, there is one spot that needs to be looked at every now and then, not just for it to function properly but to ensure the general cleanliness of the whole room.
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That neglected but very important part of the bathroom is the exhaust or extractor fan.
“A bathroom exhaust fan needs regular cleaning to maintain its efficiency. Over time, dust and debris accumulate on the fan blades and motor, reducing airflow and making the fan work harder. This build up can also lead to mould and mildew growth, which can affect indoor air quality,” Simone Tsigolis, Jetlag Remedy founder, tells 9honey Living.
The frequency of cleaning is once a fortnight according to Maid For You director Delah Gomasi.
The most common reason he hears from clients of his house cleaning company for not cleaning exhaust fans is “they find it too difficult”.
But the process is simple and straightforward.
“First we make sure the fan is not running, they’re usually connected to the light in the bathroom, so it’s best to clean it during the day time when there is more natural light,” he says.
”Once that’s done, we use a damp microfibre cloth to clean the underside bathroom extractor fan and remove all dust and grime. We then rinse the microfibre cloth and repeat until all the dust, dirt and grime has been removed in its entirety.”
Alternatively you can soak the cover and vacuum the fan, after turning the power off of course.
“Remove the cover and soak it in warm soapy water,” Kate Croukamp from Clean Like a Pro recommends.
“Use a vacuum with a brush attachment to clean the fan blades and motor housing. Wipe everything down with a damp cloth before reassembling.”
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Make sure everything is dry before putting the fan back together and turning it on again.
Once your bathroom fan is clean again, consider dusting it regularly with a vacuum attachment or an electrostatic duster (which you can get for between $5 to $10 from supermarkets, department stores and hardware stores).
Doing this weekly as part of your usual bathroom cleaning routine will help keep the fan cleaner for longer, meaning you won’t have to deep clean it quite as often and when you do it’ll be quicker and easier.
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