Get the dust off ceiling fans

Some people get excited about the latest fashion or the newest high-tech gadgets. Not me. I get excited about cleaning and cleaning products.

You were hyped about the new iPhone, I, the French lavender biodegradable wipes by Method.

You keep up with celebrity gossip, I, Martha Stewart's home-keeping tips.

Did you dust your staircase this week?

Well, I did.

I started doing all of the cleaning in my mother's house at the ripe old age of 13, and not just my room. The entire house. And so it continues at my own house.

Over the years, as my life has gotten more and more busy, I've developed the habit of doing a little bit of cleaning every day. By the weekend it's mostly done, and I can kick back.

On the day I change my bed linens, I also vacuum and dust my bedroom. It takes about 30 minutes, and I can mark this room off my list as being clean.

To keep my bathroom sink shiny, I scrub it out every day after I brush my teeth. I find that if the sink is clean, I'm more likely to keep the surrounding vanity clean too.

In this occasional column, I will share more of my housecleaning tips, as well as some of my favorite cleaning products. I hope you will share yours with me as well.

Q: How do I clean my ceiling fan, and is there a way to keep it from getting so dusty?

A: I'll answer your second question first. The best way to prevent dust buildup on your ceiling fan is to dust weekly.

Safety first: Turn off the ceiling fan. Be sure to read any instructions that came with your fan to avoid using cleaners that might damage it. Also make sure that whatever you stand on (kitchen chair, stepladder) to clean the fan is sturdy.

Tool and technique: Use a long-handled duster such as Swiffer Dusters with the extendible handle and pivoting head to clean the blades. Gently turn each blade toward you, running the duster along the blade edges as well as the top and bottom of each blade. Use your free hand to stabilize the blade you are cleaning.

Never pull on a blade; you could break it. Repeat this procedure until you have cleaned all of the blades; now dust the brackets that attach the fan to the motor.

If the blades have built-up grease or grime, lightly spray the duster with an all-purpose cleaner (I use Windex) and follow the above directions.

Avoid saturating the duster; you don't want liquid dripping into the fan motor.

Use what you have: No fancy duster? No problem. Grab a clean pair of socks and turn them inside out. Place them on your hands and spray lightly with cleaner, if needed, and follow the above directions.