Air Duct Cleaners

It's not something you have to do often, therefore when the time comes, one often wonders, how do I go about cleaning my air ducts? Air duct cleaning is important and it's recommended that you don't do it routinely but only when you feel the need. As with most household projects, you can either do it yourself, or hire someone to do it for you.

If you want to do it yourself, it's a pretty easy project that can be completed in a few easy steps.

1. First, gather your tools together so that when you're in the midst of your cleaning you won't have to stop and go find something you're missing. You'll need a screwdriver, some heavy duty gloves, something to clean with like a brush or rag, and a vacuum cleaner to suck up all the dust and dirt.
2. Make sure to clean the area around your air ducts so as to make sure no small items fall into them while your cleaning. I would recommend taking off any rings or bracelets, just in case. The last thing you want is that special piece of jewelry to end up in your air ducts.
3. Next remove the air duct covers, this is where your screw driver might come in handy, as some air ducts are screwed on and others you can simple pull out. This depends on if yours are located on the floor or on your ceiling.
4. The first part of cleaning is to clean off the walls. You need to be careful though; some of the walls are filter-like while others are just sheet metal. Use a damp cloth to wipe out as much dirt as possible. If using your vacuum cleaner, be careful not to damage the walls or puncture any holes.
5. After cleaning the walls, use the hose on your vacuum cleaner to stick in inside and clean out as much as you can. And finally, when you feel it's clean enough, you can go ahead and stick the cover back on.

A drawback to cleaning your air ducts yourself is that the air ducts run throughout your entire home, and when you clean them yourself, you only have the capabilities of cleaning as far as you can reach. Therefore, if your family has serious problems with allergies, I'd recommend hiring someone to clean them for you. When looking for someone to professional clean your air ducts, make sure they come highly recommended by someone you know, as there's a lot of companies out there that know less about your air ducts than you do, but claim they know more. Make sure, also, that they don't use chemicals or sealants in cleaning, as that can put harmful substances in your home. You want them to use procedures and cautions so you, your family, and pets will not get sick.

Whether you do it yourself, or you hire someone else, when allergy season comes around, you'll be grateful for the clean air you now have in your home.