# How can I clean these two things? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 31, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-clean-these-two-things/697053 "2014-08-31T16:13:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-clean-these-two-things/697053/1 "2014-08-31T16:13:51Z")
Here are [pictures](http://imgur.com/a/jlWE5). The first item holds recently cleaned utensils for drying. The bottom is dirty, but hard to reach. I tried using a toothbrush, but the angle doesn’t allow me to put enough pressure on the brush to clean all of the dirt. The second item is a kitchen fan, with the same hard to reach cleaning issue. I was thinking of hosing it down with water, but that might ruin the electric fan. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-clean-these-two-things/697053/2 "2014-08-31T16:22:33Z")
For the first item, I’d just use soap and water and a sponge. If that doesn’t work and all the plastic/vinyl coating is still on it, I might try just tossing it in the dishwasher. Also, if that’s mildew on the bottom, bleach will get rid of it. Either picking up some kind of ‘sanitizing’ spray from the store with bleach or just mixing up some in a bucket deep enough to submerse the bottom in. You won’t need much either, a teaspoon in an inch of water will be plenty. You can scrub all day, but if it’s mildew, the bleach will get rid of it in 2 minutes. For the fan, if it’s really bothering you, and you want to get it really clean, you’re going to have to take it apart. That’ll give you access to the blades which can be wiped off with a damp cloth. Then, if the back panel comes off on it’s own, with nothing attached to it (so it’s just a piece of plastic), you can hose it off. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-clean-these-two-things/697053/3 "2014-08-31T16:24:02Z")
Thing one: Soak in bleach solution, then hose off. Or use a [dish scrub brush](https://www.google.com/search?q=dish+scrub+brush&client=firefox-a&hs=7e9&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=MEsDVPGvMouuggSGn4H4DA&ved=0CGoQsAQ&biw=1876&bih=1020&dpr=0.9). Thing two: I have that _exact_ same window fan! And it gets dust and cobwebs and dead bugs trapped in it, too. I’ve never figured out how to get it absolutely clean, but a combination of vacuum cleaner hose and artists’ brush works quite well. ---
**Author:** ![turner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@turner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turner)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-clean-these-two-things/697053/4 "2014-08-31T18:47:10Z")
A small bottle brush (looks like a pipe cleaner) will clean the first. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-clean-these-two-things/697053/5 "2014-08-31T18:51:17Z")
I’d be very surprised if that front grill doesn’t come off, as these things are assembled, not glued. There are probably plastic clips holding it in place that you can gently pry open. That other thing: soak it in a degreaser like 409 or in a bleach solution, then go at it with a scrub brush. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-clean-these-two-things/697053/6 "2014-08-31T19:21:11Z")
Probably not worth it, but you may be able to find someplace that does ultrasonic cleaning. There are places that do venetian blinds that might be able to do it. But it sounds like soaking or a dishwasher will take care of it. You’d have to take the fan apart to do the grills, and if you do that they’d probably clean easily with a rinse and something like 409. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-clean-these-two-things/697053/7 "2014-08-31T22:59:11Z")
Car wash. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DingoelGringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@DingoelGringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DingoelGringo)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-clean-these-two-things/697053/8 "2014-09-01T01:53:15Z")
I’d hose them both down with a lot of pressure. Leave the fan off and disconnected for 48 hours afterwards and it’ll dry out and be OK! ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-clean-these-two-things/697053/9 "2014-09-01T02:28:01Z")
I’ve yet to find a fan that doesn’t come apart with removal of a few screws. Then I get myself properly mentally prepared _cough, cough_ and put a good movie on and go at it with foaming bathroom cleaner and a damp rag and toothbrush. Takes a while, but it’s extremely emotionally satisfying when its done. ---
**Author:** ![Whatever4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@Whatever4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whatever4)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-clean-these-two-things/697053/10 "2014-09-01T03:08:06Z")
On my similar fan, I used the pressurized air that I use on my computer. Along with damp cloth, paintbrush and q-tips. I have a smaller fan that I take apart to clean. Just too lazy to disassemble the big one. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-clean-these-two-things/697053/11 "2014-09-01T06:44:25Z")
The drying rack looks like its vinyl/rubber coating has been nicked by countless forks and knives, and the underlying steel wire is starting to rust. The only real way to fix that will be to replace it. For the fan, removing the grille probably starts with pulling the knobs off, then looking for screws or some sort of snap-together clips.