Air ducts help circulate the air in your home and remove contaminants from it. Over time, these ducts can become filled with dirt, dust, and other allergens. When this happens, your indoor air quality suffers. That's why it's important to clean your air ducts regularly. However, there are some things you should never do when cleaning your air ducts. This post highlights two of those things to help you do a good job.

Don't Use a Vacuum Cleaner With a Beater Bar or Brush Attachment

You might think that using a vacuum cleaner with a beater bar or brush attachment will help loosen and remove the dirt and debris from your air ducts. However, these attachments can actually damage the ductwork or even release more allergens into the air. In fact, the rotating brush on a vacuum cleaner can create static electricity, which can attract more dust and dirt to the ductwork.

Instead of using a vacuum cleaner with a beater bar or brush attachment, opt for a vacuum cleaner with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. This type of filter will remove 99.97% of particles that are 0.03 microns or larger from the air, including mold spores, pet dander, and dust mites.

If you don't have a HEPA-filtered vacuum cleaner, you can use a brush attachment with soft bristles to gently remove any debris that's clinging to the sides of the ductwork. These will be much gentler on your ducts and won't release as many allergens into the air. Just be sure to vacuum up the debris afterward.

Don't Use Chemical Cleaners

You might be tempted to use chemical cleaners to remove the dirt and debris from your air ducts. However, these harsh chemicals can actually damage the ductwork and potentially release harmful toxins into the air. 

They can also be dangerous if not used properly. For example, a chemical cleaner that's too strong could eat through the ductwork and release material fibers into the air. The smell from these chemicals can also be overwhelming, especially if you have asthma or other respiratory conditions.

Instead of using chemical cleaners, opt for a natural cleaning solution like white vinegar. You can dilute the vinegar with water and use it to clean the ductwork. Just be sure to rinse the ductwork afterward with clean water to remove any residue.

You can also use baking soda to clean your air ducts. Just make a paste with water and apply it to the inside of the ductwork. Let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing it gently with a soft-bristled brush. Again, be sure to rinse the ductwork afterward with clean water.

If you follow these simple tips, you can avoid damaging your air ducts during the cleaning process. Remember, regular cleaning is important for maintaining good indoor air quality. But it's also important to clean your air ducts the right way. Otherwise, you could end up doing more harm than good. Enlist the help of a professional if you're unsure of how to clean your air ducts properly. They can help ensure the job is done right without putting you at risk of damaged ductwork.

Contact a local residential air duct cleaning service to learn more. 

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