We recently came across a clever and super easy cleaning trick from Andrea Jean Cleaning that we couldn’t wait to try and share. If you’ve ever cleaned your ceiling fan blades using a pillowcase and thought that was as efficient as it gets, think again—this method is even better and all it requires is a single sock.

That’s right, just a plain sock. I decided to give it a go myself after realizing just how bad the dust buildup had gotten on my ceiling fans. We often leave the windows open in the room where the fan is, and since we live on a busy corner, the amount of dust that collects on the fan blades is unbelievable. So I grabbed an old, clean sock from my drawer and got to work. First, I removed the light cover from the fan fixture. While not entirely necessary, I figured if I was going to clean the fan, I might as well do it thoroughly and get into all those hard-to-reach spots around the bulbs.

Once the light cover was off and soaking in some warm soapy water, I turned my attention back to the fan blades. Following Andrea Jean’s instructions from her video, I took out my bottle of dusting spray. She makes her own spray at home, but I just used the generic brand I had in my cleaning caddy. I sprayed the sock generously so it would pick up the dust instead of just pushing it around or letting it fall onto the bed, which sits right under the fan. With the sock well-sprayed, I slipped it over one of the fan blades. While you can hold the sock in place with your hand, Andrea Jean demonstrated a more hands-free method in her video by using clothespins to secure the sock onto the blade, so I decided to try that approach. It worked great—once clipped on, the sock gripped the blade tightly and allowed me to slide it along smoothly, collecting a shocking amount of dust as it went.

I couldn’t believe how much dust came off in just one swipe. I made sure to guide the sock all the way around the top edge of the blade to catch every last bit of debris. The clothespins made the process even easier because they helped keep the sock in place while I applied pressure evenly along the entire blade. For the harder-to-reach spot where the blade connects to the fan motor, I used the same sock but changed my technique slightly. I gave it another spritz of dusting spray, slipped it over my hand like a glove, and used my fingers to wipe and scrub around the attachment area.

This gave me more control and helped me get into those small spaces that are usually a pain to clean. The whole process took only a few minutes, and the results were amazing. The fan looked practically new, and I didn’t have to deal with falling dust or bulky tools. It’s such a practical and affordable solution, especially since most people already have socks and dusting spray at home. No special equipment needed—just a sock, some spray, and a couple of clothespins if you want to be fancy. This is now officially my go-to method for cleaning ceiling fan blades. It’s quick, effective, and surprisingly satisfying. Whether you’ve been avoiding your fan because of the mess or just didn’t know an easier way to tackle the job, this trick is a game-changer. It’s especially helpful in homes where fans are used frequently and tend to collect dust quickly. So if your ceiling fan is looking a little grimy and could use some love, don’t reach for a pillowcase—grab a sock instead. Trust me, once you see how well it works, you’ll be recommending this tip to everyone you know. Give it a try and see the difference for yourself.