Guide
Two household remedies that eliminate the smell of old water from your robot vacuum cleaner
by Lorenz Keller
Wait, am I supposed to change this filter?
2.6.2025
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
Pictures: Simon Balissat
My bathroom fan has been humming away for the last three years, diligently doing it’s job. Or so I thought. Turns out, it was pushed to its limits, because I’d never changed the filter. That was a big mistake.
How did it take me 42 years to ask myself if bathroom fans need maintenance? It took a strange series of events for me to realise this. For one, the tile grout in my bathroom is slightly mouldy. That’s why I got myself four types of anti-mould sprays for test purposes. I know, I know, the sprays are just a band-aid solution and won’t get rid of the underlying problem. Honestly, I thought the culprit in my windowless bathroom was a feeble fan. This left me with just one option: investing in a dehumidifier. But before making any rushed decisions, I got in touch with a specialist and told him about my problem. In his e-mail response, he casually brought up what I’d failed to see for years:
I also strongly recommend that you clean the dust filter in the extractor fan. They are usually very dirty and the reason why hardly any air is extracted.
The WHAT?
My bathroom’s black lung
Sure enough, the square part above my toilet can be opened. And what I discover beneath it is extremely unsightly. Three years of dust caught in a net of filter fibres.
The first emergency measure I take is clean it with a vacuum cleaner. As the filter’s way past its prime, I order a ten-pack of new ones from the manufacturer. Since then, the steam from the shower is properly extracted again.
But I still wonder: is this something I should’ve known about? Is it as obvious a task to others as vacuuming or cleaning the fridge? I’d honestly never heard of bathroom fan filter maintenance.
As a renter, I know about putting up the sunblind when it’s raining, cleaning the extractor fan above the hob or the problem with leaving shoes in the outside hall. But no building management has ever told me to replace the bathroom fan filter. Nor have I ever heard anyone say: «Sorry, I’m late, cleaning the extractor fan filter in my bathroom took longer than expected.»
What about you?
Is this news to you, too? Or do you think I must be living under a rock. Either way, thanks for dropping us a comment.
Simon Balissat
Teamleader Editorial
Simon.Balissat@digitecgalaxus.chWhen I flew the family nest over 15 years ago, I suddenly had to cook for myself. But it wasn’t long until this necessity became a virtue. Today, rattling those pots and pans is a fundamental part of my life. I’m a true foodie and devour everything from junk food to star-awarded cuisine. Literally. I eat way too fast.
Home + Kitchen
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