How to Clean Ducts Before Installing a Humidifier

Locate all of the registers and cool air returns in your home. These are the vents that air blows out of as well as the vents that the air is pulled into.

Remove the covers to the registers and returns, using the appropriate screwdriver. If you have children or pets in the house, you should not uncover all of them before cleaning. Rather, you should remove the covers one at a time as you clean each one to prevent any injuries from someone stepping or falling into one of the air ducts.

Put on the rubber gloves. These will help protect your hands from receiving cuts from the duct work.

Plug in the vacuum cleaner near the first vent you clean. You will need to move the vacuum cleaner with you to each vent that you clean. Vacuum up the dust that you remove from the vent. This helps to reduce the amount of loose dust that falls into the air duct while you're cleaning.

Use a dry cloth and small brush to remove the dust from the air duct. Some will be easy to remove, but dust and dirt that have been there for a long time will require a little more effort to remove.

Dampen a cloth with water to prepare for further cleaning. Once you have removed all the loose dust and dirt that you can with the vacuum cleaner, dry cloth and brush, you can use a damp cloth to remove any other debris stuck to the duct.

Replace the covers on each register and return vent.