any a/c vent tool?
- Thread starter adamh3
- Start date
Ron Ketcham
Active member
Small air compressor, with a nice little air nozzle for the air hose, spray the vents with a safe all purpose, let it dwell for a minute or so, then respray, and hold a towel around the vent and hit it with air pressure.
It blows the dirt and the cleaner out, some goes into the vent area but that's ok, and blow until dry.
Takes about 5 minutes to clean all the vents.
Not for the "Autopia-it's got to be perfect, etc" but for a pro who like you say, "time is money and let's get it done" business person.
Perfect? Well, we are back to small brushes, q-tips, lots of time, etc.
Grumpy
It blows the dirt and the cleaner out, some goes into the vent area but that's ok, and blow until dry.
Takes about 5 minutes to clean all the vents.
Not for the "Autopia-it's got to be perfect, etc" but for a pro who like you say, "time is money and let's get it done" business person.
Perfect? Well, we are back to small brushes, q-tips, lots of time, etc.
Grumpy
derek37
New member
get an air compressor
Accumulator
Well-known member
Every now and then this comes up and I start a bit of an :argue So here's the latest case! OK, flamesuit on, ready for responses....
I don't go for the compressor/steamer approach to this *UNLESS* you open up the ductwork so the stuff you're blowing/steaming "away" can be cleaned out. Otherwise *IMO* you're just forcing it back into the ductwork, out of sight/out of mind, where it can either accumulate (and perhaps absorb/retain moisture) or merely work its way back to the dash outlets over time(ending up right back where you started).
Blowing it back into the ducts merely cleans the [stuff] off the visible parts of the dash outlets, but it's not *gone* the way it'd be if you cleaned it off said outlets with a swab/etc.
Hey, I'm not opposed to the blowing/steaming (I generally prefer the latter), but I only do it when I have the ductwork opened up so I can get the dirt out. And I've had a *LOT* of dirt in the ductwork of certain vehicles
I don't go for the compressor/steamer approach to this *UNLESS* you open up the ductwork so the stuff you're blowing/steaming "away" can be cleaned out. Otherwise *IMO* you're just forcing it back into the ductwork, out of sight/out of mind, where it can either accumulate (and perhaps absorb/retain moisture) or merely work its way back to the dash outlets over time(ending up right back where you started).
Blowing it back into the ducts merely cleans the [stuff] off the visible parts of the dash outlets, but it's not *gone* the way it'd be if you cleaned it off said outlets with a swab/etc.
Hey, I'm not opposed to the blowing/steaming (I generally prefer the latter), but I only do it when I have the ductwork opened up so I can get the dirt out. And I've had a *LOT* of dirt in the ductwork of certain vehicles
Ron Ketcham
Active member
That is correct, George, just that in a volume, make a buck, shop enviroment, the air compressor method is the fastest and cheapest method. Most of these vehicles are going on a lot or to auction, the customer is getting it ready to be traded, etc, so not an Autopia type of method.
It is not for "everyone", just one of those methods that gets the job done for the amount of money paid.
Grumpy
It is not for "everyone", just one of those methods that gets the job done for the amount of money paid.
Grumpy
Accumulator
Well-known member
Ron Ketcham- Well, no surprise that you and I are on the same page 
But it seems like that method is being used for "Autopian" details too :think:
But it seems like that method is being used for "Autopian" details too :think:
Nth Degree
New member
These are the tools I use for vents.
The two I use the most, though, are the ones all the way to the right. I stumbled upon both of these tools at Majestic Solutions just walking through their store.
The little brush works great on all sort of interior cleaning when I need to get into small spaces. I start by spraying my APC, then use the tiny, single row of bristles to scrub if necessary. (Excuse the remaining dirt. I simply took these photos for demonstration and did not actually clean as I took them.)
Usually just wrapping a MF around it is enough since it is usually just dust I am having to remove. A thin MF works best for this and I can often get to every part of the inner slats by simply inserting, then a quick back and forth or up and down motion, just like you would with Q-tips. The rigidity of this and the large surface area of the MF is much more efficient, though. I have developed a rhythm to this so I isn't quite as tedious, but it is not something to rush.
A word of warning: Use extreme caution when inserting rigid objects into vents. Often times the rear slats or the directional lever can be easily knocked loose or broken. These can be very difficult to fix, if possible, or expensive to replace.
My favorite tool is this piece of plastic. It is tapered at each end and I believe it is intended for getting into seams of body panels, which it does well at but not as good as a depleted gift card or hotel room key. (More flexible than a credit card.)
The rigidity of this tool makes it ideal. Simply wrap a thin MF towel around it and It works wonders.
Not just on vents, but also in difficult to reach areas of consoles, between steering column and dash, deep instrument panels, etc. I wish I had picked up more than one. I'm not sure what I would do if I were to lose it. For the DIYer or in a pinch a popsicle stick will serve almost as well.
While it may not be as fast as using a compressor, with a little practice I have been able to get down to doing all dash vents in under 10 minutes for most vehicles or even 5 if they are just a little dusty.
The two I use the most, though, are the ones all the way to the right. I stumbled upon both of these tools at Majestic Solutions just walking through their store.
The little brush works great on all sort of interior cleaning when I need to get into small spaces. I start by spraying my APC, then use the tiny, single row of bristles to scrub if necessary. (Excuse the remaining dirt. I simply took these photos for demonstration and did not actually clean as I took them.)
Usually just wrapping a MF around it is enough since it is usually just dust I am having to remove. A thin MF works best for this and I can often get to every part of the inner slats by simply inserting, then a quick back and forth or up and down motion, just like you would with Q-tips. The rigidity of this and the large surface area of the MF is much more efficient, though. I have developed a rhythm to this so I isn't quite as tedious, but it is not something to rush.
A word of warning: Use extreme caution when inserting rigid objects into vents. Often times the rear slats or the directional lever can be easily knocked loose or broken. These can be very difficult to fix, if possible, or expensive to replace.
My favorite tool is this piece of plastic. It is tapered at each end and I believe it is intended for getting into seams of body panels, which it does well at but not as good as a depleted gift card or hotel room key. (More flexible than a credit card.)
The rigidity of this tool makes it ideal. Simply wrap a thin MF towel around it and It works wonders.
Not just on vents, but also in difficult to reach areas of consoles, between steering column and dash, deep instrument panels, etc. I wish I had picked up more than one. I'm not sure what I would do if I were to lose it. For the DIYer or in a pinch a popsicle stick will serve almost as well.
While it may not be as fast as using a compressor, with a little practice I have been able to get down to doing all dash vents in under 10 minutes for most vehicles or even 5 if they are just a little dusty.
Ron Ketcham
Active member
That tool is called a "pick stick" and was developed for the automotive glass business when removing or setting new windshields, etc.
C.R.Lawuance is the only place I ever found them.
Good for lots of things like you found out.
Grumpy
C.R.Lawuance is the only place I ever found them.
Good for lots of things like you found out.
Grumpy
Brad B
New member
I use a Swiffer duster. The standard Swiffer is a double pronged duster. I cut one in half so it is just one prong on the handle. It easily goes in any vent grid I have come across. Does a great job.
Nth Degree
New member
Brad B. said:
I use one in my own car as well, but only for maintenance. Not effective enough when there is a build up of dust and grime.
Accumulator
Well-known member
Ron Ketcham said:
Eh, I couldn't find it at their website (even after I fixed your spelling
) :think:Ron Ketcham
Active member
All major cities have a store/warehouse, and yeah, keep picking on my poor spelling and I will key your Crown Vic.
LOL!
Seriously, you have one in the Cleveland area, Solon, Ohio.
The companies full name is C.R.Laurance Co. Inc.
The name I use for that tool is called something else by them, I couldn't find it on their website, but sure a quick call and a description to them will get the right name.
Grumpy
LOL!
Seriously, you have one in the Cleveland area, Solon, Ohio.
The companies full name is C.R.Laurance Co. Inc.
The name I use for that tool is called something else by them, I couldn't find it on their website, but sure a quick call and a description to them will get the right name.
Grumpy
Accumulator
Well-known member
Ron Ketcham- OK, thanks. I'll see if one of my Cleveland pals can hook me up.
Heh heh, if it's the POS white one I bet nobody would ever notice!
Ron Ketcham said:
Heh heh, if it's the POS white one I bet nobody would ever notice!
RaskyR1
Rasky's Auto Detailing
When your vents look like this, compressed air, cleaner, and a detail brush is the most effective way to get them clean (as is steam). It may not be the "best" solution, but most owners are not going to pay to have the duct work removed and other methods are very time consuming and tedious.
This was a dealer job several ago so please excuse the moderately glossy dressing....the flash made it look worse than it was.
This was a dealer job several ago so please excuse the moderately glossy dressing....the flash made it look worse than it was.
Ron Ketcham
Active member
I am a long way from any of their stores and the one I had disappeared years ago.
So, was looking through some "super plastic" stock I have,(wear block material for food handling equipment) and looks like I can make one in about 10 minutes, just a little pass through the table saw, some sanding, I got one!
Grumpy
So, was looking through some "super plastic" stock I have,(wear block material for food handling equipment) and looks like I can make one in about 10 minutes, just a little pass through the table saw, some sanding, I got one!
Grumpy
Accumulator
Well-known member
Ron Ketcham- Yeah, I'm always whittling stuff like this up. Got a drawer full of stuff I made from wooden clothespins (remember those ).
RaskyR1- This is a good example of the differences between what Pros and amateurs (like me) are dealing with...all sorts of different considerations to factor in.
).RaskyR1- This is a good example of the differences between what Pros and amateurs (like me) are dealing with...all sorts of different considerations to factor in.