Spiff up those vents

It seems all the small odd things pop out at me when people are over, things I never noticed before. So as part of my deep clean before the holidays I like to go through the house looking at each room as if company were with me and making note of everything. Air conditioning vents (in the ceiling and in the wall) are one of those things.

If you want to go beyond just dusting them there are a few options. Option one is to buy new ones at your local hardware store. This option tends to add up pretty fast though. The second option will only cost you about five dollars. All you need is sand paper and spray paint! There are spray paints made for appliances, these work best especially in the bathroom where they will get damp. If you can't find that or prefer a color that will blend with your wall, put two coats of the regular spray paint and then one of a clear laquer (also spray paint).

Take down all the vents that are discolored or rusty, sand them with fine sandpaper (really well if they are rusty) then clean and dry them well. Next spray them with. Two coats are usually sufficient for the desired outcome. I also like to paint the screw tips (poke them in the flap of a cardboard box to spray them) for a finished look. Let them dry 20 to 30 minutes then put them back up. It takes very little money and effort but makes a big difference.

Tip: For a smooth look with spray paint, use quick, long sprays no closer than one foot away. To keep away runs and globs don't worry about immediate coverage, it's better to put on several coats, dried in between, to get full coverage than trying to get it right away. Below are before and after from my bathroom vent.