A simple yet effective system for cleaning fans and air circulators facilitates the cleaning of ceiling and hard-to-reach units without having to remove the blades or other parts to be cleaned. A flexible bag encloses parts of a fan to be cleaned. A source of compressed air is used for inflating the bag, and a source of vacuum is used for collecting particulates used for cleaning. A user-controlled nozzle is used for spraying particulates against parts of the fan to be cleaned. The user-controlled nozzle terminates in a narrow tube operative to puncture the bag, which is preferably a transparent plastic bag. The source of compressed air and the source of vacuum may share a common vacuum unit with particulate filter such as a "shop-vac" type of equipment. The particulates used for cleaning may include any suitable abrasive though, in the preferred embodiment, granulated walnut or other nut shells are used. In contrast to devices that clean with liquids, the enclosure may envelope the motor and blades.