It’s summer and flying insects, whether it’s fruit flies, gnats, or mosquitoes are making their way into your home. Despite having turned on your trusty Katchy, you might still find yourself shooing these pests frequently.
You go to inspect the Katchy. Even though it’s on, you notice a thick layer of dirt and dust covering the fan and exterior.
That layer has made it harder for your Katchy to trap the flying insects. Luckily, cleaning the device only requires a few steps. Stick around to learn more about keeping your Katchy clean.
Why You Should Clean Your Katchy
A Katchy works by sucking in mosquitos, fruit flies, and other flying insects with an attached fan. They’re then trapped by the sticky pad in the device.
If you leave it too long without cleaning it, dust will eventually accumulate over the fan. Consequently, your Katchy won’t work as efficiently to suck in the house flies and other insects in your home.
Apart from that, the excess dust on the insect trap device can cause it to overheat. The dust blanket on the UV light fan forms an insulating layer that traps heat, risking damage to the Katchy. That said, regular cleaning will ensure that it’s dust-free.
Supplies Needed to Clean Your Katchy
The good news is that the cleaning supplies you’ll need to clean your Katchy are likely already in your household. They include:
- Q-Tips
- Screwdriver
- Paper Towels
- Plastic Spray Bottle
- Air Can (optional)
- Small Brush
- Soft Cloth or Microfiber Cloth
9 Steps to Clean Katchy Dust
If you’re unsure how to clean your Katchy, check out the steps below.
Step 1: Safety First
Before touching any cleaning items, unplug your Katchy device. You’ll be disassembling it and getting your hands all over it. In turn, you wouldn’t want to accidentally turn it on.
Step 2: Prepare Your Cleaning Items
Now, you’ll want to prepare your cleaning supplies and tools. You’ll need paper towels, Q-tips, a spray bottle, a screwdriver, and a small brush.
You can substitute the paper towels for a damp cloth. Fill the spray bottle with clean water only. Don’t add liquid soap solutions. Otherwise, their scent may ward off flying insects from the trap.
In addition, an air spray can also help through the cleaning process.
Step 3: Brush the Fan
Once your Katchy is prepared and unplugged, get your small cleaning brush and work it through the outer UV light fan of the Katchy.
Try to work above a sink or trash can, so it can catch all the falling dust rather than make a mess on your rug. Dust aside, you might also find food crumbs, bits of hair, or pet hair if you own a cat or dog.
After brushing the fan, optionally use the air can to spray off any residual dust on top of the fan.
Step 4: Use the Q-Tips
Now, this process will take some time. You’ll want to clean off any residual dust particles in the inner part of the fan using Q-tips.
If your Katchy is excessively dusty, you’ll likely go through lots of Q-tips. Be sure to slightly wet the tips before using them, so the dust can effectively stick to the cotton ends.
Step 5: Wipe the Katchy
After thoroughly cleaning the fan, use a paper towel sprayed with water to wipe the whole indoor insect trap down.
Open the bottom part of the Katchy and remove the glue trap. Inside, you should see a small circle hole surrounded by a guard. Use the Q-tips to clean off the ridged areas of the guard. Flip the Katchy over and tap off the dust and debris.
Use the dampened paper towel to wipe the rest of the bottom part. Don’t forget to go over the lid as well.
Step 6: Remove and Clean the Guard
After cleaning the bottom and exterior surface of the Katchy, it’s time to remove the guard. You’ll notice a single screw holding it in the indoor insect trap.
Grab a screwdriver and unscrew it. Be sure to keep the screw nearby, so you don’t lose it during reassembly. Turn the guard clockwise, and it should be easy to budge it off the Katchy.
Afterward, wipe off the guard from any remaining dust using damp paper towels and Q-tips to get into the striped holes. Then, set it aside.
Step 7: Clean the Fan Blades
Once the guard is off, you now should have access to the fan blades inside. They might be difficult to reach. You can start by spraying the area with an air can to get rid of debris.
Next, get a large cotton swab or Q-tip and carefully wipe off the dust between the fan blades. Wipe off any excess dust using a dampened paper towel. Make sure to wipe the interior of the Katchy as well.
Step 8: Optionally Screw Off the Second Guard
This step is optional if you want to get a deeper clean on your Katchy. After removing the first, cone-shaped guard, you can also screw off the surrounding screen guard.
It’ll provide you with better access to the interior and fan blades. It’s secured by three screws inside.
Use your screwdriver to unscrew the meshed second guard, being careful to not lose the screws. Next, take it off and set it aside. You can wipe it using a damp paper towel, soft cloth, or microfiber cloth.
Step 9: Reassemble the Katchy
Now that every component and surface of the Katchy is clean, you’ll want to reassemble it back. Place the second guard back in position and use the three screws to secure it.
Then, attach the first funnel-shaped guard back in with its one screw. You can give the interior an extra wipe and air spray for good measure.
Place a new sticky glue board on the bottom lid. Then, close the bottom of the Katchy. Grab a dry paper towel and wipe the device’s exterior once more. You should be left with a good as new Katchy. Plug it back in and let it do its job.
How Often Should You Clean Your Katchy?
We recommend cleaning your Katchy every week for optimal performance. That said, you may have to take out the inner sticky pad more often, depending on how many bugs get stuck in it every so often.
Final Thoughts
Regularly cleaning your Katchy will ensure its top performance in trapping pesky flying insects.
In short, you’ll need a few Q-tips, paper towels, and a screwdriver to clean the device.
A meticulous wipe over each ridge will keep your Katchy looking new. For a more thorough clean, don’t be afraid to disassemble the insect trap and get through every corner.