Caring for Fans

Hand fans last a lifetime if handled with minimum care. At the bottom of this page you may see two good examples of how durable fans are when treated properly.
Here are a few simple rules that will help you keep your fans beautiful and functional for many years.

Never Let Children Play With Your Fans

A hand fan is not a toy. So, never let children play with your fans. Most people who did had their fans spoiled. It could be dangerous for the children too, as fans do not necessarily meet the security standards required for toys.

Open And Close Them Slowly

Most of our fans snap open and close, needing just a slight gesture of your hand for elegantly opening and closing, with very smooth movement and nice sound. Applying too much strength for opening and closing your fans may damage them. When lending your fans to other people, make sure that they follow this rule too.

Protect Them While Being Carried

Protect your fans from impacts, scratches and compression. Avoid carrying them in contact with hard, sharp or heavy objects, such as keys, coins, a lighter or a heavy book. When carrying a fan in your bag, place it handy in a separate compartment or pocket. If this is not possible, place it on the top of your bag load. For instance, if you also carry a camera (which is normally heavier than the fan), put the camera on the bottom of the bag, while the fan is on the top.
Carry your fans in your shirt pocket, never in your trousers' one.
Keep your fans away from sources of light, heat and humidity.

Do Not Use Liquids for Cleaning Your Fans

Cleaning your hand fans shouldn't be necessary. You may just dust them from time to time with a soft brush or gently wipe the ribs with a soft, dry cloth. Never put your fans in contact with liquids, not even water.

Store Them When Not In Use

When your fans are not in use, wrap them individually, tightly folded, in acid free tissue and store them inside a box, in a cool, dry and dark place, away from pests.

Displaying Your Fans

If you choose to frame your precious fans, place them open without excessive tension, inside hermetic frames. Place the framed fans away from sources of light, heat and humidity, which might deteriorate their components. For instance, never place your displayed fans under sunlight or spot lights, or over a heater. Never use fans, even framed, for decorating a bathroom or a kitchen. Displaying fans on stands for extended periods of time is not recommended, as they may warp.

Pear Wood and Cotton Fabric Fan, Circa 1930
Still Beautiful and Operational
After 70 Years of Use

A good example of how durable fans are, this Spanish painted fan, dated 1930, which was extensively used, as everyday fan, by its two former owners, mother and daughter.
The fan, made of polished pear wood and cotton fabric, is fully operational and keeps most of its beauty, although the painting on the guards has been in part worn away, and the leaf edges are somewhat frayed -see the images below.

 
Wood and Paper Fan, Circa 1970
Still Operational and Looking Good After 30 Years of Use

Also, this Spanish ordinary souvenir fan, made of unpainted plane wood and litho printed paper, is dated 1970, and was used for about 30 years as everyday fan. The leaf edges are rather worn -see the images below-, but otherwise the print looks quite well, while the fan keeps fully operational.





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