rich's DIY tip of the moment
Right: A stand-up fan I've had for about two years. Looks brand new. Why? Because I cleaned it.
One thing about modern stand-up fans is that you can take the whole thing apart easily to clean it. The front grille disconnects via four clips. The plastic fan blades disconnect by turning a center knob (on it is printed which direction to turn to loosen). The rear grille is removed by a small cog behind the fan blades.
All of these removable parts do not require you to physically touch the electric motor whatsoever.
Bring all the parts to the kitchen sink, scrub 'em up, dry 'em up, put 'em all back, and voilá, it looks like new.