The most likely reason smoke detectors go off unexpectedly is that people aren’t changing the batteries in them often enough. In most sensors you might think of, the strength of the signal goes up when they detect what they’re supposed to.

How to clean your smoke detectors

1. Make sure to never submerge any part of the smoke detector in water.
2. Don’t use any type of liquid cleaning chemicals.
3. Wipe the entire outside with a microfiber cloth.
4. Be sure the air vents are well cleaned for good air flow.

You can use an aerosol cleaner or vacuum attachment to remove the smaller particles of dust and be sure to pay close attention to the sensors. Bugs can also be an issue. They love dark areas and the smoke detector is a great place for them to hide.

Pesky insects Once inside, insects can set off the alarm by interfering with the sensors. You may want to open up your smoke detector to see if there’s a pesky nuisance crawling around inside.

If you open the smoke detector (or have someone else do it), you might find the culprit: spiders! When a spider crawls over the ionization sensor, the alarm thinks it senses smoke and sounds the alarm. A buildup of dirt may also trigger an alarm.

A hardwired smoke alarm could go off because of a dead backup battery, power surges, improper installation, dust in the air or humidity.

Smoke alarms sound for all sorts of reasons—beyond actual fires, that is: Dust or other debris on the sensor. Spiders or insects taking refuge inside the alarm (Ugh) Humidity, including steam from your shower (And you thought a middle-of-the-night malfunction was bad!)

Smoke alarms have a limited lifespan. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends every smoke alarm be replaced after 10 years and that regular batteries be replaced every six months. With 10-year sealed battery alarms, battery replacements and late-night battery chirps are eliminated for a decade.

every 10 years