Easiest method may be to drop the glovebox, and pull out the cabin air filter.. I seem to recall from there you can reach in with fingers and roll the squirrel cage around and pick any debris out.. if filter full of trash, you will spill stuff into fan when removing the filter..
Sometimes I lose the leafs do to brittle and caught between the blades, I just mash them up and forget.. turn fan on high and verify it smooth.
If it comes down to dropping the fan motor, typically 3 screws hold it to bottom of fan box.. not any kind of major technical surgery to remove it, may have to move harness or something to allow you access it, you'll see when you do it.