How to Clean Air Filter | Learn to Clean the Right Way

You have an air purifier, and you have used it for quite a while. And for that reason a lot of dirt like dust, dust mites, hair, virus, fungi, allergens, bacteria, have accumulated in your air purifier filter due to that. Now if you don’t clean it then your air filter will probably be destroyed or won’t be in good condition, I am sure you don’t want that! . So you wanna know ‘’how to clean air filter’’. And you came here to find out, right so?

Ya, I will give you all the details in this article on how to clean an air purifier properly. So read along to know more!

Why need to clean an air filter

You will need a high-quality air purifier for a clean and healthy indoor environment and fresh air, and to avoid various ailments like allergies. And if you have one, cleaning it’s air filters regularly with proper care and maintenance will enable your air filter to work longer.

Due to extra frequent operation, a lot of dust, dust, hair, viruses, fungi, allergens, bacteria accumulate in the air filter. Due to which its functionality gradually decreases and at some point it is lost. And there is no benefit from it. For this, you have to keep it clean at all times.

Plus, you won’t be a happy man to know that your hard earned money has gone to waste.

Also, regular cleaning will help reduce the extra costs. However, most air filters need to be replaced after 3 to 6 months. In this case, it is best to follow the schedule of replacement in the manufacturer’s manual.

How to clean all air filters

Firstly, you need to know how many filters your air purifier has and how to clean each one individually.

How many filters does an air purifier have?

Most air purifiers have 3 filters, 1. Pre-filter 2. Activated Carbon filter and 3. True HEPA filter True HEPA filter.

There are different methods of cleaning different filters.

How to clean a pre-filter

First, you must make sure that the pre-filter is washable. For this, you should check the manual. If this pre-filter is washable, you can rinse it with water or gently clean.

For this reason, you can follow a few steps.

Step-1:  Wear mask and gloves

Wear a protective mask and gloves to protect yourself while cleaning. If you suffer from severe allergies and asthma, it is more important to wear protective masks and gloves. Because dust is harmful to allergies and asthma. Also if you don’t use a mask then you can have Corona (as for this moment).

Step-2: Turn off and unplug

Before cleaning the air filter you should turn off and unplug the air purifier.

Step-3: Remove the air filter

* Remove the air filter slowly from the air purifier when you attempting cleaning.

Step-4:  Rinse properly

If the pre-filter is washable then you can keep it under the faucet and continue until the water runs clear or you can wash the pre-filter with soap in hot water but not too hot. Also, delicate wire filters should be cleaned gently with a soft-bristled brush. And you can use a damp sponge to wipe both sides of the filter.

How to clean an Activated Carbon air filter

After cleaning the pre-filter, you can clean the Activated Carbon filter.

The question may be whether it is washable or not?

Never wash the Activated Carbon filter. Also you don’t need to clean it by brush or vacuum. In fact, such air filters are only used to synthesize odors, not to capture particles.

But if the Activated Carbon filter has dust or dirt, it should be vacuumed gently. I will recommend the best way to clean if the carbon filter absorbs a significant amount of odor is to leave it in direct sunlight for an hour or two.

Also if you wanna know details then you can click here to read: how to clean a carbon filter

How to clean a HEPA filter

Before any action, you need to see if the HEPA filter is washable or not. For this, check the manual. And make sure it is washable!

Just in case, if you did not find it, you can search for it online. Find out the manufacturer’s site and write in the model number. I hope that will do it.

If the HEPA filter cannot be washed, you can vacuum or blower clean it.

And if it is washable, then, first of all, locate the filter and remove them and keep it outdoor.

Afterward, you can use soapy water because some of the manufacturers recommend it. Others recommend using either cold or lukewarm water.

In this case, you can check the manual.

To remove more excess water you can give it a gradually shake.

After washing this HEPA filter, dry it completely before installing.

You should not try to remove water using a blow dryer or a cloth dryer as this will result in the HEPA filter being damaged and even warranty will be ineffective. So you should always dry your HEPA filter.

To know cleaning properly click here: How to clean a HEPA  filter

Factors to Remember

Do not reinstall any filters before drying it completely.

Only if they are completely dry it will time to reinstall them. And it will be best to check the manual in this case.

Reinstall them in the same way as you opened them and if you are unsure, the manual is there to guide you. Be sure to safely replace and restart the system or appliance.

Conclusion

Anyway, air purifiers should be cleaned for your healthy environment and fresh air.

After how long you should clean your air purifier depends on your environment. If you use your air purifier in a dirty room, it will become soiled compared to one in a relatively clean environment.

Moreover, the more you use, the more dirtier it will get thus requiring more cleaning.

You won’t need to clean the filter if you don’t happen to use it a lot. Before cleaning the filter, check the filter. If it isn’t dirty then you don’t need to clean it.

I’m certain you have got your answer “how to clean air filter”. Thanks for reading it and if you follow these steps carefully then you can make the most of your air purifier without any doubt. Adios!