How To Clean an Air Purifier And Filter In Less Than 10 Minutes

There are many benefits to a clean air purifier besides providing cleaner air, reducing operational hours, and improving filter usage lifespan. However, many people will forget or be too lazy to maintain the air purifier because it is a chore. Here is the general guideline of how to clean your air purifier quickly and efficiently to ease you with that.

We also highly suggest you go through the owner’s manual at least once to see what can and can’t be cleaned. You might even find some interesting facts about your air purifier.

How To Clean an Air Purifier

1. Turn off and unplug the air purifier from an electrical outlet before anything else.
2. For the exterior, use a soft, damp rag, preferably a microfiber cloth and wipe any dusty opening.
3. For air ventilation, use a soft brush or toothbrush to dust off hard-to-reach gaps.
4. Remove the front panel/ grill by gently pulling forward the joint at the side. Clean it with warm, soapy water. If the removable panel or grill is made of plastic, you can soak it in water for swift cleaning. Leave it air dry before reinstalling it.
5. For the interior, remove all the filters first and use a dry cloth to wipe off dirty particles.
6. For stains that are hard to remove, soak in water with lemon for 10-20 minutes. Scrub off the dislodged dirt with a dry cloth, rinse it again with water and leave it to dry.
7. Repeat the cleaning cycle every 2-4 weeks depending on how dusty your home is.

How To Clean An Air Purifier Filter

1. Turn off and unplug the air purifier before cleaning.
2. Move the device to an open space area to prevent dust and allergens from escaping back into the room.
3. Remove the air inlet grill or panel to access the filter.
4. Examine the filter condition before removing it. If there is a significant amount of dust, lint, or particulate accumulation, remove the filter by pulling the tab.
5. HEPA filter and carbon filter are not washable. Replace it with a brand new set if it is worn or damaged. Remember to take out the protective plastic sleeve first.
6. For a washable/ permanent filter like a pre-filter, run a vacuum cleaner at low speed with a brush attachment. Gently brush through the pleated filter layers until all visible particles are gone. You can also gently rinse and hand wash it with warm soapy water and a damp cloth.
7. Insert back the filters one by one according to the previous arrangement. Usually, an arrow will point to which side the filter should be oriented.
8. Snap back the front panel/ grill by aligning it properly.
9. Turn on the air purifier and let it run at max speed for at least an hour. If the air purifier won’t start or there is a grumbling, weird creaking sound that is previously unheard of, check for any filter displacement.
10. If everything sounds normal, congratulations, your air purifier is completely clean. Check on the filter every 2-4 weeks when there is a dip in performance or the filter check indicator light is blinking.

Air Purifier Care and Maintenance

• Before you began, check if you have the right tools, weather, and time. Cleaning an air purifier can sometimes be time-consuming especially on the first try.
• If you have severe allergies, wear a face mask and gloves to protect yourself during the cleaning process.
• Always turn off the air purifier first before unplugging the cord to avoid damaging the motherboard.
• Only clean the air purifier on flat, hard surfaces to prevent it from toppling over.
• Be careful not to drop or insert objects into the opening of the air inlet/ outlet.
• Never obstruct or place clothes on top of the air purifier.
• Do not use detergents, gasoline, glass cleaner, paint thinner, furniture polish, or household solvents to clean the air purifier.
• Do not wash the filter with a washing machine or dishwasher. Do not wash the HEPA and carbon filter.
• Do not dry the filter with a hairdryer. The high heat will damage the filter’s density.
• Do not attempt to disassemble or repair parts that you’re not supposed to.
• Only plug it into a grounded outlet or wall outlet to avoid static charges.
• Air purifiers should be used (and clean) in room temperatures between 40° F (4° C) and 110° F (43° C) unless stated otherwise in manual.
• Do not operate the air purifier with a damaged cord or plug.
• Make sure your hand is not wet throughout the whole cleaning progress.
• If the filter is lightly discolored or yellowish, this is due to oxidization.

How Often Should You Clean Your Air Purifier?

You should clean the air purifier every 2-4 weeks or when there is visible dust on the air intake and outtake. Don't worry about the high frequency, as cleaning an air purifier is easy and can be done within a couple of minutes. The only thing you need is a damp cloth with warm water or a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment.

An air purifier needs proper care and maintenance. When filled with dirty contaminants like dust, dust mites, mold, spore, pollen, lint, pet hair, dander, smoke, and germs, it will not perform its best. The airflow delivery rate and CADR will be greatly affected as the motor will work hard to compensate for the losses in airflow. In a worst-case scenario, the contaminants will be dispersed back into the air without being captured. It completely defeats the purpose of owning an air purifier.

Can You Wash a HEPA Filter?

You cannot wash a True HEPA filter as it will damage the dense fiberglass fiber materials. Due to its high 99.97% filtration efficiency on microscopic particles as small as 0.3 microns, the True HEPA filter is designed to be disposable and has to be replaced at the interval of 6 to 12 months, depending on the manufacturer's recommendation. However, there are washable or permanent HEPA filter air purifiers in the market that can be gently clean with a vacuum cleaner only. These HEPA filters are not certified by the U.S. Department of Energy. They have lower filtration efficiency than a True HEPA filter. Check the instructional manual or manufacturer's website before attempting any cleaning.

Can You Wash a Charcoal/ Carbon Filter?

An activated carbon filter cannot be washed and replaced periodically. You degrade the chemically bonded carbons' adsorption ability by washing with water, rendering them useless against smoke and odor.

Do Air Purifiers Need To Be Cleaned?

HVAC, air purifiers, and air filters require regular cleaning for optimal performance and improved durability. We recommend thoroughly cleaning the air purifier and air filters every 2 to 3 weeks, depending on how dirty the filtration is. The filter will last longer with fewer particulates clogging or damaging it. Always check the device's manual before attempting to clean it.

How Air Purifiers Work

Mechanical air purifiers use a fan that pulls dirty air into its filtration. Harmful pollutants like dust, hair, pet dander, dust mites, mold, mildew, pollen, bacteria, tobacco smoke, and odors will be trapped by a series of filters, including pre-filter, HEPA filter, and carbon filter. The filtered air will be circulated back into the room, and the cycle will repeat itself until the indoor air is completely cleaned.

Can I Clean Ionic Air Purifiers?

You can clean an ionizer similar to how you would clean an air purifier. Ionic air purifiers are very easy to clean as it has a wide opening that generates static electricity to attract particulates instead of using filters with a grill. The only downside is that you will have to clean it more frequently as particulates will quickly pile up on the metal plates.

Why Is It Important To Have Clean Indoor Air?

Air pollution is one of the major health risks that many take lightly of. According to EPA, indoor air pollution is up to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air. It will trigger allergy symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, wheezing, shortness of breath, red eyes, itchy throat, headaches, poor memory, dizziness, and fatigue. Prolonged exposure can also lead to irreversible health effects like cardiovascular disease, COPD, lung diseases, and cancer. Americans spend up to 90 percent of their time indoors, and an air purifier can make a big difference in improving indoor air quality.

Most manufacturers will recommend changing the air purifier filter every 3 to 6 months for optimal performance. That said, you should straightaway clean or replace the filter when the air purifier’s filter indicator light turns red. If you need the exact time frame, look into the original instruction manual and follow the suggested filter change schedule.

Most mechanical air purifiers come with several types of filters that require changing at different times. It is recommended that you change them according to the original timeline rather than replace them all in one go. So to be more thorough, a washable pre-filter requires cleaning every 1-4 weeks depending on the filter size and how dirty is the surrounding air. A true HEPA filter is not washable and must be replaced every 6 to 12 months, depending on the room air quality. A non-washable carbon pre-filter needs to change every 3 months, while a standalone activated carbon filter needs to change every 6 to 12 months.

It is always better to replace the filter earlier than later. You will be at less risk of inhaling airborne pollutants and suffer from allergy symptoms like cough, sneeze, red eyes, itchiness. If you are an allergic or asthmatic person, you can change the filter more frequently every 30 to 60 days to ensure there is always clean air. Check on the filter from time to time by opening the air purifier removable panel. If it is heavily clogged, torn, or moldy, stop using the air purifier until you replace the filter. More critically, when there is a drop in the indoor air quality, even with a running air purifier, do not hesitate to change the filter.

How Do I Change The Air Purifier's Filter?

Changing an air purifier filter is an easy task and will take you less than 5 minutes to do so. First, open the removable panel by popping out the cover or sliding out the filter. Take out the old filter one by one and properly dispose of it. Unpack the new filters and insert them carefully in reverse order. If it is a washable pre-filter, vacuum it gently with a brush attachment, or soak it in lukewarm water with soap to remove stubborn dirt. Remember to leave the pre-filter completely air-fry before inserting it back. Close the removable filter and let the air purifier run at max speed for a couple of hours. Once you have successfully replaced the filter, reset the filter change indicator to let the air purifier keep track of the following replacement date. Otherwise, keep a mental note or set a calendar reminder to alert you when the day comes.