How often do you clean your air conditioner? If the answer is never, you aren’t alone.
The bad news is that if you have never cleaned it, it’s most likely full of mould and dead skin cells.
RELATED: The best portable air conditioners and evaporative coolers to buy in Australia
If you’re wondering how often you should clean your air conditioner, it’s more than you think.
In fact, one manual we found online said you should be doing it every two weeks.
“Dirty filters cause condensation in the air conditioner, contributing to the growth of fungi such as mould. It is therefore recommended to clean air filters every 2 weeks.”
However, the time between cleaning your filter can vary depending on how often you use your air conditioner, how dusty your home is, or if you have pets.
How to clean an air conditioner
The first thing you should do before attempting to clean your air conditioner is to read the instruction manual. Each manufacturer will have a set of guidelines for how to clean each part. If you’ve lost your booklet, google your unit model, and you should be able to download a new one.
The second thing to remember is to turn the unit off before cleaning it.
How to clean an air conditioner filter
Once you’ve popped the lid on your unit (or unscrewed the cover), you should see a dust filter that can be easily removed. This is the part that needs to be cleaned the most regularly. If the filter is clogged, the machine has to work harder to heat or cool your home. Ultimately, costing you more money.
- Once you’ve removed your filter, take it outside for a good shake.
- Grab your vacuum and remove as much grime as you can.
- If the filter is still dirt, you may need to rinse it with water. If the dirt still can’t be removed, soak it in lukewarm water. You can use a mild diluted detergent if needed.
- Dry thoroughly before returning to your machine.
How to clean your air conditioner’s louvres
If you can remove the oscillating blades from your unit, that will make them easier to clean and give you more room to clean the area behind them. If not, wipe the blades down with a clean, dry cloth the best you can.
How do you clean mould off an air conditioner
Mould growing in your air conditioner isn’t ideal, and the extent of the growth will determine if you can clean it yourself. The biggest sign of mould in your air conditioner is a musty smell in the room or home, especially when running the unit.
If your air conditioner is entirely overgrown with mould, you may need to replace it or call in a professional.
You can clean it yourself if you think it’s just surface mould.
Step-by-step instructions
Lucinda Curran is an Indoor Environmental Health Consultant. She previously told BHG that killing mould isn’t enough – you must remove it. This is what she recommends.
What you’ll need:
- Dishwashing detergent
- Two microfibre cloths – microfibre cloths are designed to pick things up off a surface, unlike regular cloths, which smear them around.
- Thyme or oregano essential oils (optional)
- Water.
Instructions:
- Cut your microfibre cloth into squares.
- To clean the surface, mix up dishwashing detergent with warm water.
- Lucinda recommends adding essential oils, like oregano and thyme, to the soapy water mix to “supercharge the effect”.
- Grab a square of cloth. Dip it into the soapy solution and wipe down the affected surface. After you have used each square on both sides to remove mould, throw it out. This is to avoid cross-contamination. Otherwise, the mould can spread.
Alternatively, try this homemade mould remover spray.
You might also like:
Ways to cool a room without ac
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