Air purifiers keep the air in our home clean and fresh. But to make sure it's doing its job, we have to make sure that our air purifiers are clean, too. A dirty air purifier cannot filter the air in our home if it is clogged with dirt.
We want our air purifiers to last long. We want to ensure that it keeps on working correctly. In this article, we are going to explore the proper way of cleaning an air purifier in order for us to keep ours in good condition.
What Parts of Your Air Purifier Do You Need to Clean?
There are three part of our air purifier that needs our particular attention when it comes to cleaning: the air inlet, the air outlet, and the air filter.
According to the Woman and Home website, the first two can be a bit fuzzy, but simply using a soft brush around the vent(s) should do the job. Meanwhile, you have to open the air purifier and take the filter out if you want to clean or replace the air filter.
Your air purifier is likely to have a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter. The HEPA filters can be made from different materials, however "they all do the same job" of trapping tiny particles coming "from the air that's passed through them."
It can be dusty when you remove the filter so better do it in a well-ventilated space. Also, it's better to have your vacuum cleaner ready.
How Often Should I Clean My Air Purifier?
The frequency of cleaning an air purifier varies from home to home. If your air purifier is turned on all day, you might need to clean it more frequently. Meanwhile, if you only use it from time to time, you may clean it less frequently.
On the other hand, manufacturers typically recommend changing or cleaning the filter every three to six months. This is for you to enjoy all the benefits of air purifiers. However, if what you have at home is one of the really good air purifiers for allergies, one to two months is the recommended frequency for cleaning.
How to Clean an Air Purifier?
1. Unplug your air purifier
Unplugging the air purifier is always the first step. You have to make sure that your air purifier is unplugged before you begin cleaning it.
2. Check the filters
According to CNET, most air purifiers have two different filters: a prefilter and a HEPA filter. Ways of cleaning the filters vary depending on the manufacturer's recommendations.
For instance, Honeywell, Winix and Levoit all advise to replace filters regularly instead of washing or cleaning them. According to Levoit, HEPA filter should be replaced every six to eight months. On the other hand, both Honeywell and Winix suggest replacement after one year.
Using a gentle brush or vacuum, clean Levoit's prefilter every two to four weeks. Meanwhile, Winix prefilter can be washed every few weeks. For Honeywell washing the prefilter is not an option. Instead, it must be replaced every three months.
3. Wipe off the air purifier
According to all three manufacturers, there is a need to wipe off the air purifier with a dry cloth about once every few months. It is not recommended to use water or any cleaning solvent to clean off the air purifier, as per CNET.
4. Store the filters when not in use
In case you will not be using your air purifier for a month or more, the best practice is to remove its filters, according to Honeywell. Then, store the filters in tightly sealed bags.
Related Article: Air Purifiers: Are They a Scam? Here's What You Should Know Before Purchasing One
