There are many different types of air conditioners available, such as window, portable and large outdoor units. For this article, I’m mainly focusing on window air conditioners. I’m going to stick to more of a surface-level clean of your window air conditioning unit, such as cleaning the outside parts and the filter as well as removing dust, rather than a more in-depth clean that might require taking the inside of the air conditioner apart, cleaning out the coil, etc. Some units even have a light that turns on when the filter of the air conditioner needs to be cleaned, according to Prouty. If you want to do a more thorough cleaning of your entire air conditioning unit, I’d recommend consulting an HVAC expert to ensure you don’t accidentally damage the unit in the process.
There are a few easy steps to follow when cleaning your window air conditioner at home. Here’s how our experts recommend going about it:
All of the products below have at least a 4-star average rating from 500 reviews or more on Amazon and/or are cleaning products I or other NBC Select staff members have tried themselves. Some of the products are also ones that experts have recommended for similar cleaning stories.
A handheld vacuum is helpful when cleaning small messes, especially ones on upholstered surfaces like couches. It also happens to be good at removing the dust from your air conditioner’s filter. While you can manually remove the dust from the filter directly into your trash can, you’ll probably end up with dust blowing into the air and a filter that’s still not thoroughly clean. This powerful and cordless Black & Decker Dustbuster Cordless Handheld Vacuum has a 4.4-star average rating from 51,799 reviews on Amazon. It also has multiple attachments as well as a dirt bowl you can clean in the sink.
Small cleaning brushes are sometimes the best way to clean the small crevices in and around your air conditioning unit, including the side panels and the surrounding window sill, which tends to collect a lot of debris. This set, which has a 4.3-star average rating from 15,793 reviews on Amazon, includes a curved brush, a small bristled brush with a dustpan and a gap tool for cleaning in between the vent of the air conditioner grill.
These cleaning cloths are great for wiping down areas all over your home, including your air conditioning unit. I’ve used these before and they’re the perfect size for cleaning the outside of a window air conditioner by hand. All you have to do is dampen it slightly with water and/or use it to dry off the filter after cleaning it. They’re extremely absorbent, lint- and scratch-free and you can clean them in the washing machine.
This popular item is great for so much more than cleaning dishes. It’s commonly recommended by cleaning experts for tasks like cleaning the inside of your refrigerator or cleaning the filter of your dishwasher. You can also use it to clean the filter of your air conditioner once you remove it from the unit. Spray it on, scrub and thoroughly rinse before allowing it to dry.
While a lot of window air conditioners differ in style, design and energy level (known as BTU, or British thermal units), many have the same parts. Below, I briefly explain some of the parts of a window air conditioner, mainly the ones you’d clean in a surface-level job.
In terms of cleaning a window air conditioner, no, it’s not recommended to spray water or other liquids directly onto or into the unit. That’s because it could potentially damage important parts inside. “A soft cloth with warm water and a mild cleaner will do the trick,” says Mayer. “Just be sure the air conditioner is unplugged and that no water or liquid gets inside the vents.”
Our experts recommend against using any harsh chemicals such as bleach or all-purpose cleaner to clean your air conditioner. Like with water in general, these products can damage and corrode the unit, according to Mayer. “An aggressive cleaner can corrode key internal parts, like the evaporator. And, depending on the unit, could damage the metal or plastic housing,” he says. “For the filter, just use warm water under the sink.”
You don’t have to change your air conditioner’s filter (unless it’s broken), but you should clean it out regularly, according to Mayer. “We recommend cleaning the reusable mesh filter once every month during the summer season,” he says. “If the filter is not cleaned properly, the AC won’t be able to pull in the room air efficiently, and the unit can break.”
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I’m a commerce editor at NBC Select, where I cover kitchen, home, cleaning and wellness-related product roundups. I also write many explainers on cleaning, such as how to clean different types of clothing, how to clean a mattress and the best way to clean a dishwasher. I spoke with multiple experts with experience in cleaning and home appliances for this story.
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