How to Clean Cabin Air Filter – (A-Z) Step by Step Process

Has your car been giving you some uncomfortable driving experience? If yes, then your cabin air filter might not be functioning properly. This is because it is one of the most important elements in your automobile which is responsible for cleaning the air that enters, preserving its heat and air conditioner.

As such, you need to ensure that it is always in the right condition to ensure that it effectively discharges its functions. One way of doing so is by cleaning it regularly to get rid of any dirt that might have accumulated on it. Owing to its nature of work, a cabin air filter comes across dirt which in turn accumulates on it thus affecting its performance.

How to Clean Cabin Air Filter – Step by Step Process

Cleaning your cabin air filter should be a walk in the park as it is straight forward. However, you may opt to seek the services of more experienced technicians to help you with the procedure. Nonetheless, in case you want to clean it yourself, this article will give you a step to step guide on how to go about it, in order to help you clean it in the right way. Below are some of these steps.

Locate and remove the cabin air filter

Step 1: Locate and remove the cabin air filter

For you to effectively clean your cabin air filter, you need to first of all remove it from where it is installed in your automobile. This is so as to give you unwarranted access to the air filter, for maximum cleaning. Most of the cabin air filters are located in the foot well of the passenger’s seat and therefore locating it should not be a hard nut to crack.

After you have located it, you will need to remove it. Removing it is not that straight forward as you are required to disconnect it from the glove box. You will therefore need to use a screwdriver in order to do this. All you need to do is pull out the clips that connect the glove box and the glove box and after they are loose, you can then pull out the cabin air filter.

However, when removing the cabin air filter, do it in a gentle way, in order to avoid damaging it. After you have removed the cabin air filter, you will notice the dirt accumulating on its either side. That is what you will need to get rid off as it is what will be causing the bad performance of your cabin air filter.

Clean the air filter with a vacuum cleaner

Step 2: Clean the cabin air filter with a vacuum cleaner

After you have removed your cabin air filter from the automobile, you will be required to start the cleaning process. You can never effectively clean your cabin air filter with your bare hands, that is why you will need the help of a vacuum cleaner. This is because a vacuum cleaner will effectively remove all the dirt that your air filter may have.

In order to achieve this, you will need to connect the hose attachment to the vacuum cleaner. After that, you will need to run the vacuum cleaner on either side of the cabin air filter. This will effectively remove all the dirt that will have accumulated on the air conditioner, thus effectively cleaning it.

After you have run the vacuum cleaner on your cabin air filter, you will then need to inspect whether all the dirt has been gotten rid off by looking it under direct sunlight or any light. In case you see some dirt remaining, you will be required to run the vacuum cleaner on either side of the cabin air filter, to ensure that it is sparkling clean.

Step 3: Wash with clean water

Although cleaning your cabin air filter with a vacuum cleaner is faster and safer, it is not effective as it does not get rid of all the dirt. That is why you will need to clean your cabin air filter with water and soap. Nonetheless, cleaning your cabin air filter with clean water is not only time consuming but also very risky and that is the reason why you need to do it gently.

In order to do this therefore, you will be required to fill a bucket with clean water and add a soap solution to it, so as to facilitate effective cleaning. After you have done this, you will then need to swirl your cabin air filter around the water in order to shake off the dirt that it might have. After you have ensured that the cabin air filter is clean, you will then need to shake off any water that it may have.

After that, you will need to dry the air filter so as to ensure that it is dry. You will need to dry it using a towel and leave it to dry under direct sunlight. Installing a wet cabin air filter is very risky, as it may affect the workings of your automobile’s engine. Therefore, never install your cabin air filter while it is wet.

Cleanse the cabin air filter

Step 4: Cleanse the cabin air filter

For your cabin air filter to work effectively, it must be cleansed so as to ensure that it does not get damaged. There are very many cabin filter cleansers especially for oil air filters. Before applying the cabin air filter with a cleanser, you will need to shake it in order to remove any dirt or water that it might have accumulated.

After you have made sure that your cabin air filter is free from any water or dirt, you will then need to apply it with a cabin air filter cleanser in the outside as well as inside. Make sure you have applied the right amount of cleanser so as to make sure that it is saturated. In order to make sure that the cleanser works, you will need to let the cleansed air filter to rest for about ten minutes.

After this, you will need to clean it with cool running water but do it gently so as to avoid any damage. You will then need to dry it by shaking it and wiping it with a clean towel. In case you are in a hurry, drying the cabin air filter with a hair dryer would do.

Step 5: Re-oil the filter and clean the canister

At this stage, you will notice that, due to all the cleaning, your cabin air filter will have no oil on it, which it needs to function optimally. You will therefore be required to apply your filter with oil. While doing this, therefore, you will need to do it evenly so as to ensure that the entire cabin air filter is coated with a thin layer of oil.

After applying oil to the cabin air filter, you will then be required to wipe off all the excess oil that might be dripping on your cabin air filter. You will then need to allow your cabin air filter to sit for about twenty minutes, in order to allow it to absorb the oil. In addition, you will need to clean the canister of the air filter, as they work hard in hand.

In order to do this therefore, you will need to clean it using the same procedure that you used while cleaning the air filter that is cleaning it with a vacuum cleaner and water and drying all the excess water that it might have accumulated on it.

Re-install the cabin air filter

Step 6: Re-install the cabin air filter

After you have made sure that your cabin air filter is clean, you will then need to re-install it in your automobile. This is quite straightforward as you will do just what you did while removing it. For instance, you will need to return the cabin air filter to the housing. Make sure that you secure all the locks that hold the air filter in position.

After you have re-installed it, you will then have to test the cabin air filter, so as to ensure that it is working correctly; and if it does, you will have done the cleaning correctly. Therefore, never leave your cabin air conditioner to accumulate dirt as this will not only affect its lifespan but also its performance, making you lose large sums of money trying to repair or replace it.

Wrapping Up

Contrary to what many people believe, your cabin air filter is an extremely important feature in your automobile. This is because it determines the quality of air that you consume while driving. That is why you ought to always make sure that you maintain it to its optimum level by cleaning all the dirt that might have accumulated on it. However, it is worth noting that cabin filters comes with them in carbon, paper, or cloth. This therefore affects their cleaning as some can be cleaned while others can’t. For instance, paper cabin air filters cannot be cleaned but replaced while those of cloth and carbon can be cleaned.