How to clean a car's cabin filter and what cleaning methods are available

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A car's cabin filter is a device that prevents exhaust gases from entering the car. Over time, it becomes clogged and requires cleaning: our article will tell you how to do it with your own hands correctly.

• Is it possible to wash a car's cabin filter?
• What are the types of filter elements?
• How often should the filter device be changed?
• Methods for cleaning the cabin filter depending on its type
• Consequences of cleaning the cabin filter Video: washing car air filters

What are the types of filter elements?

Typically, the design of the product consists of the following elements - housing, membrane, rubber seal. The shape, size and location of the filter depend on the design of the vehicle. They are usually round or oval in shape. The type of device depends on the composition of the membrane.

It may consist of:

• Paper - this type was installed on domestic and foreign cars until the mid-90s of the last century.
• Cotton - used after the previous type, it was popular because it allowed air to pass through even when clogged.
• Fiber is one of the most popular, as it perfectly purifies the air even when polluted.
• Coal is a common type on modern cars, because such a device not only filters, but also enriches the air with oxygen.

Depending on the type of filter membrane, different cleaning methods are used, or the system must be replaced.

Important! Do not use abrasive materials for cleaning as this will damage the filter system.

Cleaning the car interior using Vanish

• Dilute Vanish in water according to the instructions, shake until foam appears.
• Apply the product to the brush and use it to clean the car interior.
• Wait for the foam to dry completely.
• Using a vacuum cleaner, remove the product from all surfaces.

Thus, Vanish for carpets allows you to quickly and carefully clean the car interior from dirt. As a rule, this product is used to clean upholstery and seats . As for the carpet on the floor, it tends to get dirty quickly. Therefore, to bring the carpet into proper shape, it is enough to treat it with a vacuum cleaner.

How often should the filter device be changed?

The contamination of this part of the car depends on the place where it is used: in the city it becomes clogged faster. Manufacturers recommend changing the system after 10,000 km. However, experienced car enthusiasts replace them once a year. The level of contamination of the system can only be assessed by inspecting it.

On average, over 100 kilometers a car passes through up to 15 m³ of air.

Signs of an unclean device are:

Recommended reading:

• Mass air flow sensor: signs and causes of malfunction
• How to choose the right spark plugs for your car
• How to check and replace the camshaft sensor in a car?
• About replacing the catalyst with a flame arrester

How to prevent odor and delay repeated disinfection

The procedure for disinfecting and cleaning a car air conditioner is clear, but in order to resort to it as little as possible, you should follow some recommendations:

• change the cabin filter promptly;
• avoid the formation of dampness.

If the first tip does not raise any questions, then in the second case it is better to dry the air conditioning system naturally, and not with the help of a heater. In this case, the cooling should be turned off at least 5 minutes before the arrival point, leaving only the fan running to dry the system. Thus, condensation will form in a minimum amount, which will reduce the likelihood of an unpleasant odor.

Periodic maintenance of your car's air conditioner can minimize the occurrence of problems with the system and the need for expensive repairs. After reading the step-by-step instructions, every car enthusiast will be able to disinfect the device. If simple cleaning methods do not give the desired result, the air conditioning system needs more thorough treatment.

Methods for cleaning the cabin filter depending on its type

Having determined the type of cabin filter, you can begin cleaning it. Thus, types with a paper membrane are cleaned under air pressure or using a vacuum cleaner. It is necessary to thoroughly clean hard-to-reach places with large accumulations of dust and dirt. Synthetic types can be washed with soap and water or powder. After cleaning, rinse the product thoroughly under running water.

Carbon devices must be replaced. There is no point in washing them, since activated carbon loses its properties over time, and with prolonged use of such a device, the opposite effect may begin. Replacing it is quite easy: the main thing is to familiarize yourself with the design and choose the right one. For modern cars, selection is carried out by body number.

Chemicals for filter care

The air filter is responsible for the quality and quantity of air entering the engine and vehicle interior. Is it possible to wash its cartridge with ordinary detergents? This question sometimes arises among car enthusiasts. Here are recommendations on the range of chemicals used for cleaning air purifier elements:

1. Regular laundry and dishwashing powders and gels are all suitable for removing dust and debris from porous surfaces. They will not cause any harm to the construction material.
2. Domestos has an unpleasant odor; its purpose is to clean tiles, bathtubs and toilets. If you use it to wash the cabin filter, you will have to ventilate the treated cartridge for a long time.
3. Ipone Air Filter Clean is a special liquid that degreases and cleans filter elements in vehicle engines and car interiors. A 5 liter canister is enough for 30 treatments.
4. MOTUL A3 Air Filter Oil, IPONE SPRAY AIR FILTER OIL, Liqui Moly Motorrad Luftfilter Oil are all oils for impregnating the filter parts of the cartridge after washing it.

If you don’t have anything suitable for cleaning at hand, you can use gasoline. It is important to understand that the restored element will not become new, and the effectiveness of the action will decrease, therefore it is not recommended to repeat the procedure more than 5 times.

Consequences of cleaning the cabin filter

Although there are types of filter devices that can be cleaned or washed, original functionality is unlikely to be restored after such a procedure.

Did you know? According to experts, the best filter manufacturer is the Polish company FILTRON.

The consequences of cleaning may be as follows:

• the remaining microparticles on the membrane contribute to the accumulation of condensation, which in turn leads to fogging of the glass;
• physical treatment removes electrostatic charge, which reduces the efficiency of the filtration system;
• on modern systems, a special antibacterial layer is removed, which reduces the protective function of the purifier;
• the product may become deformed, which will also negatively affect the operation of the system.

Video: washing car air filters

To summarize: the cabin filter can be cleaned and washed, but this will affect its functionality. After several such procedures, the device still needs to be replaced, because the air you breathe depends on the quality of the system. Clean or replace on time to feel comfortable inside your car.

Source:

Is it possible not to change the filter, but just clean it?

Sometimes a situation may arise when it is not possible to buy a new filter, and some motorists wonder whether it can simply be cleaned well, and whether the cabin filter can be washed. There is no need to assume that sedum and rinsing is a simple matter and will only take a few minutes. If the work is done well, it will take at least 2 - 3 hours and a certain skill.

Removing the old filter.

The first thing you will need to do is remove the old filter device. Salon models can be located in different places. This may be the engine compartment of the car or its front part under the dashboard.

1. In the first case, getting to the air-purifying element will be somewhat more difficult, but in the second, everything is quite simple. If the filter is located behind the glove compartment, then you just need to remove it.
2. If the device is under the glove compartment, then you need to remove the passenger mat and find the latch from the lid. The cover must be removed and access is completely open.

Vacuum cleaner

If you have absolutely nothing to do, remove the filter and bring it home; you will need a very ordinary household vacuum cleaner (please do not confuse it with car vacuum cleaners, they do not have the same power).

The idea is simple - go with a vacuum cleaner from all sides, at a distance of 3-5 cm, look into each fold, sweep very slowly so that all the dust is sucked up. Pressing, touching or putting pressure on the surface is strictly prohibited - it will get wet.

This will take 20 minutes. Upon completion, under lamp light or bright daylight, carefully inspect the filter for any possible damage, pulling each fold slightly to the side. If you do, congratulations - you've just wasted 20 minutes of your life and will still have to go buy a new one.

About dirt

Filters are initially made of light-colored material, so that without instruments, you can determine by eye whether you can still ride with it or not. And its accordion shape was not chosen by chance; in this form it takes up less space, and the filtering properties increase significantly.

Can it be washed or washed? No. After the first wash, it will begin to crack (at least microcracks), and this guarantees that dust will get into the engine, you can guess how this will turn out for you.

Just try to wipe it with a wet cloth, you will see how even from light touches it will start to get dirty.

The maximum that can be done is to knock it out, but not the carpet, with all your heart, but weakly, shake out the dust from its upper layers and folds. The improvement in its work will be no more than 5-10%.

The note:

This also applies to carbon filters, and indeed to all filters from all manufacturers. There is no need to have illusions. For those especially gifted, let us explain using the photo below as an example. Look at the old and new filter. To what extent do you think your manipulations will allow him to return to his working ability?

How to clean the dashboard and plastic in the cabin

Today, the dashboard is made primarily of plastic. It is cheap and quite practical and does not require careful maintenance. But the dashboard has such a structure that it easily fades, leaves greasy stains, and also collects dust that gets into the car interior. As a result, the plastic quickly becomes dirty. Therefore, follow the care instructions. If dirty, clean the dashboard yourself. For this:

1. Buy a cleaner and test it on a small area. In this way, check whether streaks are formed and whether the plastic will lose color.
2. If the dashboard is not very dirty, then it is enough to use one product. But it’s best if it combines 2 components: polish and cleaner. If the stains are old, you will have to use 2 products separately.
3. Before you start cleaning, shake the bottle with a special product well and spray the composition onto a microfiber cloth. Wipe the dashboard with it. An effective tool for this is SONAX Xtreme. It not only removes all dirt, but also masks scratches and gives a matte effect. The average price for a 300 ml bottle is 386 UAH.
4. If you like your dashboard to shine, then use a product with the “Glossy Shine” effect. If there are stubborn stains, remove them with a product designed for intensive cleaning.
5. When using a cleaner, pre-moisten the rag or napkin, and polish with a dry cloth. If places are hard to reach, use a regular toothbrush to clean them.

In addition to the dashboard, the interior also has other plastic parts. To clean them, follow the instructions:

Compressed air

Air in pressurized cans will do a better job of removing dust, but even here the effectiveness is highly questionable. Yes, if you combine this with the first method, then you will return 10-20% of its resource, and everything seems to be justified and the numbers are already emerging beautifully, if not for one thing. A pneumatic cleaner costs an average of 180-350 rubles. + If there isn’t one nearby, you need to get to the store, plus here, either public transport (40 rubles round trip), or 30-60 rubles for gasoline. As a result, we end up spending at least 240-410 rubles, which is at least 80% equivalent to buying a new filter.

Advice: If you have a powerful car compressor, not bought in Auchan for 700 rubles, but a normal one, such as Berkut R17 \ R20, you can use it, but you will need another car to connect it, because with the engine off, the battery will quickly discharge, and Starting a car without a filter is tantamount to water hammer.

And where is the meaning and logic here?

Forget old-fashioned methods

In the old days, yes, the filter was cleaned, but then the situation in the country was radically different. Forget all your grandfather's and father's methods, like washing with gasoline. Now, everything is there and it costs pennies. And if we talk about reusable filters, then their air throughput was initially reduced, especially for the possibility of washing. Modern filters are made disposable from the very beginning, and stop blaming the manufacturers for everything - they did this on purpose so that we would constantly buy.

How to clean the filter in a washing machine: where is it located, how to remove it

• Start cleaning with plastic (rubber, leather) parts of the ceiling, namely: seals, lamps, sides of doorways. Such parts are cleaned with a soft bristle brush, which causes dirt to fly in different directions at this stage of work.
• Ceiling handles and visors can be removed and cleaned using any detergent.
• If you do not want to remove the seats, cover them with garbage bags or regular plastic when cleaning the ceiling - this will protect them from dirty water that will drip from above.

• microfiber cloths (budget option - used cotton or flannel fabric);