How to Clean Your Room Air Purifier

With an obligation to wear masks all day, we all have realized the value of clean air and a germ-free environment. But even though we feel our homes as our haven, researches prove that indoor air is five times more polluted than outdoor air. And considering the time we spend indoors, we are likely being subjected to thousands of illnesses just by staying within the four walls and not doing anything to improve the quality of the air we breathe.

This is especially important for people who suffer from allergies and other seasonal affective disorders. Poor air quality can significantly deteriorate your health with time and put your respiratory system at a greater risk. And if you live with a pet, the value of cleaning indoor air becomes even greater. And since air purifiers trap the dust, they need to be maintained periodically. Hence one must clean room air purifiers to filter the air they breathe.

A clean room air filter and a portable UV air purifier is a great accessory to keep your air fresh and prevent inhaling any germs and harmful dust particles. But is a clean room air filtration system all you need? The device needs to be cleaned and maintained periodically, especially if we talk about a large room air purifier that takes up the dirt and dust of the entire home.

In this article, we will cover some simple ways on how to clean indoor air with an air cleaner and simple solutions to keep your air purifier clean.

How to Clean Air Purifiers

Sometimes even the doctor needs a little treatment, the same as with an air purifier. An air purifier is constantly working. Hence you must be aware of the dirt and dust the filters in an air purifier go through. Not only the air filter needs to be cleaned to work properly, but if you want your air purifier to last you for years and make it a one-time investment, then a periodic cleaning is a must. Here are some simple tips to help you clean air purifiers.

Cleaning the Air Purifier

Cleaning the air purifier externally is one thing and cleaning the air purifier filters is another. To clean the body of the air purifier, here are some steps you need to follow:

• First turn off your device and unplug it from the source of power
• To clean the exterior body, take a damp cloth, a soft fabric, so the exterior isn't scratched or damaged. Wipe away all the openings and the mesh structure of your air purifier gently.
• Pick a soft brush or a toothbrush to reach the region with minimum accessibility to clean the air ventilation.
• By carefully pulling forward the side joint, you can remove the front panel/grill. Use warm, soapy water to clean it. If the removable panel or grill is plastic, you can quickly clean it by soaking it in water. Before reinstalling it, let it air dry.
• Remove all filters from the interior first, then wipe away any dirt using a dry cloth.
• Soak in water with lemon for a few minutes to remove stubborn stains. Scrub the dirt away with a dry cloth, rinse it with water, and let it dry.

Depending on the usage and size of the air purifier, set a routine to clean periodically; a medium room air purifier should be cleaned more frequently than a larger one.

Cleaning the Air Purifier Filter

Cleaning an air purifier filter or cleaning room air purifier is a more extensive job than the body of an air purifier. An air purifier with a dusty filter will work inefficiently and consume more power with time. Here are some steps to clean the air purifier filter.

• Open the air purifier externally to reach the internal panel or access the air purifier filters.
• Carefully remove the filter from the filter tab without escaping dirt and dust. Make sure to cover your face with a face mask to prevent any dust from entering your respiratory system.
• Depending on the type of filter, there are different ways to clean a filter. For a HEPA UV air purifier, the filters are not washable. The same is the case with carbon filters. In such cases, you need to replace the filter once it is damaged or done.
• In other cases, run a vacuum cleaner at low speed with a brush attachment to make a washable/permanent filter, such as a pre-filter to clean room air purifier. Brush through the pleated filter layers with a soft bristle brush until all visible particles are gone. You may also use warm soapy water and a moist cloth to rinse and hand wash it gently.
• After completing the cleaning process insert the filter back gently and secure it to the place. Ensure the filter is fastened properly before plugging in and using the device again. If the filter is not mounted properly, your air purifier might get damaged and stop working.

Air Purifier vs. Humidifier?

Air purifiers and humidifiers might be thought of as two faces of a coin, but the truth is that both of these products are different from one another, making one type more beneficial for a certain type of job. The difference between an air humidifier and an air purifier such as the UVC light air purifier is because of the way these two function.

An air purifier as the name suggests is made to clean the surrounding air. A fan and a filter surface are the two most fundamental components of an air purifier, while the filtration technology might range from classic HEPA filters to ionizers and PECO technology. Air is blown through most air purifiers, pollutants are captured or removed on a filter, and clean air is discharged back into space. There is no moisture added to the air by air purifiers.

On the other hand, a humidifier does not purify the air. It simply adds water to the air by turning water into vapors, vibrating water droplets into the air with ultrasonic technology, or evaporating water with a fan and wick. If tap water is used instead of purified water, ultrasonic humidifiers may introduce microscopic mineral particles into the air.

An air humidifier also helps people with allergies and issues like dry cough and sore throat by adding moisture to the air. So the debate between purifier vs. humidifier depends on the end-use and end goal you need from an air purification technique.