Homemade Filter Cleaner Chemicals

White Vinegar

• White vinegar is a mild acid that will help you remove mold stains without polluting your home’s air quality, as it is food grade and completely non-toxic. To use it, remove the filter and rinse in with clear water until you’ve removed most of the dirt and debris. Use a kitchen sprayer to spray white vinegar over the filter, and let it sit for a few minutes. Scrub the filter gently with a soft-bristled brush and rinse it again with clear water.

Baking Soda

• Most filters for air conditioners or furnaces require you to use just water, but water is not always able to completely clean a filter. If this is the case, use baking soda rather than liquid dish soap, because the soap can clog the filter. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda per quart of water and gently scrub the solution over the filter with a clean, soft brush. Always rinse the filter completely, and let it air dry before putting it back in the air conditioner, radiator or furnace.

Liquid Dish Soap

• You should only use liquid dish soap to clean a filter if the manufacturer allows it. It is never prudent to use it to clean air filters in vacuums or furnaces, but you can use it to remove residue from filters in laundry dryers. These filters can get clogged with fabric softener, which may prevent them from removing lint from your clothes. To clean the filter, run it under clear water and add 1 drop of liquid dish soap to the surface. Scrub the filter with a soft-bristled brush until the water will run through rather than pool in it. Rinse it thoroughly and dry it before putting it back in the machine.

Water

• Some manufacturers note in their owner’s manuals not to wash their filter with anything except lukewarm water. Lukewarm water will remove most of the dirt and debris from air conditioning, furnace, vacuum or stove filters without leaving any residue that would clog the filter. To use the water, simply spray water from your kitchen sprayer or from the faucet until the filter is clean. Let it air dry before reinstalling it.