How to Clean a Window Air Conditioner

In This Article

How Often to Clean
Before You Begin
Instructions
Additional Tips
FAQ

Working Time: 1 - 2 hrs
Total Time: 2 - 3 hrs
Skill Level: Beginner
Estimated Cost: $5-$30

Cleaning your window air conditioner offers a surprising slew of advantages. Maintaining a window unit by keeping it clean helps keep it working well by prolonging its longevity, reducing the need for repairs, lowering the cost of your energy bill, preventing mold formation, and producing cleaner air for your room.

Unfortunately, this essential maintenance task is often neglected, leaving your unit vulnerable to premature failure or malfunctioning components. The good news? Cleaning your window air conditioner is quick, and easy, and requires minimal tools and materials. Read on to learn how it's done, and how often you should do it.

How Often to Clean a Window Air Conditioner

The Department of Energy recommends cleaning your window air conditioner thoroughly at least once a year, preferably before its first use of the season. In addition to an annual cleaning, the filter should be cleaned once a month and replaced with a new one every three months.

Before You Begin

The moist environment of your air conditioner is an ideal breeding ground for mold growth, which can pose health risks to you and your household. Hydrogen peroxide has potent anti-fungal properties to eliminate the lingering mold spores air conditioners harbor. Other common anti-fungal cleaners (like bleach) are corrosive to metals and should be avoided to prevent damaging your air conditioner's internal components. Before you clean your unit, fill a spray bottle with a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution to use while cleaning.

Next, ensure the unit is disconnected from electricity by unplugging it from the wall or shutting off the circuit breaker on your home's electrical panel. This will prevent any risk of electrocution.

The 5 Best Window Air Conditioners to Keep Your Home Cool

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

Shop vacuum with brush attachment
Knife with thin blade or fin comb
Cleaning cloth
Spray bottle
Can of compressed air (optional)
Pair of protective gloves
Screwdriver

Materials

1 bottle of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide
AC coil cleaner (optional)

Instructions

Materials and tools to clean a window air conditioner — The Spruce / Nanor Zinzalian

How to Clean a Window Air Conditioner

Remove and Clean the Face Panel

The face panel (or grille cover) is a plastic or metal grate secured to the very front of your air conditioner. It will either be secured onto your unit with screws, clips, or tabs, or both. Consult your user manual for specific instructions on how to remove it. The filter may be housed inside the face panel on some models. If so, use the manufacturer's instructions for removing the filter before cleaning the face panel.

Once the face panel—and possibly the filter—has been removed, spray the panel with your cleaning solution and clean it off with a cloth. Alternatively, take it outside and spray it down with a garden hose. Set the face panel aside to dry while you clean the rest of the components.

The Spruce / Nanor Zinzalian
Remove and Clean the Filter

Consult your air conditioner's user manual for specific instructions on removing the filter. Some filters are housed inside the face panel, while others are situated directly behind the face panel. Once removed, remove heavy sediment deposits with a vacuum, and wipe them down with a wet cloth to clean residual dust and debris.

Deep clean the filter outside and spray it down with a garden hose. Before reinstalling it, set the filter aside and allow it to dry thoroughly, which should take a couple of hours when flipping it over midway.

The Spruce / Nanor Zinzalian
Vacuum Out the Interior

Vacuum out the entire interior (or cabinet) of your air conditioner. This includes the drain pan on the bottom of the unit, the fan and blower in the middle, the evaporator in the front, and the condenser in the back.

Place special emphasis on cleaning the thin, aluminum fins on the evaporator and condenser. If possible, use a soft brush attachment on your vacuum hose and vacuum in the same direction as the fins (vertically, or up and down) to avoid bending or damaging the fins.

Tip

The aluminum fins on the compressor and evaporator can be sharp, so it's wise to wear protective gloves when handling these parts.

The Spruce / Nanor Zinzalian
Spray it Down

Spray down the interior cabinet and exterior housing with hydrogen peroxide, and use a cloth or rag to wipe down everything you can reach.

Use the same spray cleaning solution on the evaporator and condenser coils or an AC coil spray cleaner. Allow the cleaner to air dry or rinse it off with water. If you rinse it off, allow the cleaner to soak for 10 to 20 minutes to let it loosen up any caked-on material.

Tip

Before spraying down the condenser and evaporator coils, consider spraying down the fins with a can of compressed air. This will remove any sediment the vacuum may have missed, and provide a deeper clean.

The Spruce / Nanor Zinzalian
Straighten the Fins

Bent fins on your evaporator or condenser reduce your air conditioner's performance or lead to premature failure. Wearing gloves, insert a knife or fin comb in the space between the fins, just above or below the bent portions. Gently run the knife or comb in the same direction (parallel with) the surrounding, unaffected fins until the bent ones are straight.

The Spruce / Nanor Zinzalian

Tips to Keep a Window Air Conditioner Clean Longer

Clean the air filter at least once a month, and replace it every three months.
Dust the unit's exterior weekly and wash it with a damp cloth monthly.
Remove the unit from the window and store it during the off-season.

FAQ

Do you have to take your AC unit out of the window to clean it?

You do not have to remove your air conditioner from the window to clean it. You will have plenty of room for a thorough cleaning once you remove the face panel, filter, and other casings. The unit should be cleaned before placing it in the window for the season and one more time upon removal from the window.
Is it safe to spray your air conditioner with water?

It is safe to spray water on your air conditioner, even when it is running. A few spritzes of water frequently on your air conditioner can help it to run more efficiently.

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