How do I Clean Mildew in an Air Conditioner?

Keep your air conditioner free of mold and mildew to keep your family healthy.

A mildew- and mold-infested air conditioner will not only give your living space a very unpleasant odor, it could wreck havoc with the health and comfort of anyone in your home who has allergies. Air conditioners are perfect breeding grounds for mildew and mold; they collect dust on the cooling fans and water condensed from the atmosphere keeps the dust damp. Regularly changing the air conditioner filter is critical, but you must also remove dirt and dust (which harbor mildew and mold) from the internal workings of the air conditioner in order to keep it--and your family--healthy.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• New disposable filter (only if your air conditioner has a disposable filter)
• Dry laundry detergent
• Hot water
• Old toilet brush or similar long-handled brush
• Commercial all-purpose cleaner or degreaser
• Rags
• Vacuum cleaner

Instructions

1. Unplug the air conditioner and remove it from the window. Place it on a sturdy surface such as the floor.

2. Remove the filter from the front grille of the air conditioner. Replace it with a new one if it is a disposable filter. If it is reusable, lay the filter face down in the sink, sprinkle it with dry laundry detergent and cover it with about an inch of hot water if it is a permanent filter. Soak the filter for about 15 minutes, remove it from the water, rinse with warm water and let it air dry for about half an hour.

3. Remove the front grille from the air conditioner. Exactly how you do this will depend on your specific air conditioner. Usually the front grille is held in place by two spring clips at the bottom. Pull the grille forward and push down on it to release the clips. Look for screws along the top edge of the grille or behind the control door if the first procedure does not work. Remove the screws with a screwdriver and then remove the grille.

4. Take the metal cover off the air conditioner. Remove all of the screws with a screwdriver and lift the cover straight up.

5. Remove surface dust and grime from the evaporator (the front fins, thin vertical pieces of metal). Use an old toilet bowl brush and move it up and down, not sideways, which will damage the fins. Spray the fins with a commercial all-purpose cleaner or degreaser. Let it stand for 15 minutes, or as long as the manufacturer's directions suggest. Pour warm water over the fins to remove the dirt and cleaner from the fins. Be extremely careful to keep the water away from the electrical innards of the air conditioner. Straighten any fins that have gotten bent during the cleaning process.

6. Clean the condenser coils in the rear of the air conditioner. The condenser may have a plastic cover. Lift or open the cover if that is possible without damaging it.

7. Clean the two fan blades. Use a soft rag. Wipe down any other components or surfaces that you can reach. Vacuum the entire unit and let it air dry completely before reassembling.

References

• Allergy: How to Clean an Air Conditioner and Remove Mold