How to Clean a Car Air Conditioner?
3 Answers
Methods for cleaning a car air conditioner: 1. Turn off the car engine and the air conditioner switch, and locate the position of the car air conditioner; 2. Prepare car-specific cleaning agent and a cloth, then open the air conditioner protective cover; 3. Locate the position of the air filter. Most air filters are located inside the glove box, so the glove box needs to be removed first to access the air filter. Open the glove box and squeeze the plastic on both sides to remove the glove box; 4. Clean the air conditioner ducts. Set the air conditioner to external circulation, then turn the fan to maximum speed. Spray the air conditioner cleaning agent into the position where the air filter was removed. Under suction, the cleaning agent will enter the air conditioner ducts; 5. Let the air conditioner system run for about 10 minutes, and the dirt will flow out from the duct system located at the chassis; 6. After removing the filter, clean the dust thoroughly, and then you can turn the car air conditioner back on for use.
My previous car's AC always had a bad smell, but I tried cleaning it myself and found it quite easy. First step: replace the cabin air filter—for most cars, it's located under the glove compartment on the passenger side. Open the housing, remove the old filter, and install the new one, making sure not to install it backward. Second, use an AC cleaning spray, which you can find at supermarkets or online. Start the engine, close the doors and windows, and spray the cleaner into the AC intake (usually located under the windshield in the engine bay). After spraying, wait 5 minutes for the foam to dissolve the dirt. Then, set the AC to recirculation mode, high temperature, and maximum fan speed, and run it for at least 10 minutes to blow out the residue. Don’t forget to check if the drain hole is clogged—find it under the chassis and clear any dust to prevent mold recurrence. Finally, air out the car with windows open for half an hour to remove odors. The whole process takes about 30 minutes, saves over a hundred bucks in repair fees, reduces bacterial buildup, and is super practical to DIY. Do this every six months to keep the AC fresh.
As a novice driver, when I started cleaning my car's air conditioning, I only did two basic steps: replacing the filter and spraying cleaner. Changing the filter is very easy—just look up the car model online, buy a compatible one (they're inexpensive), pull out the glove compartment drawer, and swap it directly. Spraying the cleaner is also simple: buy a canned spray, locate the air intake vent in the engine bay, and spray a few times. After spraying, close the car doors and windows, turn on the AC at high speed with cold air for 15 minutes to blow out the dust. If the odor persists, there might be mold in the ducts, requiring professional shop treatment. I recommend cleaning it every quarter to prevent bacterial growth—it keeps the air fresh while driving, benefits health, and saves the hassle of visiting repair shops.
