Cabin air filters: a guide to cleaning and replacing them

Does the air conditioning unit in your car get a lot of use in the summer? If so, it’s important to attend to the air filters in your car’s cabin. It’s the best way to ensure that the air circulating in your car will be clean.

The basics
If your vehicle was manufactured after the year 2000, it likely has cabin air filters. Depending on the make and model, it will have either one or two. Cabin air filters purify the air that enters into your car’s cabin by trapping dust, mold, pollen and other fine particles.

Over time, cabin air filters can get pretty dirty. This is something you have to watch out for. When they’re overly saturated, they’re much less effective at trapping contaminants. Moreover, they can cause your car’s cooling and heating system to work less efficiently.

When to replace cabin air filters
Generally, manufacturers recommend that air filters be replaced every 15,000 to 20,000 miles, or roughly once a year. It’s also worth it to clean them every few months.

If you have persistent bad odors in your car or the climate control is overly noisy, these are signs that the filters are due for a cleaning — or need to be replaced.

Cloth and carbon filters can withstand a few washes. Paper filters, however, are too fragile to clean and always need to be replaced when dirty.

How to clean cabin air filters
To clean your cloth or carbon air filters, first you need to get at them. Usually they’re located on the passenger side under the glove box, and sometimes you need to remove the glove box from its fasteners to access them. Consult your owner’s manual for detailed information on how to remove them.

Make sure to handle filters with care when removing them. If you tear them even slightly, they’ll need to be replaced.

Clean each filter by running water through it at low pressure. Always apply the stream of water to the cleaner side and let it pass through to the dirtier side. Once you’ve got most of the dirt out, soak the filter in soapy water for 10 minutes. Afterwards, let it air dry on a towel. Once the filter is completely dry, it’s time to put it back.

Note that you can only clean filters so many times. If they start to look at all ragged, it’s best to replace them. You can put in a new air filter yourself or get the mechanic at your local garage to put one in for you.