Before You Turn on the AC This Summer: The 3-Step Filter Clean That Could Save Your Throat

Yesterday a friend complained to me: she turned on the AC, the room got cooler, but her throat felt weird. She wondered if she’d been running it too long.

I asked her: did you clean the AC filter?

Her: There’s a filter?

…

I’m pretty sure she’s not the only one who didn’t know this. AC filter cleaning is one of those things many people think “I’ll do it when I remember” — which usually means never. But the truth is, a filter clogged with dust doesn’t just reduce cooling efficiency. It significantly degrades indoor air quality.

Let me make this clear right now: the 3 steps you must take before turning on the AC for summer.

Step one: Remove the filter and actually look at it.

This step’s psychological value exceeds its practical value. Once you see the actual amount of dust accumulated on your filter, you’ll never need someone to remind you to clean it again. The first time I removed mine, the thickness of the dust layer made me seriously question what I’d been breathing all winter.

Removing the filter is easy — most AC units have hidden clasps on both sides. Just gently unclip and pull. But remember: turn off the AC and unplug it first.

Step two: Clean the filter, don’t use hot water.

When the filter gets dirty, how do you wash it? Many people’s first move is dish soap and scrubbing — but that’s not actually the most effective approach.

The right method: rinse with water first, getting rid of the loose dust. Then use a soft brush with a small amount of dish soap and gently scrub. Key point: don’t use hot water. Hot water makes it easier for bacteria to breed on the filter. After rinsing clean, let it dry in a cool, ventilated place — not in direct sunlight.

Step three: Clean the vents and air guide panels.

The filter’s clean, but vents and air guide panels have dust buildup too. Wipe inside with a barely-damp cloth, or spray with an AC cleaner, wait 15 minutes, then run the AC on fan mode to let it air dry naturally.

One pro tip: before running the AC for real, open a window slightly and run the AC in fan mode for 15 minutes. This gets rid of any stale air and moisture trapped in the ducts.

After doing these three steps, the improvement in cooling efficiency and air quality is noticeable. Especially for families with kids or elderly members, don’t skip the filter cleaning.

Don’t think this is too time-consuming. All of the above takes 30 minutes. You definitely spend more than 30 minutes scrolling your phone every day.

— Su Xiaonuan, writing from Chengdu

Your turn: When was the last time you cleaned your AC filter? Comment below — I want to see how many people are lazier than me.