Indoor air quality (IAQ) is vital in many households, especially when members have sensitive immune systems. HoMedics air purifiers with filter media emerged as ready solutions in the search for ways to remove air pollutant particles. Since you must maintain these devices, can you clean HoMedics air purifier filters?
You can clean the pre-filter and HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter found in most HoMedics air purifiers. However, to maintain the filter’s integrity and function during and after cleaning, you must pay attention to the manufacturer’s instructions.
This article explores whether HoMedics air purifier filters are washable and if you can clean and reuse HoMedics filters. I also describe how long a HoMedics filter lasts and how often you should change it.
Are HoMedics Air Purifier Filters Washable?
Several HoMedics air purifiers are available, and each model employs a combination of purification technologies to clean the air. The technologies range from different air filters to UV-C light and ionizers. Below are some HoMedics air purifiers and the filters they use:
TotalClean 5-in-1 UV Large Room Air Purifier: It can clean the air in spaces of up to 246 sq. ft. It has three filters: a pre-filter, a HEPA filter, and a carbon filter.
TotalClean 4-in-1 Small Room Air Purifier: It is ideal for rooms of about 89 sq. ft., including children’s bedrooms and home offices. It also has three filters: a pre-filter, a HEPA filter, and a carbon filter.
TotalClean 4-in-1 Portable UV Air Purifier: It can fit in a regular car’s cupholder and has a HEPA filter. UV-C light is the second purification technology it uses to eliminate bacteria and allergens.
TotalClean Desktop Air Purifier: This unit works perfectly for rooms of up to 128 sq. ft. It has three filters: a pre-filter, a HEPA filter, and a carbon filter.
None of the first three HoMedics air purifier filters is washable. In addition, the pre-filter, HEPA filter, and carbon filter have varying makeups, functions, and maintenance techniques.
The HoMedics carbon filter comprises chemically enhanced charcoal, and washing it will degrade its adsorption ability, making it useless. The HEPA filter also faces a similar outcome when washed. Therefore, you must replace or clean these filters as required.
Can You Clean and Reuse HoMedics Filters?
Your HoMedics air purifier needs adequate care and maintenance to clean your home’s air effectively and efficiently. It won’t perform its best when filled with contaminants like dust, pollen, germs, pet dander, mold spores, etc. Additionally, a clogged filter will cause the motor to work harder in compensation for the decreased airflow.
Ultimately, it will significantly affect the CADR (clean air delivery rate) and airflow delivery rate. If your air purifier continues to work with a dirty filter, it may release the trapped pollutants back into the air. How helpful is an air purifier that pollutes the air instead of cleaning it?
For this reason, HoMedics designed their air purifier filters to be cleanable and replaceable. The HoMedics HEPA filter is a “permanent” or non-washable filter that comprises thin fibers tangled randomly and compressed into paper-thick sheets. These sheets are further pleated to increase the filter’s surface area and placed on a frame (cardboard, metal, etc.).
Although the design of the HEPA filters makes it tricky to clean without damage, you can clean them. Even better, you can clean the pre-filter every time you clean the HEPA filter.
HoMedics recommends cleaning the pre-filter and HEPA filter once per month. After cleaning them, you can reuse them until they need replacing.
How To Clean HoMedics Filters
A clean HEPA filter theoretically removes 99.97% of pollen, dust, bacteria, mold, and other airborne particles sized 0.3 microns from the air. The pre-filter is your first defense against pollutants, trapping larger particles before reaching the other filters. Activated carbon filters are deodorizers, and they absorb foul odors like tobacco smoke from the air.
The Clean/Reset filter indicator light on your HoMedics air purifier comes on when it’s time to clean or change the filters. While you cannot wash a HoMedics True HEPA filter, you can clean it in these steps:
- Turn off your air purifier and unplug it from the outlet.
- Gently pull on the tabs of the grill cover (on either side of the top) to open it.
- Pull the cover outward until its bottom tabs slide away easily from the unit.
- Remove the True HEPA filter from within the device.
- Put on your vacuum cleaner’s brush attachment.
- Run the brush attachment along the True HEPA filter, ensuring you get both sides.
- Clean between the filter’s accordion folds thoroughly.
- Put the cleaned filter back within the main unit and ensure it’s firmly seated.
- Replace the front grill cover by placing the bottom tabs into the air purifier’s base.
- Push the grill cover back into place gently.
- When you hear a click sound, you’ve securely anchored the grill cover.
It would be best to vacuum the pre-filter as you clean the HEPA filter. Remember to reset the filter Clean/Rest indicator light after powering the air purifier.
Cleaning and Maintenance Tips for HoMedics Air Purifiers
- Before you begin cleaning, ensure you have enough time and tools. You must handle the filters delicately, and rushing through the process will lead to errors.
- Always turn off your air purifier before unplugging it from the power source to keep the motherboard undamaged.
- Wear gloves and a face mask before cleaning, especially if you have severe allergies.
- Clean the air purifier and filters on flat, hard surfaces so it doesn’t topple over.
- Never wash the HEPA and carbon filters with water or clean them with detergents, household solvents, or other cleaning agents.
- Your HoMedics air purifier filters have no business being in the dishwasher or washing machine.
- Ensure your hand stays dry throughout the cleaning process, especially when cleaning the filters.
- While the air purifier is open, take care not to insert or drop foreign objects into the air inlet/outlet opening.
- Never dry the filters with a hairdryer because heat can damage their structure.
- Never clean the air purifier’s exterior with water, was, polish, or any chemical solution. Instead, wipe the unit’s body with a soft and dry cleaning cloth, preferably microfiber.
- Ideal temperatures for using and cleaning the air purifier are between 40° F (4° C) and 110° F (43° C) – unless the manual states otherwise.
- Don’t tinker around with the air purifier if you don’t know what you’re doing. Instead, leave disassembly and repairs to the professionals when necessary.
- Never operate the air purifier with a damaged or faulty power plug or cord.
How Long Does a HoMedics Filter Last?
A HoMedics HEPA filter lasts for 18 months, and the carbon filter can last for six months. Although they can last for this long, you should clean or change them according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
For example, if the manufacturer recommends a filter change every ten months, it’d be best to change your filter accordingly. Waiting until the filter ‘breathes’ its last may mean receiving suboptimal air purification from your device once it passes the recommended change time.
How Often Should I Change My HoMedics Air Purifier Filter?
HoMedics recommends replacing the HEPA filter every 12 months with normal usage and the carbon filter every three months. This is how to get the best out of your air purifier.
If your environment is heavily polluted, you may have to change your filters more often. This is because when there are more air pollutants within your home, your air purifier will do more work to clean the air. Consequently, the filters in the unit will get dirtier faster than usual.
You can wait for the Replace filter indicator to come on before changing your filter or check the filters periodically. Checking your filters frequently, especially when you live in a heavily polluted area, helps you notice clogging faster. Replacing your HoMedics air purifier filter is easy, and these are the steps to follow:
- Turn off your air purifier and unplug it from the power source.
- Gently pull on the tabs of the grille cover (on either side of the top) to open it.
- Pull the cover outward until its bottom tabs slide away easily from the unit and set it aside.
- Remove the old filters carefully and avoid jostling them to release pollutants back into the room.
- Insert the new HEPA filter, ensuring the airflow arrow is oriented in the correct direction.
- If you’re also replacing the carbon filter, slide it into the appropriate tabs (usually on the grille cover).
- Replace the front grill cover by placing the bottom tabs into the air purifier’s base.
- Push the grill cover back into place gently.
- When you hear a click sound, you’ve securely anchored the grille cover.
- Turn on the air purifier by plugging the power cable into an AC outlet and pressing the power button.
- Depending on your model, press and hold power, ionizer, or Clean/Reset filter button to reset the filter indicator. Press and hold the correct button for three seconds or until you hear a beep sound or the light goes off.
After resetting the indicator, you can resume using your air purifier according to your settings and preference (e.g., sleep mode).
Always change your air purifier filters using genuine HoMedics replacement filters that fit your device. If you use an unsuitable filter, it may damage your unit or not work at all. Also, remember that the cleaner the filters, the more airborne pollutants they can trap.