If you don’t have your product manual, you can search online for your appliance’s manufacturer and model number to download a digital copy. Washable filters are used in both air purifiers and vacuum cleaners.

If your filter is small and easy to handle, or if you’re not worried about spilling any dust, you can just remove the filter indoors and rinse it in a sink.

Check your product guide if you’re not sure how to access the HEPA filter. Never operate an air purifier or vacuum cleaner without a filter.

In general, you should rinse both sides of a washable flat filter. Cylindrical wet/dry vacuum filters should only be rinsed on their exterior and should not get wet inside the cylinder. Filters can also be cleaned and washed within a washing machine.

Never put your filter in a clothes dryer, use a blower dryer, or use any method other than natural air drying.

Check your product manual for specific instructions on how to access your appliance’s filter.

Towel dry your foam or activated charcoal filters, then let them air dry completely for at least 24 hours.

Some air purifiers have an electronic filter clean reminder. If yours has one, reset it after cleaning your filter.

To keep your appliance in the best working order, check the filter before each use and clean it if it’s covered with a layer of dirt or debris.

Check your user guide for your product manufacturer’s recommendations for your specific model.

In general, the cleaner you keep your filter, the more efficiently your appliance will operate.

If you don’t use the appliance often, the filter might not need to be cleaned when the timer light comes on. On the other hand, if you always keep the appliance on, but the timer tracks calendar days instead of actual time in use, you’ll likely need to clean the filter more often than the timer recommends. You can check your user guide to find out if your appliance tracks use time or calendar days.

Some manufacturers suggest replacing your filter when it becomes visibly worn or discolored, so inspect your filter’s condition when you clean it.