How to clean the car air conditioning
Cleaning the air conditioning in a car is essential so that it works correctly, does not accumulate dirt or dust inside the vehicle and, above all, to avoid problems when activating it when it is most needed. It is one of the keys to proper car maintenance. To discover how to clean car air conditioning why it gives off a bad smell when you turn it on and how often it should be cleaned, at FoxWiki we recommend that you continue reading this article.
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How to clean and disinfect my car’s air conditioning ducts
To clean and disinfect your car’s air conditioning ducts correctly, at FoxWiki we recommend that you follow these steps:
- Clean the dust left between the cracks of the air conditioner. Use the following materials: foam brushes and a mixture of warm water and vinegar. If the smell given off by the vinegar is too strong, you can add a little lemon juice to the mixture. It is not recommended to use cotton swabs to clean the cracks because the cotton they contain can come loose and the result would be counterproductive.
- To dehumidify the vehicle, turn the heating on to maximum power with the car running for five minutes and then with the car stopped for at least six more minutes. You can also purchase dehumidifiers for the car, which will allow you to eliminate the humidity accumulated in the air conditioning ducts.
- To finish cleaning and disinfecting the car’s air conditioning system, apply a disinfectant product that serves to eliminate bacteria and fungi. To do a deep cleaning, at FoxWiki we recommend purchasing enzymatic bottles. To use them, turn off the heating and put the air conditioning on for 5 minutes at maximum power, closing the windows except for the one necessary to spread the product. Then, turn off the air conditioning and let the car air out for several minutes before getting into the vehicle and being able to use it without any problems.
Why does my car’s air conditioning smell bad?
The air conditioning system of a car is a nest of microorganisms, since thousands of bacteria and fungi accumulate. The risk of bacterial growth generally occurs in the evaporator, i.e. the place where the humidity is very high thus causing a bad smell in the air conditioning.
Another reason why your car’s air conditioning may smell bad is by smoking inside it or by transporting animals on a regular basis. They are very strong odors and difficult to eliminate from car upholstery, since they remain impregnated for a long time, even in the cracks and air conditioning ducts.
To avoid bad odors like these, we recommend that you carry out a good maintenance of the air conditioning system and a thorough disinfection of the air conditioning at least once a year or approximately every 20,000 kilometers traveled. It is also recommended recharge it every 2 years and check the correct operation of the thermostat.
To ensure that the air you breathe inside the vehicle is completely clean and pure, you must thoroughly disinfect the air conditioning system ducts. It is also necessary that you change the filter of the same system.
In this article you will find more information about Why car air conditioning smells bad.
How often should the air conditioner be cleaned?
You should clean your vehicle’s air conditioning regularly. It is best to do so before spring begins (that is, the time with the most cases of allergies) and when winter begins (which is the time of year when most types of diseases occur).
In the event that different people regularly get into your car, as happens in taxi, VTC or private driver services, it is advisable to clean the air conditioning system more frequently, since you carry different passengers daily. .
In this sense, you need to have it in perfect condition for it to work so at FoxWiki we suggest that you carry out constant maintenance of these ducts, as well as the cracks to ensure your own comfort and that of the passengers both in summer and winter.
Now that you know how to clean the car air conditioning, you may also be interested in knowing How to clean the car dashboard and How to clean the car headlights.