How to effectively WASH a "disposable" HEPA filter

LOL "wash off the Corona"...Sheep are everywhere. Please wake up my friend !

I'd say every filter is built differently some you can wash while others you can't. I would think washing would change the dexterity of its makeup! Water loosens the fibers some are made from, plus once they get filled there built to be discarded. Could they make them so you could wash them? Sure by mistake then they'd discontinue that air filter! Air purifiers have become so cheap, that they make all their money on the filters!

Can I try this on my Dyson heater cooler?

Water will be whipped or wicked ? Besides hepa filters do not work on viruses.

So I tried this, and my results say: don't do it if you care about filtering of microscopic particles.
Before I washed the filter, it was used for 12 months in a dusty room. After those 12 months, he air flow decreased by 30% compared to new, and the PM2.5 levels increased by 10% compared to new.
After washing, the airflow increased by 110% compared to dirty (increase by 50% compared to new), while the PM2.5 particle levels INCREASED by 50% compared to dirty (increase by 65% compared to new)

So washing it makes the filtering faster, but it's actually doing less than if you just not wash it. I suspect because the water makes the fibres clump together, which makes the pores larger, allowing microscopic particles to pass through more easily.

I repeat that my measurements are looking at invisible PM2.5 particles, not visible dust. If you care just about the dust, then sure, wash your filters. But a lot of the negative health effects are caused by microscopic particles, so I will just keep buying new filters.

I've heard about a trick of using compressed air to blow the particles out, but have not tried that yet.

Once , when I was really broke, I just draped toilet paper over the intake and replaced every week or so. Worked like a charm.

Seems like wetting a paper filter that is full of dirt will cause the dirt to just bond with the paper. It seems like carefully blowing it out in a reverse direction would be a better way to clean it.

Flush all those coronas 😂😂😂😂

How to turn your hepa filter into a general dust filter. That is what this comes down to.

I did this method on my shark vacuum cleaner and so far so good. Thanks

You need to let it air dry. Putting a wet filter in a machine like that will cause moisture to get into the motor and mechanics creating rust and even mold.

I find that washing my Hepa filter is much easier then washing my wife's mongoose

I am using Arovec AV-P120-RF Genuine Replacement Filter. Can I do the same thing as you did? Thanks a lot for the video tutorial mate!

Nah. Mine got wet and was ruined. I’d love to see you actually compare efficiently as well.

I soak and gently was mine with a solution of TSP - heavy duty industrial degreaser (tried dawn but water never came out crystal clear). Then I let dry and lightly spray with lysol. Have been using mine for years.

We have three small dogs and i will just buy a new one every three months. They're only $40 for two . I worried that the fibers of the filter after washing it will not do the job i need it to do .Plus my filters are three times bigger than the one in the video.


But thank you for making this video for those that want to use that method .

Why bother paying for an air filter system that is supposed to keep you away from dust and pollen if all you're going to do is man handle it while standing over the sink clogging up your drains with the debris? 🙄🙄

Thank-you Thank-you I'm going to go soak mine right now

Works great, tnx alot..

I washed my hepa filter with water
All black water came from the filter..
I used jet spray
Thew water using mugs
And then putting the filter in running tap water.
All the dirt came out yucks now keeping it to dry the shiiit outtt

Thx

It all depends on your purpose of a HEPA.
If 1 single mold spore in a sterile environment will completely ruin your lab work and cost you a lot of time and money, then you need to buy new filters and store them correctly.
If cleaner air (compared to no air filtering) is your goal, washing is worth a try.
Even a fan blade and countertop will collect dust, so anything with air moving through it will help trap airborne particles, regardless of any change in efficiency.

Thank you. Very informative.

.... its not providing HEPA level filtration once you have washed it. Every time you wash it, the integrity of the filter is compromised further. There is no way to "clean" it carefully enough to maintain new functionality. that science is not on your side here im afraid.

Have a little Bionaire model with a hepa, the blue one you show near the end. Thanks for the tip! 👍 "Coronas down the drain" lol 😄

Fantastic to know. I've been replacing mine once a year for about ten years and they are $50 for two. Also mention that at the same time as you are cleaning it vacuum and wipe out your filter unit. Dust builds up inside which cause the unit to run rougher, be more noisy and heat up more. I had a power cord that was accidentally cut so began to Short so I easily disassembled my unit, installed a new cord, which was from a new indoor extension cord, then cleaned as much as I could inside and it was dirty! Now it runs quieter and smoother because the fan blades are in perfect sync as they don't have dirt on them to make them unbalanced and more noisy.

Oh lordy thank God for YOU! You are appreciated.

I washed my air purifier filter. Oh man no amount of water was enugh to clean it. I changed the water after 2 seconds of putting the filter in it because it turned to a very drak brown color. I might not do it again for this filter, but there are few small vacuum filters that are hard to get locally and they will definately get washed. I have been using the air purifier filter for only 4 months or so before I washed it, and if it still collects that amount of dirt in the same or less time than before I'll be happy.

this will save me so much money, my filters are 29.99 each, which is insane for what it is....

This guy has destroyed the integrity of the filter. He may as well have been using it without a filter.

Soaps that create lots of suds can seal a filter. Use sudless soaps

I don't think this guy understands what "loosing efficiency" or "effectiveness" means. If you judge by airflow you don't really need an air purifier with HEPA. You need a fan with a basic large particle filter to filter dust and hair. 2.5 particles and viruses are not included. And you can't really test this at home except getting a PM 2.5 sensor.

Taofledermaus pronouncing High Efficient Particulate Arrestance filter "HEPA" filter like the BOSS, he is! ... The rest of the people in the USA couldn't comprehend how many people in California, will say, "HeePAh" filters. ... Taofledermaus, the real deal, > California Hep-Cat!

i just use a cheapes smelt less "kitchen degreaser" and a brush form an old vacuum what have a long soft hair. just brushing the hepa until the foam is white. then wash with water and good as new.

lol washing HEPA filter destroys them!

Whaaat? I love the normal videos you do. I loved the test tube torture testing when I found it, it's like they never show up and I have to search specifically for them. I just got a monster of an air purifier, and here you are making another awesome video. This is an amazing channel. Next year I'm going to find the Taofledermaus cooking videos, 2024 will expose me to the p°®π°€®∆¶hy reviews, 2025 I'll find the home repair videos, 2026 should be about when I find your videos on relationship advice, 2027 will be your diy electronics lineup, 2028 will be automotive advice, in 2029 I'll find your travel review videos, and by 2030 I will be watching your courses on legal advice in every state.

This works. Mine had mold growing on it, so I used a large ziplock freezer bag, with white vinegar. I used it undiluted initially, agitating it inside the bag, then after about an hour, added some water and a little dish soap. Agitated gently, rinsed in the bag, agitating gently several times ... A long, free flow rinse with cold water at the end, then allowed it to dry. I reset my filter replacement, and it is blue! Meaning, it's working just fine!
I put the new replacement filter back into the bag to use for the future. I have 3 filters total, and am rotating them. I have the 2nd in a bag, soaking in white vinegar. We've moved out of our moldy icky place, and don't want to introduce those microbes into our new environment!
Thank you for prompting me to test this!

Will this work for my car's air filter, lol

Thank you very much.

Literally no scientific testing or analysis, just pure confirmation bias. This will damage your filters ability to filter out unseen particles significantly.

My dad taught me how to wash car fuel filters (the old ones in the little glass bowl?) And I have to point out that while it did work, they would not last nearly as long as new ones, so log this under 'bush fixing' in your DIY diary.

Hopefully the sensor will allow a pass without going nuts with these new types of purifier.

Not that I like to waste money but, I think I’ll just buy new filters. The safety of these washed filters is questionable at best and, the money I may save on re-using filters might have to go to buying an oxygen tank and mask in the future.

I can’t believe he puts his bare hands in water that contained bleach! Horrible for your skin!

I have 3 dogs and a very drafty house so my Honeywell HPA304 (the 3 filter kind) can get extremely expensive. I'm not looking to create a clean room environment so any filtration works. After 3 months of initial use the 3 HEPAs and 1 charcoal were nasty. Hosed off the charcoal outer filter and followed the directions in this video for the HEPAs. Man, the water afterward was BLACK with contaminants and dirt. I have no illusions that subsequent to washing they are as effective as new but I don't need them to be.

Thanks for the informative and $$ saving video.

thanks for video!! I'm gonna wash mine today. I'm gonna dry it in the sun too. 🌞

Yeah, the filter will be less efficient, but it won't matter as air will just need to pass more often to get same results. This will not really stop the function of the machine, just slow the cleaning process down. Buy a bigger machine with reserve if you are worried.

Thanks 🙏

I'm here after blasting the hell out of mine with water!