Guide · Air conditioner
How to clean air conditioner filters
Turn off the split, cut the power, lift the front panel and slide out the filters. Vacuum off the dust, wash them in lukewarm water with a little neutral detergent and put them back only when they are dry. If you use it every day, repeat about every two weeks.
20 minutes, plus drying Difficulty: EasyUpdated 25 October 2026
Before opening the panel, cut the power at the plug or at the air conditioner's breaker in the fuse box. Use a stable step ladder: a chair can tip over. Do not touch the metal fins behind the filters: they are thin and sharp.
What you need
- Vacuum cleaner with a soft brush
- Bowl of lukewarm water
- Mild neutral detergent
- Soft cloth
- Stable step ladder
Step by step
Tap a step to mark it as done.
Daikin, Samsung and other brands
The principle is the same on almost all wall-mounted splits, only the fittings change. On Daikin Perfera units, for example, the manual says to open the panel holding it by the tabs at the sides, then push the tab in the centre of each filter and pull it downwards. Daikin recommends cleaning every two weeks, a soak of 10-15 minutes in lukewarm water, and never water above 40 degrees.
On the same Daikin units there is also a smaller deodorising filter, which is washed with water every six months and replaced every three years. On the more powerful models it has to be removed before cleaning the main filter.
On Samsung splits the filter generally slides out of the unit. On some models you first lift the top cover, and on WindFree models the perforated panel comes off too. The manual of several Samsung models says to clean every two weeks or when the reminder appears, to soak for half an hour in water with mild detergent and to reset with the Filter Reset function. For LG, Mitsubishi, Hisense and other brands, look for the manual on the manufacturer's website using the model written on the data plate.
Cleaning the indoor unit yourself: how far to go
By yourself you can clean the filters, the front panel, the outlet vanes and the remote. Use a soft cloth with water or neutral detergent, and move the vanes by hand only with the split switched off.
The coil, the pack of metal fins behind the filters, the roller fan and the condensate tray are internal parts. The manuals reserve them for the engineer: the circuit board is close by, the fins bend easily and badly sprayed water ends up on the wall or the motor.
Sanitising sprays squirted into the grille leave a scent for a few days but do not replace cleaning. Use them only if the manual allows. Vinegar, alcohol, bleach and home-made mixes must not be used inside the split.
How to clean the outdoor unit
The outdoor unit has no filters to wash. With the power off you can remove leaves, paper and dust from the grilles with a soft brush, a cloth or the vacuum, and keep the space around it clear.
No pressure washer or strong water jets: they bend the fins and can wet the electrical connections. Do not open the casing and do not lean out. If the unit is on a facade, on a roof or near a low parapet, cleaning is for the engineer.
Near the sea it is worth checking the fins and screws every year, as salt corrodes them first. If the fins are crushed or covered in caked dirt, a professional wash with suitable products is needed.
When to stop and call a technician
- With clean filters you still smell damp or mould as soon as you switch it on
- You see black dots on the fan or on the fins behind the filters
- The filters are torn, warped or no longer fit in the guides
- The split drips indoors even after cleaning the filters
- The outdoor unit can only be reached by leaning off the balcony or climbing onto the roof
Frequently asked questions
How often should air conditioner filters be cleaned?
If you use it every day, about every two weeks: that is the interval in the Daikin and Samsung manuals. Clean them before summer too, at the end of the season and after a long period of not using it. With pets at home or a kitchen nearby, even more often.
How do you remove the filters on a Daikin air conditioner?
On many Daikin wall-mounted splits you open the front panel from the sides, push the tab in the centre of each filter and pull it downwards. On the more powerful models there are extra filters to remove first: check the manual for your model.
How do you clean the filter of a Samsung air conditioner?
Slide it out of the unit, remove the dust with a soft brush or the vacuum, then leave it half an hour in water with mild detergent and let it dry away from the sun. After refitting, reset the filter reminder from the remote.
Can you clean the indoor unit yourself?
Yes for the filters, panel and outlet vanes, always with the power off. The coil, fan and condensate tray should be left to the engineer, who takes them apart and washes them without wetting the electrics.
How do you clean the outdoor unit without damaging it?
Cut the power, then remove leaves and dust from the grilles with a soft brush or the vacuum. No pressure washer and no bent fins. If it is up high or outside the balcony, leave it alone.
When is a full clean needed?
Once a year, before summer, or when the smell stays even with clean filters. If you are in Campania you can ask us: we do it at your home, with the split taken apart.
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