One thing we have noticed in our line of work is that many people make the mistake of replacing their window air conditioner before they really need to. If your A/C unit is performing sluggishly, often times it just needs a thorough cleaning. Dust, dirt, and other debris can accumulate inside the unit, significantly hurting its performance. Learning how to clean a window air conditioner can extend its usefulness for many years. That’s why we’ve found the perfect video to demonstrate how to do just that yourself. It comes from MrJustDIY’s YouTube channel, who specializes in DIY projects.

How to Clean a Window Air Conditioner

The video begins with the unit already removed from the window and unplugged (which is important to avoid electrocution). He then demonstrates how to pop off the front and top casing to expose the inner parts of the unit. Make sure to pull out the filter from the front casing as well.

The cleaning product he recommends to clean the A/C coils with is called “Coil Cleen” (which can be found on Amazon.com). Thoroughly douse the front coils with the solution and let it soak for at least 5 minutes.

Proceed to do the same with the inside of the unit and the back coils, but be careful not to spray any electrical parts.

While you’re letting the solution soak on the unit, it’s a good time to clean the filter that’s pulled out from the casing. Use a water hose with a spray attachment to get rid of any debris in the filter.

After you’ve let the cleaning solution soak for at least five minutes, use the water hose to thoroughly rinse out the unit (front & back coils and from the inside). Do so fairly gently at close range, so you don’t get any of the electrical parts wet.

Remove the standing water from the A/C by tilting and pouring it out. He advises leaving the casing off for at least 24 hours to allow it to completely air dry.

To watch MrJustDIY’s video in its entirety, check it out below: