How to Clean Mold from Air Conditioning Units

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You can find much mold in an air conditioner if you leave it unattended in high humidity weather for long periods of time. Condensation may form in the coils and the ducts as the air circulates inside, thus making it a good environment for mold spores to grow and thrive. Having mold embedded inside the AC will have a whole set of negative results so you should ensure you clean them on a regular basis. The following tips will give you the basics of what you need to do:

  • Wearing long sleeves and a dust mask will protect you from mold spores if you’re allergic to them in any way. You will need to make sure anyone who has such allergies is out of the house while you’re doing the actual cleaning if you can. If you are the one with said allergies you will need to take these measures to protect yourself.
  • Remove the window air conditioner vent cover, either by dealing with its screws or opening the pressure clips it was attached with. You should place the vent cover in a tub or some other container, then cover it with a mix of water and laundry detergent. Wait for about fifteen minutes or so, then rinse and clean it until its spotless. Let it dry and put it aside until you’re finished with the entire cleaning process.
  • Dust the inside of the air conditioner and make sure its as clean as possible. Dust can serve to create good conditions for mold spores to grow as well so it should be cleaned on a regular basis.
  • Spray the duct opening and the blades of the fan with water so you can trap the dried-out mold spores and prevent them from spreading through the air once you start cleaning them. Wipe down the blades and ducts with soapy water and clean them as well as you can, even if you see no spots as mold spores can persist and are too small to be seen with the naked eye.
  • Combine a mix of a cup of bleach and a gallon of water to clean the blades and ducts. Use a flexible mop dipped in the bleach solution, then allow it to dry before you reattach the vent cover back in its place.
  • Discard the materials infested with mold spores and place them in plastic bags. The bags should be taken outdoors as soon as possible to avoid contamination of clean areas around the house. Open up your windows and let some air in once you clean the vents to let some fresh air in.
  • Get a dehumidifier to reduce the moisture in your home – this will have a positive effect in preventing the growth of mold. If you suspect you may have black mold present in your home you should do your best to contact a professional cleaning company as black mold is toxic and very dangerous. While you clean make sure you avoid mixing ammonia and bleach or you may poison yourself in the process.

A Guest Post from: http://www.cleanerscarpetcleaning.co.uk/colliers-wood-carpet-cleaner-SW19/carpet-washers-colliers-wood.html

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2 comments

Darlene V Quinn June 4, 2016 - 6:38 pm
I have mold in my window air conditioner and I removed the cover and cleaned the directional fins, but how do I get to the fan to clean it. I am sure that is full of mold. The unit was left in the window all winter, but I had a cover on the outside and plastic window sheeting on the inside of the window. Every site says to clean the fan, but I can't figure out how to get to it and my instructions that came with the unit do not show how to get to the fan blades. Plus the motor probably has mold on it too. I already have two units sitting in my office room that I don't want to use because of the mold inside of them when they were left on an uninsulated, screened in, back porch. Any advice?
Mike June 16, 2016 - 6:28 pm
Chances are it is NOT mold, but mildew from the moist air. I drilled a hole to cause some of the water in the rear of the unit to drip out. But I did not put the hole in the very lowest point, because the coils are supposed to need some of the water to stay cool. I also run a dehumidifier but heats the air and causes the AC to run more. I plan to spray Lisol spray into the AC units at least once a week to see if that will keep the mildew down. I don't know that it will, but if I do nothing, it will eventually come back. Even with what I have done I can see small spots starting to appear in the new units.
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