How to effectively WASH a "disposable" HEPA filter

[@scottomalley3948]

Coming from a background in industrial filtration, figured I'd offer some info for you DIY folks: The "disposable" HEPA filters are made of an 80/20 Polyester & Cellulose mixture with an ePTFE-like surface coating to increase efficiency. Rinsing these filters results in separation of the individual fibers of the filter media, which is why they fail after 2, 3, or 4 washes. The best method of cleaning if you must do so is going to be a controlled burst of compressed air. With these cheaper filters, you'd be looking for short (.2 or .3 seconds) of approximately 50-60 PSI, blown from the CLEAN SIDE towards the dirty. This will dislodge the dry dust and particulate, while slowing down the efficiency loss. In industry they use between 90-110 PSI to do exactly the same. Getting these filters wet even once will cut the efficiency nearly in half. It may not appear to be the case, but true HEPA Efficiency means 99% efficiency at .3 Microns or less, which is nowhere close to visible. In the case of washable HEPA filters, they are made of a glass fiber, and are therefore much more water resistant. The same surface coating is applied, resulting in a more water resistant, HEPA-rated filter. Compressed air does work well for these too, however it is safe to use water. With these, take care not to bend the filter "paper" or subject them to any impact, as it will break the glass fibers and cause premature failure.

[@texasdeeslinglead2401]

After reading many comments , I was wondering this very thing . Thanks

[@johnb6520]

Pin this comment!!!

[@texasdeeslinglead2401]

@@johnb6520 how do you do that ?

[@realfutbol1]

Thanks for the benefit of your experience Scott. I'd read recently that for N95 filter media, the efficiency can be reduced to ~70% simply by hand washing in soap and water or even dipping in alcohol with NO agitation, simply because the fibers in meltblown polypropylene move apart or clump. Generally I'd use a washing method like what Jeff is doing if I wanted "decent" filtration which is true most of the time- but in case of reducing viral transmission it's important to know the serious limitations of washing. Glad there's also the alternative of compressed air backflush- and of course if anyone does this with a virus-loaded filter be sure to let it sit in a warm dry place for several days before blowing it out...

[@taofledermaus]

I've washed this filter at least 20 times. No failure

[@azlannakamoto7913]

it would be great if you could run some test with pm2.5 meter, comparing these washed hepa filter performance vs brand new. 👍🏻

[@loganq]

Many people have. After one wash the filters they lose significant filtering power.

[@MiTmite9]

@@loganq Oh, rats. I really was hoping a good wash would do the trick. PM2.5 filtration is the main reason I got my fancy AirDoctor unit.

[@loganq]

@@MiTmite9 Yeah, it's a shame this guy couldn't care less and has left this video up to trick people.

[@loganq]

It has definitely hurt a lot of people. Imagine some poor asthmatic kid whose parents watch this stupidness, and they suffer or even die because of it. But he's getting his KZbin revenue!

[@SmedleyButler1]

​@@MiTmite9 why? Pm1 is FAR more dangerous and prominent

[@0zmosis2001]

I thought this was going to be a goof and the filter was going to get shot by some crazy slug😁

[@Holestic_Honesty]

osmosis 01 Me too

[@ScottKenny1978]

Me three!

[@notgray88]

Same dude I was kinda disappointed lol

[@thinkingimpaired5663]

Shoot the purifier with frozen Jello shot.... Lol

[@AngelSanchez-du8ze]

That's what should have happened. Stick to gun videos please for the love of god

[@coyotecom]

Huh, I just cleaned them because I'm poor as hell and "not as good as new but still works" is better than "You didn't make rent"

[@billkerr1704]

Lmao same here poor as hell save save I here ya man

[@notgray88]

I always worry about my finances when in reality I probably have it a lot better than most. If you ever need a few bucks to help you keep your house, just let me know man and I'd be happy to help.

[@coyotecom]

@@notgray88 I'm good lol. I own my place

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

If it's only providing 50% of its original filtration, it's not really still working.

[@Magnulus76]

Buy a furnance filter if possible and skip the machines, then, if you can. They are far more cost-effective.

[@Oldmankingspiffy]

I thought you were going to clean it with lead

[@evilcanofdrpepper]

Next video, "Getting Better Airflow in Your Home Air-duct Filters"

[@backyardforge5568]

me too

[@COIcultist]

Waiting for part II where you put the filters through a "Mass Accelerator."

[@BloodAsp]

Why accelerate air through the filter, when you can accelerate the filter through the air much faster!?!

[@COIcultist]

@@BloodAsp So, so very true.

[@DoRC]

Independent tests have shown that washing with water greatly decreases the effectiveness of it. Yes it will flow more air but it also allows more particulate through. Wetting the filter alters the microscopic structure of the fibers and opens the pores killing its filtering ability. You do you but the filter probably isn't hepa anymore.

[@Hawk1966]

This would be my worry. Maybe stretch a filter two years, clean it once. But if you destroy the integrity and ruin the effectiveness you're just running a fan that barely moves air. They're $40 for two replacement filters. Isn't your health, especially now, worth a small investment?

[@pupfriend]

Tests funded by Big-HEPA!!

[@DoRC]

@@Hawk1966 the first washing basically ruins it.

[@TheHappyprsn]

Absolutely, if you want the filter rating you need to follow the instructions. Water obviously damages paper, it's not going to have the same structure after soaking unless it has been designed to be washed. There are even academic papers on bleach/alcohol/heat damaging filters when used to just sterilize them let alone clean them. Some are electrostatic (including facemasks) and almost any cleaning will degrade the charge permanently.

[@MikeTrieu]

Wouldn't running an ionizer over the surface of the filter media suffice to "recharge" it? You're basically looking to get the microfibers to repel each other and randomly fill enough space to create that HEPA baffling effect.

[@dazaspc]

Depending on application washing Hepa filters can cause a problem. This is because the clean side gets contaminated with the dirty side during the wash process. A big deal if you had to absolutely keep out what is on the dirty side say Asbestos. The filter media also looses it's efficiency to trap smaller particles as the fibers lay down. This is amplified by the drying method you are using. This derates the filter allowing smaller particles to pass through with less chance of getting caught. They will still work but wont be the 99.8% that makes it a Hepa. Nothing wrong with washing them but be aware that they will not be as effective as new items. You can clearly see that on the unit displayed with the dust tracks on the draw through fan.

[@WinningTrades4U]

I lost it at the “Coronas” Drain Washing comment 🤣😂 Instant Subscription after that

[@caylebsrandomvideos3749]

Same :D

[@iofs3338]

Still subscribed. Still shows as taofleurdjn.... Yeah, that 😂

[@Robbe902]

Fledermaus - german for "bat" (no idea, why) 🤔😉 (and to split that up as well - 'fleder' (modern) is another term for german 'flatter' (ancient), so "flutter" in english. And 'maus' is simply a "mouse" . 🤷‍♂️

[@t_c5266]

could you do some tests to see the air particulates it is able to clean? I know the guy over at "Vacuum wars" does tests like this a lot and I would be interested to see if the effectiveness for particles of whatever micron size still get stopped from going through the filter. The original size that the HEPA filter is designed for.

[@AkiSan0]

do this with caution! most hepa filters WILL lose efficiency and, depending on the type+use+material they might lose their intended purpose. yes they still work fine as particulate filters, but most of them lose their functionality as "sterile" filters. if you have health issues, be very careful with washing your filters and if necessary rather replace them than washing them. if you just use them bc it is dusty outside and want to have "cleaner air" you are most likely fine with washing them a couple of times until you will notice a loss of flow through capability. :)

[@taofledermaus]

Even after washing these filters over 20 times the airflow is always much better than before I washed them.

[@MonoDiTriSub]

@@taofledermaus that because the pore of the filter that suppose to be as small as possible have been spread wider, reducing it efficiency to filter very small particles for more air flow. ie. water the garden by drinking straw compare to garden hose.

[@MrZuyeg]

Great comment. Came down here to write something similar. Works fone for larger dust particles, but not much of a "HEPA" after the wash. Here's a short video on how this filters work: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6a5k5ashcidd9k now imagine what a wash does to the filtration medium.

[@Deepwaterjew]

@@taofledermaus when people are saying "lose efficiency" they mean lose cleaning efficiency, not flow. Just because something flows better than when you started doesn't mean it's cleaning as good as it's intended.

[@RodolfoGeriatra]

@@taofledermaus that's because it has lost filtration efficiency!

[@theaudioman4446]

the question is, have you compromised the HEPA filtration specifications, surely you would only know if you analysed it with special measuring equipment? Correct me if I'm wrong!

[@jameswitte5167]

PLESSE DO NOT DO THIS FOR ANY MEDICAL PERSONAL BREATHING MACHINES ... Paper is made from wood ... When the paper element gets wet the fibers swell and push against each other ... As they rry the fibers shrink ... This has been known to increase the gaps between the fibers which changes the size of the particles that are trapped ... That's one of the reasons paper filters are seldom used on humidified breathing devices ... I study this sorta thing because I have been using a CPAP for a number of years ... That being said it would be fine for household air purification or vacuum cleaners ...

[@irontongue5389]

Before you wash the filters, run a hand vac over the top to remove the majority of loose gunk on the surface. this will remove a large amount of dirt and prevent it from embedding into the ilter paper as you wash it.

[@workingguy6666]

I just washed my floor vac's HEPA filter this week (pretty much the same way as the video, used dish soap though) - so it's not like it is saving work by transferring the dirt over unless one has an old-school vacuum with disposable bags.

[@kiyoponnn]

@@workingguy6666 I have a different vacuum, it dumps all the dirt in water

[@workingguy6666]

@@kiyoponnn That's kinda cool. What make/model?

[@kiyoponnn]

@@workingguy6666 Don't know what model it is, but it's from a brand called kalorik

[@irishdemarco3828]

But what if the filter your washing is for the vacuum? And I don’t have other filter yet. Lol

[@andynonya6391]

Good to finally see someone stick it to Big Filter! 😂

[@Squat5000]

It's a good video. Some information for folks to remember, many of these use a cellulose filter media. HEPA has a few different specifications, but generally you are looking at 99.97% of .3 micron particles. Washing cellulose media is effective for larger particles that most people care about, namely dust and dander. Unfortunately you will not be able to filter at the true HEPA rating. Reuse as needed, but if you need the full rating, be careful what environments and contaminates you are removing. If you are trying to remove fine particles or smoke and virus particles, you are better off using a washed filter as a pre filter and finish off with a new HEPA. That gives you the best balance of life and performance. We built our own 24X12 panel filter using 6 inch HEPA panel, pre filtered with a 4 inch Merv 13, deep pleats

[@workingguy6666]

Do you have a video on what you built?

[@alphaTrader.oo1]

Brilliant tips

[@Johnny-xu7kb]

happy to say that not all companies deny the washability of these filters. My Electrolux (Swedish company) air purifyer explicitly mention HEPA-filters to be washable (tough they recommend no more than 8 times). Found this video when looking _how_ best to clean it though. Good vid :)

[@MrArcher0]

There are two things I find immediately wrong with this video. ( I work in the Asbestos Abatement field ) 1. Paper filters are designed to filter out partials as small as .5 microns in my field. Getting these fibers wet de laminates their structure and causes them to “ clump together” creating larger holes in the filter that you cannot see with the naked eye, but destroy the usefulness of the filter for what it was INTENDED to filter out. 2. Washing them in the manner shown in the video CONTAMINATES the other side of the filter. This is the equivalent to pissing in one area of the pool and expecting it to stay in that area. Those things that you are TRYING to keep out are now on the other side of the filter. Which when they dry out in the filter may dislodge into the very air space your trying to prevent them from entering. Think about your safety first. Weigh that against what your trying to filter out. Then compare that to the cost of a new filter. To get more life out of a HEPA filter with the LEAST amount of damage is to vacuum it off with a vacuum that has a HEPA filter of its own. ( Yeah kinda stupid I know...) This is the only way I recommend attempting to clean a paper filter. This controls the spread of the contaminants that were trapped in the filter in the first place. ( Do Not Use High Pressure Air to Blow off Filters. Your only pissing in the pool faster) Sadly vacuuming usually only extends the life of the filter by maybe half factoring in humidity and previous saturation. I’m assuming if you watched this video and bothered to read any of this your thinking about the corvid -19 virus. Please check the CDC website for recommendations for cleaning filters. For this nasty little bug I’m not qualified to give you a solution.

[@taofledermaus]

If this didn't work I wouldn't have continued to do it for 10 years

[@sveeny]

@@taofledermaus I gotta say I like your videos but your comment answers are nothing but ignorant. Only because the filter doesn‘t get destroyed during washing and allows for air going through it after drying this doesn‘t mean it still has the same filtering capabilities or HEPA rating. Recommending such methods to someone with serious illness such as strong allergic Asthma is a bad thing to do!

[@DarkMetal.]

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

[@thomasesr]

This wont work with filters that have activated charcoal or activated carbon inside as the carbon becomes saturated. But you can try and replace the charcoal.

[@wiktorwisniewski5748]

How to clean charcoal ones??

[@DaniGirl6]

The fibers are delicate and generally I have seen them through electron scanning microscopes. That said, it is a house hold appliance which means it is not a great filter to start with and is probably made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) which is tougher than glass fiber. Not by much, but enough to sorta wash it. Also, PET is one of the worst fibers efficiency wise, but it's cheap. Anyway, distilled water and an ultrasonic cleaner is a good route to go. Any soap you use, you want it to a type that can evaporate because you can never rinse it out enough. This because of how HEPA filters are designed. Even water has a hard time getting through the filter (talking about sub-micrometer size here, not the big globs you see going through the world is a bit different as things get smaller). I don't have a suggestion for a detergent, but to sterilize it, food grade hydrogen peroxide is a good option because it decomposes into water and oxygen. Food grade because medical grade has stabilizers for a longer shelf life. There is one cleaning method I read in a research paper not to long ago using supersaturated carbon dioxide that works well even for glass fiber pretty, neat since all other methods require metal fibers or other special fibers. But the average person won't have the equipment to do that and getting the specialty fibers for that little machine would be difficult. It is more for nuclear facilities and their filters to keep radiation particles under control or other manufacturing facilities clean rooms and that stuff. Still, that filter has been damaged, you just can't see it without the right tools. However, I am confident filters for machines like that aren't great to start with so it isn't a big loss, maybe an acceptable loss for the savings. Besides HEPA is more of a method most of the time when it comes to home appliances, MERV rating is more reliable measurement. Companies can say True HEPA or UltraHEPA and the efficiency can be whatever. It is at the point HEPA standard doesn't mean much for the average consumer, just a buzz word.

[@curtisjackson3556]

I’m an hvac technician and I do not approve... when in doubt throw it out, your wash will deteriorate a layered fiber medium and tender it useless and even make it more restrictive... also moisture attracts everything so why clean a filter to put it back in wet to immediately impact again and put more stress on your purifiers motor pulling through a wet filter. Buy a new filter this is the most dollar store thing I’ve ever seen. A step away from extreme cheapskates.

[@Marcuswelby-nx2te]

Buzz off

[@gretajane802]

You don’t don’t know that it’s actually still working after you wash it. Water ruins the fine filtration of HEPA filters. You may think you’re saving money, but you must factor in the cost to your health for a more accurate idea of “savings”. Look for studies on the filtration results before and after washing.

[@Nozzlejockey2]

A "Shamwow" would be great for drying this out.

[@umbratherios5614]

lol

[@hakrj12]

... and then you can slap me nuts

[@Bacteriophagebs]

Washing a HEPA filter will make in no longer HEPA-rated because it causes clumps in the fibers. If you don't NEED HEPA rating (most people do not), then this is fine. Of course, if you don't need HEPA rating, you'd save even more money by building a filter with a 20" box fan and one or more 20" furnace filters. FAR more airflow, it just won't stop the really tiny particles. There's a video on YT from a university where the guy is actually selling HEPA filters, but shows that just sticking a furnace filter in front of the fan is 90% effective (HEPA filters are 99%+). For maximum air-cleaning speed, put 5 of them together with duct tape to make a cube with the fan as the sixth side. Just be sure to only run the fan on low, as higher speeds will created more back-pressure and possibly burn out your fan motor.

[@GMCLabs]

I just got an air purifier on clearance at walmart for like $20. It said it had a permanent washable hepa filter. Figured thats why its on clearance, ppl see that and think BS, you gotta eventually replace the filter, and you can't buy em. I was actually skeptical, but figured for the price it be worth it, and found you can order the filters from the company. Nice to see though that you actually can just wash them.

[@TEAMCREAM_96]

I doubt it would work well if they rely on activated carbon but other then that hell yeah as long as they dont stink

[@brianwest2775]

There washable (teflon) an unwashable (paper) HEPA filters. They're made with different materials.

[@programagor]

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.

[@BloodAsp]

Why accelerate air through the filter, when you can accelerate the filter through the air much faster!?!

[@saralazaro4555]

I would not use laundry detergent to clean a filter as you are trying to filter out the chemical toxins in the air from detergents and cleaners not apply them directly to the filter to be blown vigorously through your air. Also I imagine running the air filter with the filter still damp would cause dust and dirt to clump into the filter causing problems. Inside a HEPA filter is also a stage of filtration for the smallest particles which uses tiny fibers. I would imagine that getting those fibers wet would make them less effective. You may still be able to use the first layer of filter for large particles but layers 2 and 3 would be damaged.

[@FusionDeveloper]

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.

[@farah-5538]

I'm trying to kill/ clean black mold air... could you elaborate some more plz ? Think it's a tough one so i'm looking at a Hepa 14 industrial air purifier after the mold you can see is cleaned

[@Blurns]

Chuck it in the washing machine, gotcha.

[@ryandavis3393]

One thing you got to watch out for washing those filters or any washable or non washable filter doesn't matter is what I noticed I had a washable filter for my air conditioning in my home used it for years washed up many times at least once a month and what we found is because we had hard water deposits in the tap water it unbeknownst to us we didn't think of it at the time we should have it clog the filter however we cleaned it it knocked you know most of the dirt and dust and dander and pollen and microscopic organisms out of there however over time and not probably very long either we didn't notice it cuz it was so gradual and we got used to the way it sounded in performed but when we replaced it with a brand new one the different even after just washing and letting it dry up you know all day and all night we replaced it with a brand new one same one but brand new never used before and the difference of airflow sound and the way it felt coming out of the vents compared to the amount of flow coming out even after a clean filter was night and day just from the hard water deposits calcium lime rust whatever so keep that in mind if you have hard water you may want to use filtered water or something like a detachable hose filter or Brita filter PUR Filter Zero Water something like that to get out the hard water deposits and and debris and stuff that will end up mineralizing in the filter material and really destroying the air flow and straining your air system whatever it is air conditioning heater or filter system so unless you have incredibly soft water or filtered water I would be careful of using oh Priya wash filters over and over and after we realize that we ended up buying some very high quality disposable not the cheap fiberglass ones but very high quality 3M brand Filtrete filters and got the best ones money could buy and the airflow was fantastic get it caught guaranteed like until almost one micron of material in there for over 90 days and then we just threw it away the wash one had to be washed at least once a month where we were living and with the all the dust and pet hair and dander and stuff and even though we did that overtime and probably not very long it built up a lot of minerals we didn't even know about it because it was so gradual it sounded find us it wasn't such an Abrupt change that we we knew something was sounding different or feeling different but it was straining our system

[@ScottKenny1978]

Breathe, dude. Paragraphs.

[@mwj5368]

Hi! I liked and subscribed. I have an Oreck WK17002QPC tower style air purifier I bought used for $5 at Salvation Army today. Because the store is big and my 481sq ft apartment is very small I didn't realize it has this "old house" annoying strong smell that makes me sneeze. The filter looks perfectly white. The folded accordion material looks very much like the material in your filter in the demo. I paid $5 for the tower and it looks never used. What causes that characteristic "old house" smell? I can't see the inner works but the white filter shows no sign of black mold etc. Is just buying a new filter the answer? Is it had to wash out such an odor? Any feedback is much appreciated. I live in a 131 apartment building made in 1968. They are on all 9 floors tearing out the old hallway carpet plus sanding the walls to prep for painting. 15 years ago when I moved in I had to sign a disclaimer due to lead in the paint when I moved in. The manager said you have to chew into the walls in order to release the led. My white fan gets black fuzzy material on the blades and I live about 2 air miles from an oil refinery and about 1 mile from a busy freeway. I have asthma, but it is controlled with an inhaler. I'm just on a budget and trying to save money. Any help is much appreciated!! Thanks for this video! You can be frank with me if it means tossing this out, just hoping for the best or to give it a try...

[@johnpossum556]

This was why I liked my Ionic Breeze air purifiers so much as they had stainless steel filters that were easier than this to clean. Too bad the ozone destroys the machines internally.

[@WildWestRaider]

That is still a fairly legit product for being sold on TV lol.

[@scottomalley3948]

A lot of furnaces have similar air cleaners made by Honeywell. The filtration technology is called Electrostatic Precipitation. Very, very efficient, I can understand why you liked it lol

[@johnpossum556]

@@scottomalley3948 Yeah, my first ones only took 11 watts and that included moving the air. Thanks for the tip about what it is called. I'll look into that.

[@johnpossum556]

@@WildWestRaider Why the lol? They are a great product but they have more miniature safety interlock switches than most microwaves have. Plus mine has a CMOS 68HCXXX computer chip in it. And people wonder why they are expensive. The later models even include a honeycomb filter that turns the ozone back into oxygen. You wouldn't think there is a computer chip in there because there is no screen. I've upgraded to an airocide.com which is a great product but takes a lot more energy and the replacement filters are glass tubes so tao's method doesn't work for them. Plus they are not cheap. Almost $150 a year to replace. But they're top notch. They even kill viruses via some NASA engineered magic.

[@OGsDangerShow]

Now to clean those filtered cigarettes...

[@taofledermaus]

lol

[@MinistryOfMagic_DoM]

I wasn't aware I wasn't supposed to be washing these things... I wash the ones I'm my vacuum too.

[@jjohnston94]

3:39 Can't get to the barber either, eh?

[@someguy2741]

The purpose of the HEPA filter is to filter tiny tiny particles like viruses for instance. You can wash it and it will work but it wont be a HEPA filter anymore since it wont stop tiny things like viruses anymore. It will be fine for dust and pet hair and big things.

[@taofledermaus]

I haven't seen data saying these can even filter viruses.

[@someguy2741]

@@taofledermaus The definition of "HEPA" is indicative of the size of particle filtered. Otherwise it would be just a filter or have a particle size or a MERV rating. I am a structural engineer who has sat through countless site meetings with hvac engineers droning on and on and on. The filter magic is based on electrostatic charge to catch the smaller particles. Your choice of washing liquid may remove this electrostatic coating. Much like running fabric softener on some clothing like fire resistant clothing you may be modifying this cleaning mechanism making it ineffective.

[@GrantLanning]

I would bet the replacement filters today come with a cardboard enclosure around the paper medium rather than plastic just so you can't do this anymore.

[@notgray88]

I just bought a few filters a couple weeks ago. Not hepa filters, but they didn't have anything keeping you from washing it.

[@BalboaBaggins]

Thanks so much!

[@flanflanjp_]

Washing them turns the dust to mud clogging the very tiny holes. It also damages the material making the holes larger and ruining its filtration capacity. It may seem usable but they lose their capacity to remove small particles.

[@taofledermaus]

In that case I shouldn't be getting any airflow at all after cleaning these for 10 years.

[@thecheeze9001]

I’m guessing that it’s a bad idea to wash HEPA filters with an activated carbon layer?

[@ashakabeta]

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!

[@d4rk0v3]

If you're just looking to filter dust and dirt out of the air, dander and hair, this is fine. After 20 washes your filter may structurally be intact but its ability to filter micron sized microscopic particles is definitely gone. Viruses and bacteria will nonchalantly wave at the filter as they pass right on through. For most home use applications this doesn't matter. Most people don't need HEPA level filtration of their air.

[@taofledermaus]

That's all the manufacture claims these filters ARE for. Nothing about filtering viruses.

[@Nozzlejockey2]

We know how well it stops dust and pollen's, how well does it stop a projectile???

[@warrenphilips8441]

I can't help but think, what is meant by "no failure" after washing? Air flows through it? It didn't come apart? There were no visible holes in the filter? The machine turned on? Also, is "no failure" anything like success in cleaning the filter and restoring it to full service-ability? My point is that there is a standard, X percentage of particles of X size are captured by these filters for X duration of usage. How do you know that your cleaning process is restoring the filter to that standard?

[@RookKnight]

I just wanted to thank you for this video, I was paying around 24, to 30 dollar for filters. A week ago I went to reorder, and the price rised to 50 bucks (and these were the generics) My old ones were so clogged I was maybe getting 5% to 8% air flow. Anyways I watched this video yesterday, did all the steps, and ended up letting them dry by my coal stove over night. I put them in today, and my air flow has got to be 90% to even 100% back, and with bleaching them I'm confident the air will be cleaned, and not spreading any old bacteria, and whatnot. So just wanted to give you a big thank you for saving me money. You definitely got a subscriber out of me (it's the least I could do) as well as a few thumbs up. Really though thank you 🙏

[@taofledermaus]

Thank you. I don't normally do these types of videos. Just wanted to share this technique with others since you have NOTHING to lose by trying it. Just save some money and reduce trash going to the landfill.

[@kchididdy]

@@taofledermaus Nothing to lose? How about health? You might be using your purifier for nuisance dust but some people rely on these devices for health reasons. E.g. asbestos reduction during construction, immunocompromised or asthma folks, covid19, wildfire situations, etc, etc. You do realize that with your large viewership, you may be putting many people in harms way, right? I'm not trying to put you down for pleasure -- I'm not that kind of guy. Your video is misinforming those who actually rely on true HEPA for health reasons. I hope you understand where I'm coming from.

[@taofledermaus]

@@kchididdy It's a simple medium - not black magic.

[@kchididdy]

@@taofledermaus BTW, your video comes up as a top hit when you Google search "wash HEPA filter". This has the potential to come back and bite you hard. I'm just trying to be constructive and look out for all of us including you, Jeff.

[@overheardatthepub1238]

AKSHULLY once you wash it there's no guarantee it's still HEPA rated. Still filtery enough to pull crap out of the air, sure. But yknow.

[@ExplizitDuester]

That is good to know, very informative!

[@rb-ex]

washing a hepa filter with water will destroy its hepa efficiency. there is no such thing as a water washable hepa filter that isnt a gimmick. hepa filters rely on physical trapping of particles in a fiber matrix, AND electrostatic adhesion of very small particles to the matrix surfaces. these very small particles would flow right through the matrix if there is no electrostatic adhesion. the use of water, which is highly polar and normally ionic as well, permanently destroys the electrostatic properties of the fiber surfaces. the filter will still kinda work afterwards, but at a much lower level of efficiency. a combination of high pressure air and physical shock/vibration will not harm the filter medium. however, a dirty filter likely already has compromised electrostatic capacity and reduced air flow and efficiency. so no, there isnt a cheap way to use your hepa filter indefinitely while maintaining hepa efficiency. when manufacturers tell you to discard the filter after so much use, it's not because they want you to buy more filters, it's because their filter is used up at a certain point and they want you to know that. if you're not prepared to pay for the cost of hepa filtration, you can always get a lower efficiency filter that is washable and enjoy better air flow than you get with a hepa, especially one that is used up

[@mrsigns100]

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

[@mateonavarro7443]

i used 2 dryer sheets 😢 smelt good for about a day, but definitely most likely did nothing for air quality lol

[@rucebaybruce6174]

I thought this was going to be a parody video.

[@giin97]

Same. I kept waiting for the joke to drop, while confirming the date :D

[@anomamos9095]

Recommend vacuuming the filter and area gently before removing it. Activated charcoal filters cannot really be washed as they are just a filter by the time you wash them. If you have the right type of unit you can replace the filter with a vehicle air filter. Be careful of units that use electrostatic to increase filtration, depending on the design they could have metal elements in the filter media or elsewhere. A spritz with Tea Tree oil and Vodka will not only kill mould etc but it will smell nice.

[@chrisgraham2904]

Good point! Vehicle engine filters are made in a huge variety of sizes and thicknesses, so with no or slight modifications, they may extend the life of a discontinued filter system. Vehicle engine filters have no MERV rating since they are not intended for breathable air, but will trap dust and other large particles.

[@anomamos9095]

@@chrisgraham2904 You can usually find the particle size rating for auto filters and compare that to the Merv rating.

[@loddude5706]

Unloading filters? On screen??. . . 'DEPOLLENISED!'

[@gamebred5662]

Deff thought I was going to see this thing get demolished by a crazy slug lol

[@BiscuitTinOrchestra]

ULTRASONIC TANK CAN GET THEM LIKE NEW ;)

[@taofledermaus]

Probably!

[@aboriani]

I've been cleaning the same original HEPA filter on my vacuum cleaner for like 10 years now... Still running good... I've bought a second filter, so when one is drying out in the wind, I install the other on the vacuum and it's ready to go. P.S.: The video was on my YT front page, fourth video to be exact

[@taofledermaus]

ah thank!

[@kchididdy]

For vacuum cleaners, sure! But for true HEPA air purifiers relied upon for health, you can't just wash with detergent. Be careful folks. Don't wash your covid masks either.

[@Paul_305]

Don't ask Jeff about the chest rattle.......... I kid

[@Kluneberg]

I'm very skeptical that after washing that filter will have the same ability to filter microscopic particles yet not restrict air flow that much, as it does when brand new. It may looks semi clean and clear from large dust but that doesn't mean it's still filtering fine particles and performing to the same specs. I'd like to see someone get a particle detector and properly test this.

[@taofledermaus]

that's what THEY want you to think... lol

[@TexasTimelapse]

By the way, I always get notifications. To my knowledge, I've never had KZbin unsubscribe me from any channel. I wonder if most of these issues are caused by outdated devices used....smartphone, laptop or desktop. Here are my top theories. 1. Other than Apple and Google Pixels, smartphones aren't updated (system and security) at all after 2 years unless you root. Older phones running an older OS, sometimes don't like to play nice with newer user apps like the KZbin app...even though they're supposed to. Planned obsolescence. 2. People tend to load their phones up with apps using valuable system resources. This may create hiccups with push notifications. 3. For the laptop/desktops...well Windows 10. Enough said! ;)

[@markfergerson2145]

I'm running Win10 on my laptop and have not been unsubbed or missed a notification. I suspect it's a regional thing subject to the whims of state and national internet censo... admins. I also always wash the things because I'm cheap, but they always still work.

[@ToolofSociety]

Windows 10 pro is an excellent OS when setup properly. It also has nothing to do with any of the "problems" being voiced. The lack of notifications can be a result of multiple people using the same computer/browser. It confuses the suggestion algorithm to some extent when multiple people are using the same login via using the same browser. Multiple users on the same machine can lead to intentional or accidental unsubscribing from channels. I watch a very very WIDE range of topic related videos on youtube so my feed is constantly changing as a result. Sometimes TAOFLEDERMAUS falls off my suggested feed but since I clicked the notification option I'm always informed when a new video appears. A lot of this is people not realizing how algorithms or the interface works. I see the same complaints across a wide range of channels most of which aren't considered "hot topics" like guns.

[@MAGAMAN]

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.

[@shockwavecity]

After this, it's still a filter, but it's not HEPA anymore. HEPA relies on a static action to get the smallest particles out, and it's basically gone after you clean a filter like this.

[@ChunkyMonkaayyy]

Wouldn’t air going across it create static? Especially if it’s dry air.

[@taofledermaus]

You're giving that paper medium way too much credit

[@shockwavecity]

@@taofledermaus It's not paper, HEPA filtration medium is fiberglass. If you see a paper filter and it claims to be HEPA, be very very dubious.

[@jerryharrell1231]

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

[@SurvivalRussia]

Well done Jeff. My viewers have also complained to me about being unsubscribed automatically. I'm not sure what's going on but at one point I could literally see the subscriber count dropping after uploading a new video. It is normally the other way around.

[@taofledermaus]

Thanks Lars. Yeah, I told my YT manager about these issues - all I get is "we'll look into it" but they never do.

[@marissamalfeasance]

i think they make you unfollow when you haven’t interacted (like consistently making comments or whatever) to better reflect a subscriber account bc of fake or unused profiles

[@lynskyrd]

you need to re-title this video... "How to turn a HEPA filter into a Merv 8 filter".

[@marcok6959]

Thanks! Keeps the environment from being filled with these. Been running a AEM Dryflow filter in car. Reusable and no oiling. Great video/tips

[@Minuteman4Jesus]

Corona virus? ...Dos Equis would never hurt you.

[@Lazy_Tim]

You can and I do wash my paper car air filters. My first Toyota Hilux had instructions for cleaning on the genuine filter.

[@Hawk1966]

Not sure about yours but I know even the charcoal filter I tried one year in my Accent have never been hepa compliant, they're just air filters to catch the big stuff.

[@marko5766]

Where's the kaboom?!? There's supposed to be an earth shattering kaboom!!! :)

[@disgruntledegghead6923]

We live in a disposable society these days. Common sense would tell you to wash it, but common sense isn't so common anymore.

[@recklessroges]

That's why consumables are disposable. Imagine someone washing their filter and then giving their entire household Legionnaires' disease because they didn't use UV or bleach as part of the cleaning process. (Its easier for the company to design these parts to be replaced than to teach micro biology to every customer.)

[@BustedWalletGarage]

That’s a lot of pot smoke in those filters. #california

[@BloodAsp]

Why wash it, just roll the filter into pappers! Or, if you do want to re-use the filter, scrape off the pot smoke and re-use the crystals, or at least boil down the pot smoke water to re-use in your vape pen! (/s)

[@e2go]

Thanks for this! The prices for replacement filters are unbelievable outrageous.

[@teekey1754]

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

[@ZingTowPootWerkins]

Crackin video mate. You're just one of those friendly positive people who if you know something which helps or makes the day better you just like people to know. :)

[@Nathan-H]

Good Video, Thank you I tend to just use my mini compressor that i use for blowing up kids beach inflatables, and give it a blast from the clean side through the dirty side. Obviously I do this outside and aim down wind so the wind blows the dust away from me and my house. Yes you guessed it, I didnt think about which way the wind was blowing the first time and got covered.

[@Kratos_God_of_50_BMG]

I was so waiting to see a hole blown through that thing, and then O.G or Eagle-Eye Danny's finger pokin' through!!! Still a great video otherwise Jeff, and a great way to save money 😁

[@xhorntail]

After many years of following the channel, I had to unsubscribe on this one. If you wanted to say that it's better than nothing, fine. Or if you said it doesn't APPEAR to change the integrity of the filter, fine. However you shouldn't claim, as you do in the description, that this does not damage the integrity of the filter in any way, as if that's a fact, unless you either have the extremely expensive measuring equipment required, or research available to validate that statement. That's simply misinformation, at best. Claiming to know otherwise without the data to back it up, is exactly what's wrong with the world these days. I'm all for amateur science, real world testing, and innovation, which is why I started following you. I'm not about portraying things as facts just because it seems good enough to you, however.

[@kchididdy]

Same. Went from big fan to complete loss of respect in one video. There are so many well-informed comments here but his ego is getting the best of him. I't more important to be correct than "right', especially when it comes to health and safety (e.g. asbestos, asthma, covid, etc)

[@MikeTrieu]

If you have a sizeable enough ultrasonic cleaner, you can get a much more thorough agitation and a better cleaning effect. They're not even that expensive these days and has multiple uses beyond simply cleaning things.

[@777PHAROH777]

I buy the yearly disposable ones because I want it to work like it’s supposed to but I get it. I guess it’s better than not cleaning it at all.

[@elmartillo7931]

great tip! I've been washing and reusing HEPA filters for years as well

[@disgruntled1642]

I also have not been receiving notifications for your videos?

[@kathleenspears3952]

Airflow direction is key! Very good info here. You can always establish the airflow direction of the cabin blower fan by holding a light piece of tissue paper over it while running the a/c (don’t stick your fingers into moving parts!) and watch which direction it pulls the paper. That is your air flow direction and that is the direction in which you should install the arrow on your filter.

[@pamelahaze3211]

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

[@nickamodio721]

Wow. This is terribly uninformed advice to be putting out there. Please do not do this. As many others have pointed out, washing and drying a paper hepa filter changes the fibers on a microscopic level. It might look fine to the naked eye, but its ability to filter out sub-micron particles has been greatly reduced. At least thats what the experts say, and I'd trust them over some random guy with a gun channel.

[@taofledermaus]

ok, keep buying those filters, sucker

[@CRB1971]

Top tip!

[@MDealer]

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.

[@gigaslave]

Nothing wrong with my subscription settings.

[@matsv201]

Is it still a hepa filter after this process?

[@didxogns1]

Please don't follow this advise. Water will significantly reduce the performance of the filter, making it alot worse than before the wash.

[@taofledermaus]

Until you actually try it, you are just speculating. It is a simple filter medium. No magic, no chemical reaction. Just a porous material that captures dust.

[@RistaMotorista]

i feel like this is a late april fools video

[@rubenandrade9185]

i used vacuum cleaner to clean it and it works

[@JogBird]

i reuse my swifter cloths by vaccuuming it clean

[@genmin6585]

Yep, Taofledermaus is now null. Maybe becouse Im watching from Russia.

[@taofledermaus]

SEEMS to be a connection between viewers in Russia watching on mobile phones see "null"

[@grants169]

I blast my filters with 120PSI of air. screw the water.

[@AndreasBrekken]

How can you claim that this doesn't affect the filtering capability? Have you mesured the particles in in the air after going throug the filter?

[@taofledermaus]

It's paper, not magic

[@blameusa7082]

you cant, i have tried multiple times! And if you do... you wash off the protective waxy coating. it wont work as it did

[@taofledermaus]

my lying eyes!

[@Initial_Gopnik]

Roma laundry detergent is the best

[@ActualHumanPerson]

I've been unsubbed from a few channels multiple times.

[@grants169]

You can also cover the filter inlet with some toilet paper when installing. Throw the TP away and you're left with a much cleaner filter come cleaning time.