Check which filter you have

Sometimes you can wash the pre-filter. That does not mean you can wash the main filter. Identify the part and check the instructions for your exact model before putting anything under a tap.

A pre-filter catches larger debris such as hair and lint. It may be a removable mesh screen, a fabric cover or the outer layer of a combined filter. The main filter catches finer particles. Carbon may be a separate layer or part of the same replacement assembly.

The words washable pre-filter describe that one part. They do not make every filter inside the machine washable. If the instructions say brush or vacuum the outer layer, use that dry method instead of rinsing it.

What to do with each model

Levoit Vital 100S-P and Vital 200S-P

Both have a separate washable pre-filter. Remove it as directed and keep the main filter out of the water. The Vital 200S-P manual allows water and mild detergent for the removed pre-filter; use a soft cloth and avoid hard scrubbing. Follow the instructions supplied with your exact Vital model.

Let the pre-filter air-dry fully before reinstalling it. The main particle/carbon filter needs replacement, not washing. Cleaning the washable screen does not reset the useful life of that main filter.

Blueair Blue Pure 511i Max

Its fabric outer pre-filter can be vacuumed and washed according to the care label. Check that label for the washing method and settings. Remove it from the machine first and keep the internal particle/carbon filter dry.

Refit the cover only when it is dry. The fabric cover and the main replacement filter are different parts; washing one does not clean the other.

Coway Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH

The removable pre-filter can be vacuumed or cleaned with water. The manual says to remove all moisture before reinstalling it. The deodorization filter and HEPA filter cannot be washed and reused.

Keep the filter order correct when putting the unit back together. Do not rinse the complete stack just because the first screen is washable.

Levoit Core 300S-P and Winix A230

These use dry cleaning for their pre-filters. Follow the manual’s brushing or vacuuming instructions for the outer layer. Do not treat their filters like the removable washable screens in the Vital or Coway.

Replace the main filter when needed. A dusty filter does not become washable because you have seen someone rinse a different air purifier’s screen.

Clean a washable pre-filter

Use this routine only after the exact model’s instructions confirm that the removed pre-filter can be washed.

  1. Turn the machine off and unplug it. Open the cover as the manual directs.
  2. Remove the pre-filter. Keep the main particle filter, carbon filter and electrical unit away from water.
  3. Remove loose debris gently. Use the brushing or vacuuming method allowed by the manual. Avoid hard scraping or pulling at the mesh.
  4. Wash only as directed. Use water, detergent or a machine-wash setting only where the instructions allow it. A fabric cover’s care label may differ from a rigid screen’s instructions.
  5. Let it dry completely. Do not put a damp pre-filter back against the main filter. Avoid adding heat unless the care instructions allow it.
  6. Refit the parts in the correct order. Close the cover before reconnecting power. Reset a reminder only when you have done the maintenance that reminder calls for.

Check the pre-filter regularly in a home with shedding pets. The right cleaning interval depends on the model and how quickly debris builds up. Follow the maker’s schedule and inspect it sooner if hair is restricting the intake.

If the main filter gets wet

Stop using it and check the manufacturer’s instructions or contact support. Do not assume that drying a main filter restores its performance or makes it suitable to reuse. The main filters described here are not washable; replacement may be needed.

Do not spray perfume or cleaning products into the filter to hide a smell. Find the source of the odor and check whether the filter needs replacing. A filter reminder is useful, but it does not turn a damaged or wet filter into a usable one.

Looking for a purifier with upkeep that fits your routine? Our air purifiers for homes with pets guide compares six options with different pre-filter designs.

For a smaller room, our small-bedroom air purifier guide compares four compact models by airflow, size and filter care.

Cleaning and replacement are different jobs. See when to replace an air purifier filter for filter reminders, early checks and model-specific timing examples.