H&R Group

With temperatures reaching as high as 35ºC (95ºF) in the summer, it’s common for homes in Japan to have air conditioners, especially wall-mounted models. It’s important to clean your air conditioner on a regular basis when you’re using it often to avoid it circulating dust and pollen around your home and to keep your electricity costs down. The good news is it’s not difficult to clean a Japanese air conditioner — you can easily do it yourself to avoid spending a few thousand yen or more on a professional service. Step 1: Buy the Products You’ll Need Start by gathering the products you’ll need to clean your unit — you may have some things already. Key is air conditioner spray, which you’ll find in most drugstores and grocery stores. There are unscented options as well as those with fragrance, including floral and forest scents. Other cleaning equipment you may want includes newspaper, a cloth or toothbrush, and a handheld vacuum. Step 2: Prepare the Unit Before doing any cleaning, turn off the unit and unplug it. You should be able to access inside of the unit simply by pulling the tabs on the ends to remove the cover — most…