BEST METHOD 4 Cleaning ANY Cotton Gauze type Filters EVER!!

[mstic2000]

Found this on another site and thought I would pass it along.

BEST METHOD 4 Cleaning ANY Cotton Gauze type Filters EVER!!

[Ivan]

Seems their forum is a lot like this one. A great idea will be shot down by 20 people, 5 will agree and start an argument, 15 more won't understand terms like "water" and "soap" and someone will get the mods involved, because it offended someone's idealistic pet.

[CatatonicBug]

I might just try this. I wonder if it would work on the yellow foam filters too? I can't see how it would hurt it... I've never liked Oxy-clean for my laundry (never seemed to do anything), but if it works for filters, why not?

[dbeardslee]

The yellow foam ones can be removed from the 'filter frame' and washed like any sponge. The ones I've seen, the yellow part is just a tube shaped 'sponge' folded back on itself around the frame. Anyway, that's how I used to clean mine before pods. I'm going to try the club soda/oxi clean process for my pods. I don't like scrubbing on them as it's hard on the gauze. Thanks for the tip mstic.

[CA]

Would this be a good way to clean the mikes xs pods?

[mstic2000]

I tried this on my K&N filters for my XS11 and it works great! I imagine you could use it on any filter with cotton fiber. I had to buy the K&N recharger kit to get the oil. I got it at Advance Auto for $12 including tax.

Dirty filters.


I used some store brand club soda and an off brand oxyclean liquid stain remover. About 2 and a half liters of club soda to quarter bottle of the cleaner.


It sure did fizz when I added the filters to the solution.


I was really amazed at the amout of crud that came off in this solution. A lot of it had seeped out over the edge from a little aggitation of the filters. There is still some in the top left hand corner visible.


This is the solution after I had removed the filters. There is a lot of dirt in there.


They came out better than I thought. I did use the K&N cleaner as recommended after the club soda solution and rinsed them twice in a sink of warm water and still got a lot of dirt out of them and then sit them out to dry.


I think using the club soda solution definitley made a difference over just using the K&N cleaner and after a close inspection, it didn't damage the cotton fibers at all. I think doing this once a year is a must.

[Ivan]

FWIW, some vegetable oil or peanut oil in a spritzer would be a viable alternative to buying the filter oil, which is probably just Wesson dyed red. Peanut oil is some sticky stuff. Just try cleaning it off your glasses. hehe.

[mstic2000]

FWIW, some vegetable oil or peanut oil in a spritzer would be a viable alternative to buying the filter oil, which is probably just Wesson dyed red. Peanut oil is some sticky stuff. Just try cleaning it off your glasses. hehe.

Point well taken. I was suprised at the amount of dirt I still got out of them with the K&N cleaner.

[petejw]

They turned out really well,
thanx for the tip,
ill try it on my uni filters and let you
know how it works for them.

[xj11john]

I was buying the K&N recharge kit for the oil also since its gets used alot faster than the cleaner, then I found just the oil in a bigger spray can at O'Rielly's auto parts for about $10.00 US. I was pleased.

Thanks for the tip, I will try that as well.

Happy cycling!

[dbeardslee]

+1 on soda and oxi clean. I don't use any oil on mine, but I still got a fair amount of yellowish residue on top of the solution. When it was done percolating I just stuck a hose in the bucket and let the 'bad' stuff wash out over the top. That solution works great - exactly as advertised . Thanks!

[CatatonicBug]

I wonder if it would work on the yellow foam filters too? I can't see how it would hurt it...

Well, I took a shot at it on my yellow foam filter. NOT impressed. It did make a nice foamy slurry on top of the water, but lots of oil and gunk remained in the foam. So, I took it to the sink and washed it in Dawn, and that worked much better.

So, I guess the conclusion is that the soda trick works great for the paper filters, but not for foam. Now I guess I'll use the Oxy-clean for my laundry...