Foam lawn mower air filter.

How to Clean a Foam Air Filter

If your mower has a foam filter, you don’t have to replace it unless it’s torn or won’t come clean. Follow the above instructions to remove the filter from the mower, then:

  • Wash Foam Air Filter: Wash the foam air filter thoroughly using mild dish soap and water. Avoid using detergents – they’ll leave slippery residues that are nearly impossible to rinse out.
  • Dry Foam Air Filter: Squeeze any excess water out of the foam air filter, then dry it further by blotting the foam air filter with a clean rag or paper towels, until no more water comes out.
  • Oil Foam Air Filter: Before completing this step, check the owner’s manual for your lawn mower, since some newer models have non-oiled filters. To oil the filter, apply a spoonful of engine oil to the foam, and work the foam between your fingers to distribute the oil. Blot the foam air filter with a paper towel or rag to remove any excess oil – it just needs to be very lightly coated, not soaked. To keep your hands clean, you can drop the filter and a little oil down inside a plastic zip-top bag and work it in through the plastic.
  • Reattach Foam Air Filter: Put the foam air filter back in the compartment in the mower, and screw the cover back on.

Further Information

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Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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