Does your air purifier smell bad? Remove the odor in 5 minutes

It’s one of those problems that can catch you off guard: a device that’s supposed to clean the air suddenly starts making it smell worse. Most often, the culprit is the filter, because it works like a sponge. It collects dust, pollen, smog, kitchen odors, smoke, and sometimes even moisture. And when that “sponge” becomes heavily saturated, it begins releasing the smell back into the room. An unpleasant odor appears especially often if the air purifier is placed near the kitchen, if laundry is dried indoors, or if the room is rarely ventilated while the device runs for hours. Sometimes the casing itself smells too, because dust settles on the air intake grilles and, over time, turns into a mix of odor sources. In heavily used models, such as Xiaomi Mijia Smart Air Purifier 6, the issue usually isn’t a malfunction, but simply the fact that the purifier collects a lot of pollutants and eventually needs refreshing.

Remove the smell in 5 minutes: the simplest trick that works most often

The good news is that in many cases you can get rid of the unpleasant smell faster than it takes to find a service number. This method is simple, requires no disassembly, and uses no chemicals.

Do it exactly like this:

• Turn off the purifier and unplug it for about 30 seconds.

• Remove the filter and place it for 2–3 minutes in a well-ventilated spot (near a slightly open window).

• Wipe the inside of the casing with a dry microfiber cloth, and clean the air intake grilles more thoroughly (that’s where the smell tends to sit).

• Put the filter back in and set the purifier to maximum power for 3–5 minutes with the window slightly open.

It sounds simple, but it often works. The smell usually comes from accumulated dust on the grilles and from the filter “holding on” to intense odors. A short airflow burst and strong ventilation can make a noticeable difference immediately.

If it smells musty: it’s not always the filter, but moisture

If the odor resembles a wet towel, stale dust, or a basement smell, it often means the filter has absorbed moisture. This happens in apartments where laundry is dried in the room, where bathroom ventilation is weak, or where the purifier stands in an area with heavy, stagnant air. In that case, the filter doesn’t just collect dust — it also soaks up moisture, and the smell returns every time the purifier is turned on. In such situations, wiping the casing may not be enough. What helps is a simple routine: for a few days, run the purifier at high speed for 5–10 minutes and ventilate the room. This works like quick “drying” from the inside. If the purifier stands in a corner, move it to a spot with better airflow. Often it’s literally just a few steps to the side, and the improvement can be noticeable the same day.

When does the smell mean the filter should be replaced?

This is important, because many people fight the problem for weeks, when the solution is simpler: the filter has reached its limit. Interestingly, the filter doesn’t have to look terrible to stop being “fresh.” It may still trap dust effectively, but at the same time hold on to kitchen odors, smoke, and smog. Do a quick test: remove the filter and smell it from the air intake side. If the filter smells noticeably worse than the room, it is most likely the source of the problem. At that point, cleaning the casing will only help temporarily. In city apartments, with smog and cooking, a filter can wear out faster than the standard time suggests. And in powerful models — like the Xiaomi Mijia Smart Air Purifier 6 — the filter works intensively, so its “odor limit” can be reached earlier. If the smell returns just a few hours after refreshing, it’s usually a clear signal: it’s time to replace the filter.

What NOT to do, so you don’t make it worse

This is where people most often make mistakes — they want to help the device, but the result is the opposite. A bad smell may tempt you to “cover it with fragrance,” but the filter absorbs everything like a sponge.

Avoid the following:

• do not spray air freshener inside the purifier or around it

• do not use essential oils near the filter (the smell will stay for a long time)

• do not wash the filter with water, unless it is specifically designed to be washable (usually it isn’t)

• do not place the purifier near a trash bin or in a kitchen corner

• do not block the air intake (too close to a wall = odors remain trapped inside)

In short: the purifier is meant to remove odors, not mix them. If you introduce an artificial scent, the filter may absorb it and then blow it out for the next week.

How to make sure the problem doesn’t come back: 5 simple rules

The best part is that once you set the right habits, they really work. A Xiaomi air purifier should not smell if it has good working conditions. A few routines are enough:

First, regularly wipe the air intake grilles and vacuum the area around the device, because dust nearby quickly ends up in the filter. Second, every few days do a short “air burst” — 5 minutes at maximum power with the window slightly open. Third, don’t place the purifier in a tight corner, because airflow becomes weak and odors stay trapped inside the casing. Fourth, if there is moisture in the home, keep it under control, because a musty smell will return even with a good filter. And fifth, replace the filter when it clearly starts releasing odors — not only “when the date comes.” This way the purifier stays fresh, and the air in your apartment is truly clean, not just filtered.