Styrofoam in the air conditioner is not packing material but the internal fan housing; since the units are compact and made to be portable, this part was designed with a high grade Styrofoam to make the unit as light as possible for easy mobility. Additionally Styrofoam is a good sound and heat insulator.

Besides, How do I clean the inside of my Styrofoam air conditioner?


The quickest way to clean it is to turn off the unit, pop out the Styrofoam, and use a chemical cleaner to do the job.

  1. Step 1: Turn Off and Unplug the Air Conditioner.
  2. Step 2: Take Out the Styrofoam.
  3. Step 3: Clean the Styrofoam Thoroughly.
  4. Step 4: Soaking the Styrofoam.
  5. Step 5: Put the Styrofoam Back.

Keeping this in mind, Are you supposed to remove Styrofoam from air conditioner? All window air conditioners have white Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) air ducts. This foam material is similar to what is used in coolers and insulated cups. The EPS is part of the product and should not be removed.

Is the Styrofoam on the inside air conditioners?

Styrofoam is in the room air conditioner. White Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) air ducts are found on all window air conditioners. Similar to what is used in insulated cups and coolers, this foam material is made from foam. The product contains the EPS and should not be changed.

Is there supposed to be Styrofoam in my refrigerator?

Many refrigerators have styrofoam around temperature controls, vents, tubing, and other components, which acts as insulation. It is not packing material and should not be removed. If you have removed the styrofoam, you will need service to have it replaced.

How do you get mold out of an air conditioner with Styrofoam?

If there is mold on Styrofoam insulation or mold in the ducts, spray Tilex on the moldy spots. Let the cleaner sit for 15 minutes, and wipe it off with paper towel or the cloth.

How do you clean dirty Styrofoam?

Place a garden hose into a bucket, and turn on the water. Squeeze three to five drops of dishwashing detergent into the stream of water as the bucket fills. Turn off the water when the bucket is approximately 3/4 full. Dip the soft sponge in the bucket until wet, then gently clean the styrofoam until clean.

Does bleach dissolve Styrofoam?

DO NOT use chemical cleaners. Some dry cleaners melt the Styrofoam. Many plastic and foam floors absorb chemicals that could kill embryos in the future. Soak in 25% hot bleach / water solution and wipe with a rag.

What is expanded polystyrene?

EPS is a rigid, closed cell, thermoplastic foam material. It is produced from solid beads of polystyrene. Expansion is achieved by virtue of small amounts of gas contained within the polystyrene bead. The gas expands when heat in the form of steam is applied, thus forming closed cells of EPS.

What does polystyrene look like?

Polystyrene can be solid or foamed. General-purpose polystyrene is clear, hard, and brittle. It is an inexpensive resin per unit weight. … As a thermoplastic polymer, polystyrene is in a solid (glassy) state at room temperature but flows if heated above about 100 °C, its glass transition temperature.

How do you remove Styrofoam from a refrigerator?


The way I do it:

  1. Tilt fridge a bit, so it will stand only on one side of styrofoam.
  2. Kick “free” side of styrofoam, to break it out and kick out from under the fridge.
  3. Tilt the fridge to the other side.
  4. Kick second half of styrofoam.

What foam is used in refrigerators?

Polyurethane rigid foam is the insulating material which is most widely used throughout the world for refrigerators and freezers. The insulation efficiency of polyurethane foams is a key property for the low temperature preservation of food during processing, storage and distribution to the consumer.

Where are refrigerator vents located?

Become aware of where your fridge vents are located. They may be placed along the surface between the freezer and fridge. They may also be along the back, coming directly from the cooling coil areas. Make certain that these vents are not blocked and there is some space around them for cold air to escape and disperse.

Does Styrofoam grow mold?

Styrofoam is one of the most naturally mold-resistant forms of insulation, but in very extreme cases, it can still grow mold on its surface. This happens due to a combination of excessive moisture, along with an accumulation of organic material such as dirt.

Do you remove the styrofoam from my air conditioner?

All window air conditioners have white Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) air ducts. This foam material is similar to what is used in coolers and insulated cups. The EPS is part of the product and should not be removed.

How do you clean a moldy air conditioner?


How to Remove the Musty Smell from Your AC

  1. Turn off your air conditioning unit.
  2. Change the air filters.
  3. Clean the evaporator coils with a cleaning agent or bleach solution.
  4. Clean the condensate line with the cleaning solution.
  5. Gently wipe the air conditioner clean and leave to dry.

Can you clean styrofoam with vinegar?

Cleaning it with white vinegar is a good way to remove most of the stubborn stains that dishwashing soap and water cannot remove. … After this, mix a cup of white vinegar with water, dip a towel or rag inside the mixture and begin to clean the insides of your Styrofoam cooler.

Can you put vinegar in styrofoam?

Vinegar and more specifically “weak acids” will not dissolve styrofoam (the frequently used designation for foamed cups etc.). Acids will soften the thin walls of the plastic bubbles that make up foamed polystyrene.

What happens if you wash styrofoam?

Styrofoam has tiny crevices which you can never get clean. Thus you have been washing breeding grounds for bacteria. … If its hot enough to kill all potentially harmful bacteria, it will deform the cups.

What can dissolve styrofoam?

All you need to do is to pour a bit of acetone into a bowl, and place Styrofoam beads, packing peanuts, chunks of foam, or even a Styrofoam cup in the container. The Styrofoam will dissolve in the acetone much like sugar dissolves in hot water.

Will vinegar eat styrofoam?

Vinegar and more specifically “weak acids” will not dissolve styrofoam (the frequently used designation for foamed cups etc.). Acids will soften the thin walls of the plastic bubbles that make up foamed polystyrene.

Will denatured alcohol dissolve styrofoam?

Acetone is a handy solvent found in nail polish remover and paint-store denatured alcohol. It can rapidly dissolve or eat its way through styrofoam. … Styrofoam is mostly air, so you can condense its volume to an amazing extent by adding acetone. Nonetheless, you don’t want to store nail polish remover in styrofoam cups.

What is the difference between polystyrene and expanded polystyrene?

The main difference between these two materials lies in their density. Extruded polystyrene is much denser than expanded polystyrene (2.18 lbs. on average for XPS vs. 0.93 lbs.

What is expanded polystyrene used for?

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) is a rigid cellular plastic, which is found in a multitude of shapes and applications. It is used for fish boxes, packaging for electrical consumer goods and for insulation panels for building. These are the most commonly known uses and we will mention others in this document.

What’s the difference between expanded and extruded polystyrene?

Expanded polystyrene or EPS is a thermoplastic foam material that we produce from solid beads of polystyrene whereas the extruded polystyrene or XPS is a foam material that we produce from solid polystyrene crystals. This is the key difference between expanded and extruded polystyrene.