How To Clean Humidifier: The humidity level in our home affects everything from the health of our plants to the quality of the air we breathe. This means that humidifiers can be a lifesaver during the dry winter months or all year long if you live in a dry climate, but not when they’re full of mold and bacteria. Humidifiers should be cleaned regularly. We asked Becky Rapinchuk, an expert on green cleaning, for her best tips on keeping yours clean and working.
How often should a humidifier be cleaned?
First, how often you clean your humidifier will depend on how often you use it. A good rule of thumb is to empty the humidifier tank after every use and let it dry out before filling it up again. Then, once a week, you’ll need to clean it well. If you don’t use it as often, it’s still a good idea to empty it and let it dry out between uses. However, you may only need to clean it every five or so when you see residue around the tank.
What you will need
Before you start cleaning, make sure you have these things:
- White vinegar
- Towel made of microfiber or a soft cloth
- Small bristle brush or toothbrush
- Goggles and gloves
- Bleach or hydrogen peroxide with 3%
How to properly clean your humidifier
Always look at your humidifier’s instructions for cleaning it since some models have specific steps. In general, though, these rules should work for most machines with a base that plugs into the wall, a water tank that can be removed, and some lids that can be removed. When you clean the tank of the machine, always use white vinegar.
Anything else, like soap or detergent, can leave a residue that can get into the air:
- Unplug the unit and drain any water from it.
- Take each part apart and separate any loose pieces that can be washed, like lids.
- Fill your water tank and lower base with the same amount of water and white vinegar. Let the ingredients sit for at least 30 minutes.
- Put loose pieces in a mixture of white vinegar and water in a separate bowl or basin. Let these sit while you soak the rest of the machine.
- After half an hour, give the water tank a good shake to loosen any buildup and empty it. Also, open the base of your machine. Take the pieces out of the water.
- Wipe the inside and outside of the tank, as well as the base and other parts, with a cloth with white vinegar. The white vinegar will clean the surface and eliminate any mineral deposits.
- If you can still see residue, you can scrub it off with a small brush.
- Use a wet cloth to wipe everything down one last time.
- Let it dry completely before putting it back together and running it.
Cleaning vs disinfecting
In addition to general cleaning, it’s essential to ensure your unit is adequately disinfected. Mold and bacteria love to grow in water that doesn’t move, and it doesn’t take long for them to show up. If you keep up with general cleaning, you won’t have to disinfect it often.
However, vinegar doesn’t kill germs as well as bleach, so if you use your humidifier often, you should try to do this at least once every few weeks. Bleach and white vinegar don’t go well together. When put together, they can cause chemical reactions that could be dangerous. To be safe, run your machine a few times between cleaning and disinfecting.
How to clean and disinfect your humidifier:
- Unplug the unit and drain any water from it.
- Take each part apart and separate any pieces that can be washed.
- Mix a teaspoon of bleach or hydrogen peroxide with a gallon of water to make it less intense.
- Fill your water tank, and then put your bleach mixture in the bottom of your base. Give the medicine 15 to 20 minutes to sit.
- Add loose pieces to the bleach mixture in a separate bowl or basin. Let these sit while you soak the rest of the machine.
- After 15 to 20 minutes, give the water tank a good shake to loosen any buildup, then empty it. Also, open the base of your machine. Take the pieces out of the water.
- If you can still see residue, you can scrub it off with a small brush.
- Rinse the bleach smell out of your water tank with water.
- Use a wet cloth to wipe everything down one last time.
- Let it dry completely before putting it back together and running it.
Always empty your unit following every use
Trust us; do it. You don’t want water to stay in one place, especially since that same water will be pumped into the air you breathe. It should be as unique as feasible.
Keep up with cleaning
The longer you wait between cleanings, the harder it will be to get rid of dirt, and the more likely the air quality in your home will get worse.
Whenever possible, use distilled water
Minerals in tap water will not only build up in your tank but also spread through the air.
Don’t forget to change the filter!
Some humidifiers may come with instructions on cleaning the filter, but many filters need to be replaced depending on how often you use them.
Read Also: Fastest Ways to Get Kerosene Out of Carpet
Conclusion
As the air gets colder and drier every day, increasing the humidity in our homes can help with everything from allergies to chapped lips. But for your humidifier to work well, it needs to be clean. Taking care of your humidifier will keep your air as moist and clean as possible.
