Inside: Learn how to clean humidifiers using an easy method with just bleach and vinegar.
Having a clean humidifier is important to your health! A dirty humidifier is a breeding ground for bacteria growth and can often become clogged or not work as well due to mineral deposits.
Instead of going out and buying a brand new humidifier, why not see how you can fix it with a little bit of regular cleaning? A thorough cleaning is great for improving your indoor air quality and is a great way to incorporate routine cleaning as well.
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Make sure that you read below to understand the easy steps to clean any part of the humidifier so that the next time you need to use it, it’s clean and ready to go. And if you use your humidifier on a daily basis, you definitely want to make sure that you know the best way to clean warm mist humidifiers and cool mist humidifiers, both.
It is amazing what a humble humidifier can do.
In a child’s room, it can quiet the incredibly distressing, barking coughs of a case of croup.
It can help anyone with a cold sleep through the night without loading up on medication.
In a wintry climate, it prevents annoying frequent shocks from static electricity.
It provides some pleasant white noise that can help people concentrate on work or sleep without interruption.
Whether used occasionally or through entire seasons, a humidifier needs to be cleaned every week and it needs a final cleaning before going into storage.
How to Clean a Humidifier
It’s amazing the mineral buildup that will happen because of using tap water! The good news is that a simple cleaning solution is all that you will need to get rid of hard water issues and make it the best humidifier again in no time.
Always be sure to check the instruction manual for any tips on cleaning, as the manufacturer’s instructions may have more information that is needed. Don’t forget to check the humidifier filter to see if a new air filter is needed as well. There are lots of harmful bacteria that can be hidden in all the small parts of the humidifier.
Supplies Needed to Clean a Humidifier
A timer is optional but recommended.
The cleaning process takes about half an hour.
Time needed: 30 minutes
The Process of Cleaning a Humidifier
- Empty the water from the tank and use a damp cloth to wipe off the outside of the humidifier.
- Unscrew the tube from the motor portion of the humidifier.
- Clean with vinegar.
Pour 8 ounces (one cup) of undiluted vinegar into the tank of the humidifier. Use the disconnected tube to stir the vinegar, then leave the tube and tank to soak in the vinegar for 5 minutes.
- Wipe down with vinegar.
Dip a clean cloth in the vinegar. Dump out the remaining vinegar and use the cloth to clean the entire uptake tube and the walls of the humidifier tank. Make sure any particles are gone.
- Rinse the tube and tank with warm water.
- Clean with bleach.
Fill the tank with one gallon of clean water and one teaspoon of bleach. Use the tube to stir the bleach solution, then leave the tube and tank to soak for 20 minutes.
- Empty the bleach solution from the tank and rinse the tube and tank with warm water.
If the humidifier is needed for continued use, screw the tube back into the motor, fill the tank with clean water, and put it back to work.
If the device will be stored after cleaning, it is recommended to let it air dry for a few hours or overnight to ensure that it is completely dry when stored with no moisture remaining.
Storing a humidifier that is damp or, worse, still has water in the tank can allow a great deal of mold to grow. At best this mold will ruin the humidifier and at worst it can create quite a serious household hazard.
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