Is your humidifier not working as well as it used to? Chances are it just needs to be cleaned. A dirty humidifier can cause respiratory problems, so it’s vital to learn how to clean it the right way.
This guide will teach you how to clean a humidifier in a simple way using simple methods and ingredients you probably already have in your home such as vinegar.
So, follow the steps described below, and your humidifier will be running like new in no time!
How Often Should You Clean Your Humidifier?
There are a few things to take into consideration before deciding on your cleaning schedule:
Frequency of Use
Depending on how often you use your humidifier, you’ll have to clean it every three days to a week to prevent harmful bacteria and mold from spreading.
For example, if you have a strong heating system that quickly dries up the air, you’ll probably have to use your humidifier more frequently (likely every day) during the winter months, meaning you’ll have to clean it more often.
Furthermore, you should deep clean and disinfect your humidifier once or twice a month and replace the filter every couple of months (once a year will be enough if you’re not a particularly heavy user).
Humidifier Size
The answer to this question (how often to clean a humidifier) also depends on your device’s size.
Smaller humidifiers (e.g., car humidifiers) will generally need a more frequent cleanup than larger humidifying appliances.
Humidifier Type
Cool mist humidifiers generally need to be cleaned more often than warm mist humidifiers.
Cool mist humidifiers give microbes a perfect environment to thrive, while warm mist (steam) humidifiers tend to kill bacteria by boiling them.
Your Humidifier’s Looks and Smell
If your machine starts looking and smelling weird, it’s an unmistakable sign it’s time for a cleanup or disinfection. So, if you notice the water changed color or start smelling a musty odor, clean your humidifier immediately.
Things to Consider Before Cleaning Your Humidifier
If you want to keep your humidifier working properly and do a great job cleaning, make sure you prepare well:
Read the Manufacturer’s Instructions Carefully.
Not every cleaning method can be used on every type of air humidifier.
Pay special attention to the materials your humidifier is made of and the instructions regarding how to dismantle and assemble the appliance and how to replace or clean a humidifier filter.
Consult the online page of the brand if you don’t have the instruction leaflet.
Choose the Appropriate Cleaning Method.
Research and find the most appropriate cleaning method and cleaning products for your humidifier and stick to them.
Don’t improvise with concentrations and cleaning steps to avoid the risk of hurting yourself, other people, or damaging your unit.
Prepare Your Protective Gear.
Get protective gloves and a mask if you plan to use bleach or hydrogen peroxide for cleaning.
How to Clean an Air Humidifier
Now that you know what you should be careful about let’s get into the cleaning process.
Here’s how to clean your device in eight simple steps:
Step 1
Unplug your humidifier from the power source or take out any batteries. You don’t want your cleaning routine to turn into a life-threatening situation.
Step 2
Remove the water tank from the humidifier.
This is usually where bacteria and mold thrive, so a humidifier tank requires special attention.
Step 3
Prepare the cleaning solution.
Usually, it’s best to clean a humidifier with vinegar. You can use regular distilled white household vinegar ( 5%) and distilled lukewarm water. Combine equal parts of vinegar and water to make the cleaning solution.
To battle stubborn scales and bacteria buildup, use non-diluted 5% vinegar.
Step 4
Fill your water tank with the cleaning solution.
Step 5
Let the vinegar sit in the water tank for 30–60 minutes.
Step 6
Empty the water tank and rinse it with clean water (you can use whatever is left of your vinegar solution to clean other home appliances like your Moka pot or high-quality espresso machine).
Step 7
Wipe the inside of the humidifier with a clean damp cloth.
If mineral buildup is still present, you can use baking soda powder and an old toothbrush to brush it off — just don’t forget to rinse it thoroughly afterward.
Step 8
Fill the water tank with clean water and reattach it to the humidifier.
You can now enjoy humidified air without worrying about bacteria and mold.
How to Clean a Cool Mist Humidifier
Cool or room-temperature mist humidifiers offer an array of advantages over regular humidifiers, but maintenance isn’t one. Due to the lower temperature of their mist, they can easily become a breeding ground for bacteria and mold.
This is how to keep them clean and bacteria-free:
- Fill the reservoir tank with undiluted vinegar and let it sit for an hour.
- Empty the tank and scrub any grime and cleaning solution residue off the water container walls.
- Rinse with hot water and allow to completely dry before reattaching and using it again.
How to Clean an Ultrasonic Humidifier
Everybody loves quiet and energy-efficient ultrasonic humidifiers. They don’t have filters that you need to replace to keep them working properly, meaning they’re easier to maintain than regular humidifiers.
Daily Clean
You can perform a daily clean in several simple steps:
- Start off the way you would with any humidifier — by unplugging it.
- Empty the water basin and water tank and wipe any residue on their walls.
- Let them air dry.
- Rinse the nozzle, wipe it with paper, put it back in place, and you’re done!
Be cautious around delicate components like water sensors or nebulizers.
Additionally, you should keep in mind that you can clean your humidifier without vinegar only superficially. Deep cleaning will require the usage of a stronger solution (like vinegar or citric acid).
Weekly Clean
Water won’t be enough for the weekly cleaning. Instead, you’ll need vinegar or bleach solution.
The procedure is as follows:
- Fill the tank halfway with lukewarm water.
- Add a tablespoon of white vinegar or bleach (never both at the same time).
- Shake the unit to allow water and white vinegar/bleach to mix properly.
- Let the cleaning solution sit for 20–30 minutes.
- Pour out the solution and rinse thoroughly with water
- Allow the humidifier to air dry.
- Wipe any residue from the interior walls of the humidifier.
How to Clean Mold From a Humidifier
If you see mold growing in your humidifier, it’s important to clean it immediately. Mold can cause respiratory problems and other health issues.
Depending on how severe the situation is, you can employ one of these two cleaning methods:
1. The White Vinegar Method
- Start by unplugging the humidifier and emptying the water tank.
- Fill the tank with a solution of equal parts of water and white vinegar.
- Let the solution soak for 30–60 minutes.
- Empty the tank and rinse it out with clean water.
- Let the humidifier run until the vinegar solution has completely evaporated.
If your humidifier has a filter, replace it after every cleaning. A new filter will help ensure that your humidifier runs effectively and efficiently.
2. The Hydrogen Peroxide Method
Choosing to clean your humidifier with hydrogen peroxide is somewhat better than cleaning mold from a humidifier with vinegar, especially if mold has spread to a bigger area.
Here’s how to clean your humidifier using 3% hydrogen peroxide:
- Combine four parts of water and one part of hydrogen peroxide in your humidifier’s tank.
- Shake the tank up and leave it for at least half an hour.
- Pour out the solution.
- Rinse thoroughly with water
A word of caution: Never mix vinegar with hydrogen peroxide. Peracetic acid (the result of combining these two ingredients) can be harmful to every exposed part of your body, skin, and lungs.
How to Keep a Humidifier Clean?
There are several things you should regularly do to keep your humidifier clean.
For example, you should:
Change Water Every Day.
This will help prevent bacteria from growing in the water.
Use Distilled Water ONLY.
Using distilled instead of tap water is essential if you want to prolong your device’s lifespan.
Using distilled water will prevent scales from forming on the inner side of the humidifier’s container and the so-called white dust formation. It’ll also prevent mineral particles from spreading through the air and clogging up and damaging your humidifier.
Clean Your Humidifier Regularly.
Clean your humidifier every three to seven days to prevent bacteria and mold growth.
Keep the Area Around Your Humidifier Dry and Clean
This will also prevent the spread of mold and mildew.
Dry Out Your Humidifier Thoroughly After Cleanups.
Emptying and regularly drying your humidifier before using it again keeps bacteria and mold away.
Change and Clean a Humidifier Filter Regularly.
A humidifier’s filter is the most important part of your device. Cleaning and replacing it thoroughly and regularly will ensure a humidifier is in perfect condition for years to come.
Clean Your Humidifier Before and After Storing It.
Make it a rule to clean your humidifier before and after putting it away in your storage space.
Don’t Go Overboard With Air Humidity.
Keeping the humidity in your house above 50% won’t only increase the chance of bacteria and mold appearing but will also make your asthma and other respiratory difficulties more pronounced!
Conclusion
Using humidifiers is a great way to battle dry air and help you breathe more easily. Whether you purchased a small car humidifier from Facebook or a large bedroom humidifier, it needs to be cleaned regularly to keep running safely and effectively.
Follow the steps described above and prevent your humidifier from becoming a breeding ground for bacteria, mold, and grime.
FAQ
What is the easiest way to clean a humidifier?
The easiest way to clean a humidifier is to rinse it with hot water and wipe the interior walls with a cloth. This is everything you need for a daily clean.
The easiest way to clean a humidifier on a weekly basis is to use white vinegar — a non-toxic natural disinfectant and descaler.
To clean your humidifier with vinegar, you should:
- Fill the tank with equal parts of water and vinegar.
- Let the solution soak for 30–60minutes
- Empty the tank and rinse it out with clean water.
- Let the humidifier run until the vinegar solution has completely evaporated.
And, voila! Your humidifier is clean.
Can I clean my humidifier with bleach?
Yes, you can, but since bleach belongs to the group of harsh chemicals, it should be used as the last resort, only for lingering bacteria and mold.
The procedure is simple:
- Fill your humidifier’s tank halfway with a bleach solution (one teaspoon of liquid chlorine bleach combined with a gallon of water).
- Let the solution sit for 15–20 minutes and rinse thoroughly.
A word of caution: To avoid damaging the inner workings of your humidifier, it’s better to use hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar instead of bleach.
How do you clean the inside of a humidifier?
It’s best to use a vinegar solution to clean the inside of your humidifier:
- Mix equal parts of water and white vinegar in a bowl.
- Soak all of the removable parts of the humidifier in the solution for at least 30 minutes.
- Rinse the removable parts with clean water
- Fill the water tank with fresh, clean water and reassemble the humidifier.
- Turn it on and enjoy clean, humidified air!
How do you disinfect a cool mist humidifier?
The best way to disinfect this type of humidifier is to use bleach disinfectant, as it’s more potent than vinegar and takes care of mold effectively.
This is how to do it:
- Unplug your device and disassemble it.
- Submerge it in a bleach solution (1/2 cup of bleach in a gallon of water).
You can disinfect your humidifier every two weeks or as needed (depending on how clear the water in your humidifier is).
Can a dirty humidifier make you sick?
Yes, it can. If you don’t clean your humidifier, it can become a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. They can then be released into the air and cause respiratory problems to you, your family members, and even pets.
A dirty humidifier may lead to coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, and even serious infections (in severe cases).
So, learning how to clean a humidifier properly is essential!
