How to Disinfect a Humidifier

Humidifiers are essential for healthy winters, but they must be cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis to prevent bacteria, mold and viruses from contaminating the air you breathe. The easiest way to do this is to empty and rinse the water tank each day.

You can also use diluted white vinegar, apple cider vinegar or hydrogen peroxide to soak and clean all removable parts of the humidifier.

Disassemble

Make sure the humidifier is unplugged and empty of water before you begin cleaning. Stagnant water is what leads to mold and bacteria in your humidifier, and it must be emptied before you can disinfect it properly.

Next, take a brush or toothbrush with soft bristles and scrub away any dirt, mildew, or mineral deposits on the base of your humidifier. Also scrub the water tank, especially if it has any tight crevices. Once you’ve thoroughly cleaned the inside and outside of your humidifier, rinse it with white vinegar. This will help loosen any lingering residue or grime from the cleaning process.

Fill your humidifier’s water tank nearly to the top with vinegar and allow it to soak for 30 minutes. Do the same with the base container and any smaller parts you’ve removed, like a filter or tray.

Once the vinegar has soaked in, rinse your humidifier and lay it out on a towel to dry completely before reassembling it. Remember, you should always wipe down your humidifier and its base regularly to prevent buildup of bacteria, mold, or mineral deposits, which can be aerosolized and sprayed into the air that you breathe. Keeping your humidifier clean can significantly improve your indoor air quality and may even help alleviate respiratory ailments such as allergies or asthma.

Vinegar

Vinegar is one of the most versatile cleaning products around. It’s great for disinfecting surfaces and getting rid of grime, as well as eliminating strong odors. It’s also safe to use in most household appliances, including humidifiers.

Before you begin cleaning your humidifier, make sure that it is unplugged and empty. Next, best humidifier for baby take out the water tank and detach any removable parts, like the filter. Once the humidifier is completely disassembled, pour white vinegar into the tank. Swish the solution around so that it covers all surfaces and sides. Allow the tank to sit with the vinegar for at least 20 minutes.

After the tank has sat with the vinegar for a while, remove it and rinse it with hot water. Rinse the humidifier with hot water to remove any lingering vinegar smell. Scrub any hard-to-reach areas of the humidifier with a small brush to remove any lingering scale. Then, let the base and water tank air dry before using it again.

You can also use bleach in place of vinegar to sanitize your humidifier. However, it’s important to note that when you mix bleach and vinegar together, it creates chlorine gas, which is dangerous to inhale. In addition, if you’re using bleach to clean your humidifier, it’s essential that you thoroughly rinse the machine afterwards. If you don’t, the bleach can deteriorate some of the plastics and seals in the humidifier.

Bleach

If you use your humidifier on a regular basis, you should disinfect it every 10 days to kill bacteria and mold spores so it’s blowing out clean air. This is particularly important if you have allergies or a respiratory condition like asthma. To disinfect, remove the water tank from the base and mix a teaspoon of bleach with a gallon of water. Pour the solution into the tank and swirl it around so all surfaces are coated. Let the solution sit for about 30 minutes before draining and rinsing with clean water.

Then, use a soft-bristle brush or toothbrush to scrub the remaining debris and hard-water scale from the interior of the base and tank. You can also use a mixture of water and vinegar in the tank to get rid of any mineral buildup. Be sure to empty and rinse the tank before refilling it with distilled water to prevent bacteria and mold growth.

If you don’t have white vinegar on hand, hydrogen peroxide is a suitable substitute. It will clean as well as disinfect and won’t leave a sticky residue. Follow the same procedure as using vinegar, soaking the tank and other removable parts in a solution of equal parts water and hydrogen peroxide for 20 to 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with fresh water and dry the unit before reassembling it.

Water

Every humidifier needs a little TLC, especially when it’s not in use. Not changing the water on a daily basis will lead to bacteria buildup that can disperse into the air you breathe when you turn it back on.

Start by turning off your humidifier and emptying the tank and water basin. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe down the inside of both, and the external body and air vents. Be sure to get in all the cracks and crevices, too, if possible.

Then, dump out the water in the tank and refill it with filtered or distilled water each day. Experts recommend using distilled water, rather than tap, because it doesn’t have best humidifier for baby the minerals that can gum up your humidifier and breed bacteria that gets spewed out into the air with the mist. These minerals can also leave behind a white dust, which is not only unattractive but may cause breathing problems for certain people.

If you have a cool mist humidifier with a removable reservoir, pour a cup of vinegar into the tank and swirl it to wet the interior of the tank. Let it sit for an hour, and then pour out the vinegar and rinse the tank and basin with clean water before refilling. Do this each day, and make a note on your calendar to do it before you turn your humidifier on.