Clean Humidifier

humidifiers are one of the most handy things to have in a home but like any other type of equipment it requires regular cleaning especially if you’re using your humidifier on a daily basis. Having a clean humidifier is something that is important to keep it working and maintaining optimal performance. In order to keep it at its peak you should be cleaning it once per week.

When you are cleaning you should always defer to the manufacturer cleaning instructions. Before you follow any of the following instructions for a clean humidifier you should always check with the manual to makes sure that what is included is going to be compatible with the machine you’re using.

Note: You should of course always make sure that you’re unplugging the humidifier before you attempt to do any sort of maintenance or cleaning.

The cool mist humidifiers will have some simple steps to get them clean. After you’ve unplugged the unit you should first take out the filter and put it to the side. After that you’re going to want to remove any mineral buildup. After that you’ll disinfect the humidifier and then finish off by replacing the humidifier according to instructions.

The warm mist humidifiers will have to get their mineral buildup removed through using the directions included below too. Like always make sure that the humidifier is unplugged first. It is very important that you’re cleaning the heating element. In order to do this you’ll want to pour some white vinegar into the base of your warm mist humidifier and then put the misting chamber into the base of the unit.

You need to allow the vinegar to sit and soak for at least 30 minutes. Remove the unit and then by using a soft bristled brush gently brush away all of the mineral deposits from the coils. You never want to use a metal brush as you can damage the unit. Also make sure that you’re never picking at the deposits with any tools or sharp objects. The purpose of soaking the unit in the vinegar solution is to make the removal easier. If you need some extra help you can use a clean toothbrush to get the deposits away from the coils.

After that you’ll want to pour some cool clean water into the base and then place the misting chamber into it. You should allow the chamber to sit for at least a few minutes in order to allow the residue to soak off. Using a clean soft cloth dry the chamber and wipe it until clean and dry. Any water that is leftover carefully pour it down the drain. The final step is to disinfect.

Disinfecting the Humidifier

After the humidifier has been cleaned you need to make sure to disinfect it. One of the recommended methods for disinfecting is as follows.

First you should fill the holding base with clean water. Make sure that you are keeping track of how much water you are using as you’ll need to build a ratio. You’ll want to add a teaspoon of liquid chlorine bleach for every gallon of water that is in the base.

This solution should be left to sit and soak for at least 30 minutes. Occasionally you should go and gently swish the solution in order to make sure that the base is coated evenly. After the 30 minutes has passed pour the bleach solution down the drain and rinse the base until the bleach smell has dissipated.

Whenever you’re cleaning make sure that the humidifier is unplugged and be sure that you avoid using any commercial cleaners. Commercial cleaners are completely unnecessary and can do more harm then good to your unit. Be sure that you never allow any vinegar residue to remain in the humidifier.