How To Clean The Filter In A Humidifier

When it's operating correctly, a humidifier will moisten the air within your house and arrive easier to exhale. However, a device with a muddied filter or chamber tin pump dangerous bacteria into the air instead.^[1] Thankfully, yous can clean out a humidifier at domicile using common supplies like vinegar.

1. 1

   Rinse the filter. Unplug the humidifier first, then remove the filter. Hold it under the faucet and rinse it with cold water to launder away any impurities. Prepare information technology on a clean towel to dry while yous clean the remaining parts.

   • Don't use a cleaning solution to clean the filter. Chemicals can permanently impairment the filter and then that it will no longer work properly.
   • You may take a model of humidifier that requires you lot to modify the filter every now and so. If this is the case, check the manufacturer'due south instructions and change the filter equally oftentimes every bit is recommended.

2. two

   Wash the water tank. Remove the tank from the humidifier and pour out the erstwhile water. Fill up the tank with iii cups of vinegar, swish it around so that it covers the bottom and sides of the tank, and permit it sit down for at least 1 hour. The vinegar acts as a natural cleanser that loosens buildup from the lesser of the water tank. Rinse the tank thoroughly when you're finished.^[ii]

   • If necessary, utilise a scrub brush to scrub away some of the crud at the bottom of the water tank.
   • Using another type of cleaner could take negative consequences since the liquid from the h2o tank gets pumped into the air. Stick with vinegar to brand certain yous're creating a safe surround for your family unit.
   • If the water tank does not take access for a brush, put in a few tablespoons of rice with the vinegar and cold water to make a loose slurry. Shut the tank and agitate vigorously for a minute or so and so let stand for a while. Repeat until the crud has been dislodged. Rinse thoroughly to make certain all the grains are washed out.

3. 3

   Wipe down the frame. Apply a sponge dampened with vinegar and water to wipe the remaining parts of the humidifier. This prevents dust and other debris from entering the water tank and inhibits the growth of mold or bacteria.

1. 1

   Apply a bleach and water solution. ^[3] Pour a gallon of water and a teaspoon of bleach into the water tank. Let the solution sit in the tank for an 60 minutes to completely sanitize the inside of the tank. Cascade out the solution and rinse with clean, cold h2o.

   • Be sure the tank has been thoroughly rinsed earlier y'all replace information technology on the humidifier frame.
   • Don't let the bleach sit in the humidifier for more an hour, or it could impairment the machine.
   • Don't mix bleach and vinegar, or peroxide and vinegar since they could create harmful byproducts.

2. 2

   Use peroxide. ^[4] Pour a few cups of peroxide into the water tank. Swish it around then that information technology covers the bottom and sides of the tank. Let the peroxide to sit in the tank for an 60 minutes, then pour it out and rinse the tank with common cold water.

3. 3

   Practice a deep make clean with vinegar. Fill the water tank with a cup of vinegar and a gallon of water. Plug it in outside and let the humidifier run for an 60 minutes. Subsequently an hour, cascade out the remaining liquid from the tank, rinse it with clean h2o, so fill information technology with make clean water and run the humidifier for another hour. Rinse out the tank i more than fourth dimension before using.

   • Don't run the humidifier indoors when yous're using vinegar in the water tank. It will make your home smell like vinegar.
   • Add together a few drops essential oil to your humidifier if there is whatever lingering vinegar olfactory property after your deep clean.
   • Don't use bleach or any other chemical to do a deep clean through the working office of the humidifier. Turning the humidifier on and running chemicals through the system could cause permanent damage.

1. i

   Change the water ofttimes. Leaving water to sit in the water tank for long periods of time causes mineral deposits to collect on the bottom and sides. The longer you leave the water sitting there, the more deposits will collect and the harder they'll exist to remove. Alter your water every day or every other twenty-four hours to avert bacterial growth.^[5]

2. 2

   Clean the humidifier every three days. ^[6] When the humidifier is in heavy apply during the wintertime or when a family unit fellow member has a common cold, clean it every three days with a simple vinegar or hydrogen peroxide rinse. Do a deep clean every two weeks or so.

3. three

   Replace the humidifier when necessary. Old humidifiers that have gotten a lot of employ may commencement to interruption down over time. The worn-out parts will exist more than prone to hosting bacterial growth.^[7]

   • If you've had your humidifier for more than than a v years or and so, you might desire to consider replacing information technology.
   • If you lot aren't ready to supersede your older humidifier, make sure to make clean it with bleach or peroxide every few weeks.

4. iv

   Keep the area around the humidifier dry out. If the humidifier is causing the area around it to go damp, turn it down. Surrounding the humidifier with dampness can atomic number 82 to the growth of leaner and mold.

5. 5

   Store the humidifier properly. When it's time to put the automobile away after the winter, clean it thoroughly and make certain information technology is completely dry before putting it abroad.^[8] When y'all take information technology out again next year, clean it again before using.

Add New Question

• Question

  Can I let the filter dry out until the next time I use my humidifier if I don't use it every solar day?

  

  Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids based in northern Colorado. Driscoll received her Masters in Public Health from the Colorado Schoolhouse of Public Wellness in 2016.

  

  Founder, Mulberry Maids

  Skillful Reply

  Yes, letting the filter dry volition be beneficial, every bit information technology will allow information technology to fully air out and be rid of any bacterial growth.

• Question

  How practice you remove calcium out of a humidifier?

  

  Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids based in northern Colorado. Driscoll received her Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health in 2016.

  

  Founder, Mulberry Maids

  Expert Reply

  Cleaning the humidifier with vinegar will assistance remove the calcium and other water deposits.

• Question

  How exercise I clean water from a spilled humidifier from upholstery?

  

  The water shouldn't bear upon the upholstery or cause damage/discoloration to your piece of furniture, so yous should just be able to towel dry out the spot.

• Question

  Can any part of my humidifier become in the dishwasher?

  

  It depends on the humidifier and the verbal pieces. To exist safe, I would avoid putting any part of your humidifier in the dishwasher.

• Question

  If I'm running my humidifier for an hour with vinegar, do I do it with the filter in place or without the filter?

  

  Without. Vinegar, bleach, and other chemicals could harm the filter. Virtually filters should only be rinsed with water.

• Question

  Can y'all use peroxide, instead of vinegar, to deep clean the humidifier or will it damage it like bleach?

  

  Only use vinegar! All other chemicals can damage the unit of measurement. Read the article again.

• Question

  Do I demand to make clean exterior of the humidifier?

  

  Yeah. Start by taking all the components apart and hand washing them one past one. Then, hand dry them and put them dorsum together.

• Question

  Can adding vinegar to a portable humidifier water tank forestall water leaner from growing?

  

  Yes, simply do not run the humidifier with the vinegar within.

• Question

  How practice I treat water leaner?

  

  Buy a bacteriostat solution to add to the water.

• Question

  I have institute a pinkish remainder on the inside of my humidifier - what is information technology from?

  

  Anywhere there is water at that place is usually mold, and a nice warm container is the perfect environment. Poor quality humidifiers can put bad spores into your animate air. Get a new i. Vicks makes a practiced one that grows very little mold.

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• If you're trying to stay away from harsh cleaning chemicals, use vinegar to break upwardly the water solids.

• Depending on water contents, other cleaning solutions may be used.

• Use distilled water to prevent hard water buildup and bacterial growth.^[9]

• Make sure humidifier has had fourth dimension to cool down before cleaning.

Things You lot'll Need

• Dish lather
• De-lime spray or solution
• Non-abrasive brush
• Warm water

About this article

Commodity Summary X

You should make clean your humidifier every i-2 weeks to continue it from getting muddied and putting leaner into the air. To perform a basic cleaning, first open the example of your humidifier and remove the filter. Rinse the filter under running cold water to clean it, and then fix it bated to air dry. Adjacent, remove the h2o tank from your humidifier and pour out any old water. Rinse the tank out with water, so pour iii cups (710 mL) of white vinegar into it. Swirl the vinegar around in the tank and allow it sit down for one hour. Finally, rinse the tank out and let information technology air dry. To deep make clean your humidifier, first fill the water tank ¾ of the way with water. Then, fill the residuum of the tank with white vinegar. Run the humidifier outside for at to the lowest degree 1 60 minutes to clean it. Finally, pour the vinegar out of the tank and rinse the tank out with water. For tips on how to shop the humidifier to forestall bacterial growth, roll down!

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