Keeping Your Humidifier Clean and Disinfected

If you use a humidifier to help manage your chronic respiratory condition, keep it clean. This will prevent the growth of mold, mildew and bacteria.

Ideally, you should descale and disinfect your humidifier each week before using it. The process varies by machine and you should follow your owner’s manual for specific instructions.

How to Disinfect a Humidifier

In addition to helping with dry skin, a humidifier can ease sinus congestion and other respiratory ailments. But a dirty humidifier can also be a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. Keeping it clean and disinfected can prevent the release of these germs into the air, says cleaning expert Leah Groth.

Unplug the humidifier, empty the tank and detach any removable parts. Use a soft-bristled brush dipped in vinegar to scrub the outside and inside of the tank, as well as any crevices or inner surfaces. Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry.

If your humidifier is safe to bleach, a 1:1 solution of bleach and water will help remove scale buildup, as well as disinfect, recommends Hazel. But before using, check the manufacturer’s care instructions to make sure this heavy-duty chemical is safe for your model.

You can also clean your humidifier with hydrogen peroxide, advises Donovan. Simply pour a cup of the solution into the tank and let sit for an hour. Rinse the tank and base with clean water, then plug the machine back in and run it for an additional hour to clear out any remaining peroxide. Again, rinse the unit with water, then wipe and dry all components before reassembling. Alternatively, you can soak small humidifier parts—such as the tank cap or filter—in a solution of water and 3% hydrogen peroxide for 15 to 30 minutes before rinsing.

Vinegar

Vinegar is a natural cleanser that’s effective at removing dirt, mold, mildew and mineral deposits from humidifiers. The acidic liquid also kills bacteria and prevents it from growing.

Vinegar can be purchased at most grocery stores and is a common ingredient in best humidifier for baby cleaning products used to deodorize kitchens, bathrooms and floors. Distilled white vinegar is the most commonly available and has a 5% to 6% concentration of acetic acid. Other types of vinegar, such as apple cider and balsamic vinegar, have lower acidity levels and can still be used to clean humidifiers.

While white vinegar is a good cleaning agent, it’s not a disinfectant, meaning it won’t kill all of the bacteria that can cause illness. You can sanitize a humidifier by combining white vinegar with bleach to create a disinfectant solution. Pour a solution of two cups of water and a teaspoon of bleach into the humidifier’s water tank and swish it around to fully soak the solution. Allow the solution to sit in the tank for up to an hour before emptying and rinsing.

If you don’t want to use vinegar, you can clean and disinfect a humidifier with hydrogen peroxide, which is just as effective at killing bacteria. Use a 4-1 solution of water and 3% hydrogen peroxide to soak the humidifier tank, nozzle and other removable parts for 20 minutes before rinsing thoroughly with clean, hot water.

Bleach

Using a chemical disinfectant on your humidifier is an ideal way to kill any mold growth and keep it from returning. If you use your humidifier regularly, you should disinfect it at least once every 10 days. This keeps it from blowing out mold spores in addition to moist air, which can irritate your lungs and make you feel sick.

To disinfect your humidifier, first pour out any water and mix a solution of half a cup of bleach with a gallon of distilled water in the tank and base of your machine. Let the mixture sit for about an hour to fully sanitize the inside of the machine. Then, rinse the tank and base with clean water.

Once the tank and base are clean, disassemble your humidifier and use a small brush (a toothbrush works great) to scrub the tiny areas of your humidifier that are hard to reach. Soak the smaller parts in a vinegar solution while you do this, and be sure to rinse thoroughly when you are finished.

You should also empty and rinse your humidifier’s water tank daily to prevent bacteria from growing in stagnant water. And be sure to use filtered or distilled water instead of tap water; mineral deposits in regular water can build up inside your humidifier and create a white dust that can irritate your lungs.

Water

Using water to clean your humidifier can be more effective than vinegar, as long as you use the correct cleaner. Use a product like Humidi-TREAT Humidifier Water and Scale Treatment, which is specially formulated to prevent the build-up of hard water deposits and scale. It also reduces bacteria and mineral deposits, as well as odors.

You should always empty and rinse your humidifier’s tank and basin on a daily basis. Leaving water in the tank can promote the growth of bacteria and mold, and it may lead to the development of hard water deposits that create white dust and cause other problems.

To disinfect your humidifier with water, you should first unplug it and remove the water tank. Empty the tank and rinse it thoroughly. You should also remove the base and unlock best humidifier for baby and drain any parts that can be removed, such as the air filter and spout. Pour a solution of equal parts water and vinegar into the base of the humidifier. Soak the small parts in this vinegar solution for 30 minutes. Rinse all the parts and dry them thoroughly with a cloth or sponge.

You can also clean your humidifier by using a bleach solution. To do this, you will need to disassemble your humidifier, but you should use a small amount of bleach or hydrogen peroxide in the water tank and swish it around. Then, allow the solution to sit in the tank for an hour.