Humidifiers are small machines that add the moisture into the air. Dry weather can cause allergies, sinus problems, cough, and many other medical conditions. Humidifiers keeps the atmosphere of a room healthy and comfortable. Many types of humidifiers are in the market, warm mist, cold mist, ultrasonic, or you can keep your whole house covered with a central humidifier. All types of humidifiers are equally useful, but they all need to be cleaned on a regular basis.

Why do you need to clean humidifier?

Humidifiers use water tanks to emit the moisture into the air. Standing water provides an ideal place for mold and bacteria to grow. If you don’t clean your humidifier as often as needed, then you will turn your useful home appliance into a breeding ground bacteria, virus, and mold. Mineral deposits can also build up in humidifier over the time due to the presence of calcium and another mineral in the water. These deposits can also help grow bacteria. Your humidifier can disperse these mineral deposits and bacteria into the air you are inhaling. For keeping your indoor air quality clean and healthy, humidifiers need to be clean regularly with some disinfectants.

Use of Vinegar to clean the Humidifier

Vinegar is a natural disinfectant that can clean your humidifier without leaving any harmful traces behind. Vinegar is an aqueous solution of acetic acid and water with traces of other chemicals and flavoring. With its so many culinary uses, vinegar can also be used for removing stains of mineral deposits and disinfecting the base and filter of your humidifier.

Cleaning filters

Filters are used in cool mist humidifiers to ensure that the water vapor added into the air is clean without any mineral traces. These filters trap the unhealthy residues from the water and may build up mold and mineral deposits over the period. Although filter has a limited lifespan and should be replaced from time to time, by cleaning the filters regularly, you can increase their life.
For cleaning the filters follow these guidelines
• Unplug the humidifier.
• Dissemble the different parts of humidifiers.
• Rinse the filter under tap water.
• Soak the filter in one part vinegar into two parts of water.
• Let it sit here for 30-45 minutes to soften mineral deposits and other traces on it.
• With the use of a brush, lightly brush off any dirt or other traces.
• Rinse with clean water thoroughly and leave it to dry for an hour or two.

Cleaning Reservoirs

A dirty tank of humidifier will contaminate the water inside no matter how many times you fill in the fresh water. Mineral deposits can form in the base of humidifier’s tank that can breed mold and bacteria. That’s why mere refilling the fresh water is not enough. At least once a week you need to empty your tank and clean it properly with some disinfectant to remove any bacterial growth or mold.

Cleaning the reservoirs with vinegar

• Add vinegar in the water of tank with the ratio of one part vinegar and two-part water.
• Leave it for a while to kill all bacteria, mold or mineral deposits.
• Throw the water and clear away the stuck up residues with any brush or scrub.
• You need to scrub it properly for removing all stains.
• Make sure to cover all corners and sides.
• If You still see some hard traces or stains on the surface of the tank you can add some vinegar directly on these stains and leave it for a while.
• Remove all stains and rinse the water tank with fresh water thoroughly.
• Leave the tank to air dry and refill fresh water before using again.

How often should I clean my Humidifier?

It is important to rinse your humidifier daily and fill in fresh water. For a more thorough and deep cleaning, once a week is recommended to remove any mineral residues and prevent the growth of bacteria, virus or mold.

A humidifier is a useful home appliance but needs extra care for its cleaning and maintenance. To ensure the safety of your family makes a habit of thoroughly cleaning once a week. The use of vinegar can help you to clear away any mineral deposits or mold and mildew from tank and filter. Vinegar is not only potent enough to kill all pathogens but is also safe to use. Other strong bleaches could be harmful if you left some traces of it into the humidifier.