How to Clean a humidifier

 Title: How to clean a humidifier

Primary keywords: How to clean a humidifier, cleaning a humidifier filter, clean a humidifier tank.

Secondary keywords: How does a humidifier work, clean mold, unclog a humidifier, ways to descale.

A humidifier is one of the most useful home appliances when it comes to modifying indoor air in your home. During winter, the weather can be extreme, and people usually fear getting flu and other conditions associated with dry air that can be very disturbing. Some of the health-related conditions that one can get relieved of when using a humidifier include dry throat, dry skin, cracked lips, bloody and irritating noses, dry coughs, and vocal cords irritation. Using a humidifier is the best natural way to keep your air moist. While there are many health benefits of using a humidifier, health problems can also arise from inhaling air with bacteria as a result of improper cleaning. A dirty humidifier contaminates the air in your house with bacteria and minerals. Usually, to avoid getting undesired effects from using a humidifier, you need to clean your appliance regularly as well as keep your house clean. Moisture encourages the breeding of bacteria, growth of mold, and allergens that can cause people with allergies and asthma to suffer even more.  According to a study done by EPA  on the Use and Care of Home Humidifiers, cool mist humidifiers can release minerals and harmful micro-organisms into your indoor air from their water tanks, thus lowering air quality in your home. In this article, you will learn how to clean a humidifier, how it works, and other cleaning tips.

How does a humidifier work?

It is recommendable that homeowners learn how home appliances work before purchasing them. The knowledge on how to operate appliances help reduce the instances of accidents at homes or destruction as a result of ignorance. So how does a humidifier work? Read on and find out how

There are several types of humidifiers, and they might work differently and look different. The bottom line is that they serve the same purpose of modifying indoor air.  Some of the most common types are as follows;

Impeller/ cold mist humidifiers

Use a rotating disk to produce a cool mist, as the name suggests.

Steam vaporizers

The steam vaporizer is one of the most dangerous types as it uses hot water to produce steam, and it is advisable for homes with small children to avoid it. The machine uses electricity to heat the water and produce steam, which then cools before dispersing into the air.

Central Humidifiers

Usually designed to modify the entire house, central humidifiers are installed together with the home's systems for air conditioning and heating. They are most common in hospitals.

Evaporators

The evaporator uses a fan mechanism to produce cold air by blowing it through a belt, wick, or filter.

Ultrasonic humidifiers

Uses an ultrasonic vibration to produce and disperse a cool mist

Generally, a humidifier of any kind is a device that expels cold air, usually steam or vapor, to increase the levels of moisture in the air. Now that you know how various kinds of humidifiers function, let's look at ways of cleaning a humidifier.

Steps of cleaning a humidifier

As mentioned earlier, you ought to keep your humidifier safe through regular cleaning. As you already know, your machine has many parts and therefore requires extra care when handling to prevent breakage and to ensure that you clean them properly. Remember that cleaning is the most vital process to prevent the buildup of bacteria, molds, mineral deposits, and grime, as well as unclog your humidifier. 

Before delving into the cleaning process, you need to learn about the things you need for the activity. So here is a list of the things you must have to give your humidifier a thorough cleaning you ought to:

A toothbrush or a soft household brush

Hydrogen Peroxide or Bleach

White Vinegar

Clean water

Gloves

A pair of goggles

Clean, dry towels

Sponge

After assembling your safety gear and cleansers, you need to read the manufacturer's instructions before disassembling your machine. Be keen to note how to separate each part and how to reassemble them back. Note that using bleach and hydrogen peroxide can be harmful if mishandled, therefore be careful and have your gloves and goggles on. Bleach can harm your skin or your eyes in case you splash the cleansers. It's always better to be safe than sorry!

Now that you have read the instructions manual and prepared your cleaning products, here is a step-by-step guide on how to give your humidifier a thorough clean;

First, make sure that you unplug your machine from the wall or the source of electricity. Next, you need to disassemble the entire machine. Follow the instructions manual on how to separate the base from the other parts and put them aside for cleaning. By now, you should have your water tank, the frame, filters, and the other parts separate. 

The next step involves cleaning the filter.

To clean the impurities on the filter, use running water that is cool or cold. You can place it on a clean, dry towel and let it dry as you move on to the other parts. When cleaning a humidifier filter, you ought to note that using cleansers can destroy your filters, and therefore, use clean water or tap water to rinse the dirt off to be on the safe side. Additionally, some models may require you to change your filters for the machine to function effectively. Be sure to check the details from the manufacturer's instructions. 

Clean the humidifier tank

Before you clean a humidifier tank, you need to pour the water previously used out. After that, you need to put 3 cups of vinegar or the amount that will fill up the tank. You can swish the contents around to make sure that the sides and the bottom parts are fully covered and leave it for 30 minutes or an hour. Vinegar is a cleaning product responsible for loosening buildups and grime at the bottom and the walls of the water tank. After the 1-hour lapses, come back and scrub your water tank using a toothbrush or a brush with soft bristles to remove grime, molds and descale it. Remember grime accumulates as water sits in the tan for a long time. Also, the bottom of your tank can have mineral deposits that are present in the water treatment components. White vinegar is the safest cleanser as it doesn't harm your family. Rinse your tank thoroughly with plenty of running water only if you scrub off all the grime.

Clean the base

To clean your base or the frame, you need a sponge dipped in a water and vinegar solution. Remember that due to the high level of humidity in your house, there can be mold buildups. Washing the base with a vinegar solution and a sponge ensures that you clean mold that might have accumulated. Vinegar is one of the antimicrobial cleaning products that prevents any bacteria and mold from getting into your water tank from the surface.

Clean the other removable parts 

After disassembling your humidifier, place all the removable parts inside a bowl filled with vinegar. White vinegar removes all the grime stuck on their surfaces and keeps them clean. You can wipe off the parts using a sponge to scrub any impurities, then rinse thoroughly using clean running water. When you are clean, place them on a clean, dry towel.

Reassemble the parts

Following the manufacturer’s instructions, place all the parts back together carefully, each in its place for your machine to function effectively.

Disinfect your machine

This step is crucial for disinfecting your humidifier. If you were wondering where all the other products come in, now is the time. There are several steps to disinfecting your machine. You can use a bleach solution or hydrogen peroxide alternatively. You need to be extra cautious when using chemicals. Some of the precautions you should take include: 

Never mix bleach with either hydrogen peroxide or bleach as the reactions can produce harmful by-products. 

Never leave bleach in your machine for more than an hour or the recommended time, as this can destroy your humidifier.

Rinse your tank thoroughly before placing it back on the frame or the base.

Disinfecting using water and bleach solution: 

Place a teaspoon of bleach in a gallon of water and pour it inside the water tank. Leave for a full hour to sanitize the tank, pour it, and rinse thoroughly with clean running water.

Using Hydrogen Peroxide

The procedure is similar to when using bleach. Put the recommended few cups of hydrogen peroxide inside the water tank and gently swish it to cover the entire inside of the tank. Leave the hydrogen peroxide to sanitize the water tank for the recommended one hour, pour it out and rinse the tank under clean, cold running water.

Using Vinegar

You will need a cup of vinegar and a gallon of water, mix them and pour them into the tank. Plugin the machine and let it run outside the house to prevent your indoor air from smelling like vinegar. After an hour, pour out the rest of the solution, rinse the tank with clean running water. Pour fresh water into the tank and run the humidifier for another one hour. Pour the water and rinse it again with fresh running water. Now your humidifier is clean and disinfected to give your home quality air.

Cleaning tips

Often change the water.  

Mineral deposits usually collect at the sides and the bottom of the tank if you leave the water unchanged for a long time. It's recommendable to change the water every day to prevent the growth of bacteria and mineral deposits that are hard to clean.

Clean your machine after three days

Don't worry about repeating the tedious process every three. You only need to rinse your humidifier using vinegar or bleach. You can clean the machine deeply after long periods, preferably after two weeks.

Dry areas near the humidifier more often

Humidity levels in areas around your machine are often very moist. The moisture can create a suitable breeding ground for mold and bacteria. 

The bottom line, do your research on the best humidifier. You can get recommendations from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or check out some of the best humidifiers from Honeywell. Clean your machine well more regularly, and it will give you the best results.