How to Clean and Disinfect a Humidifier?

How to Clean and Disinfect a Humidifier? Humidifiers help maintain ideal indoor humidity levels for the health of your family and pets. But, of course, this necessity comes with a few caveats.

On occasion, dust and dried pet hair can build up on the filter, which looks unsightly and can block humidity inlet holes and get sucked into the machine. To avoid problems like these, cleaning and disinfecting your humidifier regularly is important.

Ways to Clean and Disinfect a Humidifier

Cleaning Steam Wands

A steam wand is the essence of a humidifier, as it creates steam and distributes it throughout your home. The fact that this piece is constantly in contact with bacteria, germs, and viruses makes regular cleaning so important.

To keep yourself from getting sick, wipe down the entire steam wand and the hose while the machine is running by using a towel covered in warm water and soap or Lysol wipes.

Using a steam cleaner on the humidifier is another option if you do not own a humidifier-cleaning supply. However, a steam cleaner place cannot be inside your home, or the humidifier may clog. If you have bought a steam cleaner but don’t know how to use it, take it back to the store and return it for a replacement.

Cleaning Hoses

The appliance’s hoses are also very important in maintaining your health. They should be cleaned frequently to prevent bacteria buildup. For example, routinely removing the hoses and filling them with hot water with a chlorine bleach solution will keep them clean and sanitary while maintaining their elasticity.

Wash The Humidifier Tank

When learning how to clean a humidifier, this step may sound more like a chore than a necessity, but it’s important to do it regularly to avoid bacteria growth in your humidifier over time. The tank is where all your water evaporates and goes into your indoor unit. You should do it at least once a week and it can last longer than that if you keep it clean.

To wash it, fill your sink with hot water and add vinegar to it to fill it at least halfway. Next, remove your humidifier from the unit and wrap a few rags around the bottom, so water doesn’t leak through. After that, submerge it in the water for about 20 minutes.

The vinegar will loosen any mold from inside your humidifier and scour away bacteria from the inside. Once that’s done, rinse out thoroughly with clean water and finish drying completely with paper towels before replacing your humidifier with its base.

Cleaning Filters

The filter is an important element of your humidifier that removes impurities from the water your humidifier collects. It’s important to clean your humidifier filter regularly, but many people don’t know it can be done by hand.

To do this, remove the filter from the inside and set it in a bowl with warm soapy water before wiping it down with a clean cloth. Then, rinse with warm water several times to remove any soap residue and complete your cleaning process. After that, replace the filter in its slot in your unit.

Alternatively, to clean your filter, use a warm mix of water and vinegar, then allow time to dry before you put the filter back into place.

If you can’t do this because your filter is solid, gently remove it from its slot and soak it in a warm solution of vinegar and water for an hour or two. Also, every three months, replace filters when suggested by the manufacturer.

Clean The Humidifier Base

This step is easy but often overlooked when determining how to disinfect a humidifier, as it’s often the last part of your humidifier cleaning process. However, cleaning the base of your unit can help prevent mold growth and bacteria from growing in the base over time.

Take a dry rag or cloth and thoroughly wipe down your humidifier’s bottom before replacing it. This will also ensure that any remaining water is completely dried out, removing any chances of mold growth.

Clean The Inside Of The Indoor Unit

The inside of the indoor unit is also an important part of your humidifier, as it’s where water evaporates into the air for breathing. To clean the inside of your humidifier, remove the filter below it. Next, insert a cloth or paper towel into the unit’s opening.

Press down on it to push any water out and then remove it. Use your dry mop to dry out all remaining moisture inside the unit, and make sure that no moisture is left behind that could cause mold growth.

Clean Your Humidifier Wick

The wick serves an essential purpose, delivering water to the humidifier and dispersing it into the air. Cleaning it will help extend its lifespan and prevent mold growth inside your humidifier.

You can do this by soaking a clean cloth in white vinegar and running it through the wick several times until completely soaked through with vinegar. Once dry, you can store it inside your humidifier to prevent bacteria from growing.

Clean The Humidifier Water Line

There are two parts to the humidifier water line, and both must be cleaned if you want to keep your humidifier functioning smoothly. This is easier than you think and will help extend your humidifier’s lifespan.

To clean the water line, pour white vinegar into the opening and slowly run it through it using a paper towel or cloth to prevent mold or bacteria from growing in the water line. After that, please do the same thing with warm, soapy water and wipe down your entire unit so that it’s clean and dry before replacing everything.

How to Clean and Disinfect a Humidifier? – Conclusion

In conclusion, steam, a humidifier’s primary source of humidity, can soak into walls and floors, making cleaning difficult. While removing moisture from a humidifier is not recommended to clean it properly, there are some precautions you can take to stop your home from becoming heavily contaminated.

Humidifiers need cleaning just as much as they need maintenance. They collect bacteria that make your household sick and produce germs daily. So be sure that you are taking care of this essential item which operates day and night.