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You are here: Home / How Tos / Cleaning / How To Clean A Humidifier with Vinegar and Bleach

How To Clean A Humidifier with Vinegar and Bleach

There are several ways to clean a humidifier, in which from basic quick clean to a deeper sanitizing process. All of which, depending on your unit’s model, might be a bit different. Please refer to your device’s manual instruction for any extra help.

Humidifier weekly cleaning routine

To ensure your humidifier operates smoothly, apart from frequent changing new water (every 1-3 days), a weekly cleaning routine should be performed. This is to ensure no build-up, logging, mold, or dark spot that would affect the water quality and hence release air-borne bacteria.

Cleaning humidifier wthi vinegar

What will you need:

  • Cleaning Vinegar (the cheapest one)
  • Warm water
  • Cleaning or terry cloth
  • Cleaning brush (say old toothbrushes)
  1. Start by disconnecting power, disassembling any removable humidifier parts: water tank, base, vent, and filter if existed.
  2. Empty out all the remaining water inside the tank and base.
  3. Fill the water tank halfway with warm water then add 2 Tbsp of vinegar, screw-close cap, and shake a few times to let the solution soak through. Set aside.
  4. Make a solution of warm water and vinegar with a ratio of 1:1.
  5. Fill the humidifier base with the above solution.
  6. Soak the plastic vent(if exist) in that solution too.
  7. Let them both soak for 30 to 60 minutes, depend on how heavy the limescale or dirt on them.
  8. Under cold running water, rinse the water filter (if your unit model has one) to clean it off any residue inside.
  9. Blot it dry with terry cloth then set this filter out to air-dry.
  10. When done with soaking, start by shaking the water tank a couple of times.
  11. Drain out the water tank. Fill it up with tap water, shake, and clean.
  12. Rinse and repeat till the water tank is completely clean.
  13. For a wide-open mouth water tank, you can just slip your hand in and wet wipe clean with warm water and a towel.
  14. Let the tank sit to air dry.
  15. Now use a small brush or old toothbrush to scrub away any mold, dirt, or build up inside the base.
  16. Scrub and rinse the vent chute as well if your model has one.
  17. Then empty out the base and fill it up with some clean warm water.
  18. Use the terry cloth to wipe through if need.
  19. Fill and rinse one more time.
  20. Empty out any remaining water inside the base and let it air-dry completely.
  21. When all parts are dried completely, reassemble the humidifier to use.

How to deep clean or disinfect humidifier

Before or after each season of use, a throughout disinfected procedure should be carried out to eliminate any remaining mold, limescale, or dirt collected. This disinfection should also be used once in a while along with regular maintenance steps (above) as well if your unit becomes too dirty, contains odor or dark spot.

Cleaning humidifier with bleach

What will you need:

  • Bleach
  • Warm water
  • Cleaning or terry clothes
  • Old toothbrushes
  1. Disconnect the humidifier power and empty out all its water if any. If this is a start of season clean up, use a cloth to wipe clean any dirt collected outside.
  2. Fill the water tank halfway with warm water then add 2 Tbsp of vinegar, screw-close cap, and shake a few times to let the solution soak through then set aside.
  3. Make a solution of warm water and bleach (1 tsp bleach for every 1 gallon of water). Fill the humidifier base with the above solution.
  4. Use a cloth to wet through with diluted bleach solution to wipe through then cover over the vent chute(if exist in your unit).
  5. Let everything soak for 30 to 60 minutes, depend on how heavy the limescale or dirt on them.
  6. Under cold running water, rinse the water filter(if your unit model has one) to clean it off any residue inside.
  7. Blot the Filter dry with terry cloth then set this filter out to air-dry.
  8. When a soaking time is finished, start by shaking the water tank a couple of times.
  9. Then drain out the water tank. Fill it up with tap water, shake, and clean. Rinse and repeat till the water tank is completely clean.
  10. Let the tank sit to air dry.
  11. Switch to the base, use an old toothbrush to scrub away any mold, dirt, or build up inside the base. Scrub and rinse the vent chute as well if your model has one.
  12. Then empty out the base and fill it up with some clean warm water. Use the terry cloth to wipe through once more if needed.
  13. Fill the vase with clean water and rinse one more time.
  14. Empty out any remaining water inside the base, blot with a towel, and let it air-dry completely.
  15. When all parts are dried completely, reassemble the humidifier to use.

Keeping and maintaining your Humidifier clean can be cumbersome, but it’s an important task that you must perform frequently. This is to ensure of the quality of the air/mist the humidifier can pass out, it’s also to prevent mold and other contaminants.

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