How to Disinfect Your Humidifier

How to Disinfect Your Humidifier

Clean your humidifier regularly to prevent mold and mildew growth, as well as mineral deposits. To disinfect your humidifier, start by unplugging it and emptying the water tank(s).

Then, mix four parts of water to one part 3% hydrogen peroxide in the tank and swish it around to coat the inside of the tank. Empty the solution, rinse and dry the tank and base before reassembling your humidifier.

Vinegar

Many people use vinegar as their primary natural cleaning product, and for good reason. It’s great at removing hard water stains and mineral deposits. It can also be used to disinfect objects like humidifiers, which may have a tendency to breed bacteria or mold if left dirty for extended periods of time.

Vinegar is a kitchen staple, and you might be surprised to learn it has quite the history as a health and beauty product, too. It’s been used by ancient Babylonians, Egyptians and Romans for flavoring and preserving food. And today, you’ll still find it in most homes, in a variety of colorful bottles tucked away in the pantry.

When using vinegar as a disinfectant, make sure to do so as directed by your manufacturer’s instructions. For instance, you should always use full-strength distilled vinegar rather than white wine or apple cider vinegar. The latter two can leave behind an unpleasant residue. It’s also important to empty and refill your humidifier with fresh water every few days, as the minerals in regular tap water can disperse into the air and promote the growth of bacteria. When re-filling your humidifier, you should opt for distilled water to prevent this issue. As a bonus, distilled water doesn’t contain any of the impurities that can cause mineral buildup in your humidifier over time.

Baking Soda

Baking soda isn’t just for grandma’s chocolate chip cookies; it’s a powerful disinfection humidifier household cleaning product. It absorbs odors, erases tough stains and cleans surfaces without damaging them. It’s also inexpensive and readily available. If you’re in a pinch, consider using baking soda to deodorize and clean your humidifier.

Quick and Effective Odor Neutralizer

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a natural odor neutralizer, which makes it an easy and quick way to mitigate foul odors that circulate through your air vents. It’s an especially useful solution if you have guests arriving soon and need a quick, one-time fix.

It may be a bit more costly than buying an air odorizer, but baking soda is a natural, non-toxic and effective alternative. It can be placed in air vents throughout your home to absorb moisture and odors.

It’s also a great choice for kitchens and bathrooms. Mix a few tablespoons of baking soda with water to make a paste. Apply the paste to grimy surfaces and scrub them thoroughly. Baking soda can also erase tough stains from stainless steel sinks, microwaves, range hoods and cooking utensils.

Most of us know that we should keep a box of baking soda in the refrigerator to absorb lingering food odors. But it’s a natural, inexpensive and effective refrigerator deodorizer that can be used on other surfaces in your kitchen as well. It can even remove rust, dirt and the waxy coating on fruits and vegetables that tend to stick in your fridge.

Bleach

In addition to vinegar, bleach can kill bacteria and sanitize a humidifier. However, it is important to note that bleach and vinegar should never be mixed as they can react and produce toxic gas.

Before cleaning with bleach, be sure to put on a pair of rubber gloves, as this solution is harsh and can irritate skin. Pour a gallon of water with one teaspoon of liquid bleach into the tank and allow it to sit for an hour to completely sanitize the interior. After an hour, remove the solution and rinse well with several rounds of clean water.

Once the inside of the humidifier is clean, a soft-bristled brush dipped in white vinegar can be used to scrub down all surfaces. A toothbrush can be particularly helpful for reaching all those hard-to-reach places and corners. Once the scrubbing is done, all surfaces should be thoroughly rinsed with water and allowed to dry completely.

It is also a good idea to empty the humidifier’s water tank and refill it with fresh distilled water daily, as bacteria can grow in standing water. Drake recommends adding a few drops of essential oil to the water, such as tea tree or eucalyptus, which have disinfecting properties and can leave the humidifier smelling pleasant. However, it is important to remember that you cannot add essential oils to the water while the humidifier is in use.

Water

Humidifier water treatment systems prevent the escalation and precipitation of minerals in the water. This enables the heat transfer surfaces to remain free of deposits that reduce efficiency and cause maintenance problems. They are most effective when applied before the minerals reach concentration levels that threaten the integrity of the humidifier’s metal and plastic components.

Humidiifier cleaning is important to keep the air clean disinfection humidifier company in your home, especially if you have any health issues that make breathing contaminants difficult. Using disinfectants like vinegar, baking soda, and bleach can help remove germs and keep your humidifier working properly. It is also important to empty and rinse the water tank on a daily basis to prevent bacteria and mineral buildup.

One natural way to disinfect your humidifier is to use distilled water. This will eliminate the minerals and other contaminants in your tap water that can promote bacteria growth, create white dust and leave stubborn mineral deposits.

To clean your humidifier with distilled water, first empty the tank and basin. Then rinse the inside of the tank and basin with a mixture of water and vinegar. Rinse the tank and basin well, and let them dry completely before refilling them. You may also need to clean the outside of the container with a damp cloth. Once the humidifier is clean, you can plug it in and begin enjoying cleaner, healthier air.