Some areas experience a very cold and dry environment, especially during the winter. Such weather may not be so friendly to you. This is why having a humidifier in your house is a good choice to make. Today, we’ll learn how to clean a humidifier.
Before indulging in the procedure of cleaning a humidifier, let’s take a look at the relevance of having a humidifier in a room.
Benefits of a humidifier
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Prevents the spread of airborne viruses.
Increasing the humidity levels in a room prevents the spread of airborne diseases. A humidifier is used to increase the humidity levels and moisture slows down the movement of airborne toxic particles. Consequently, airborne viruses don’t spread.
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It keeps your home warm
Research has shown that one feels warmer in humidified compared to dry air. As highlighted above, moisture levels in a house increase when the humidifier is turned on. This is an excellent way of saving on heating bills.
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Protects skin from dryness
The dryness that comes along with the cold weather is harsh to your skin. To prevent your skin from drying out, you can make use of a humidifier to increase the moisture levels of your home or office. The moisture assists in eliminating chapped lips, dry skin, and eye irritation.
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Helps in avoiding static
During dry winter months, static electricity is often experienced. It can be annoying when found on frizzy hair and laundry. Furthermore, static electricity can produce sparks that aren’t safe with flammable gases, and can also damage sensitive electronics.
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May alleviate allergy symptoms
The newer models of humidifiers can be set to a specific humidity level that will work well for the user. This allows the creating of favorable conditions that assist in relieving allergy symptoms. High humidity levels can assist in soothing nasal passages and throat tissues providing a more comfortable environment to the affected person.
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The necessity of Cleaning A Humidifier
- A humidifier should be kept clean to maintain optimum performance. When the unit is not properly cleaned and maintained, it doesn’t last long as its parts are prone to breaking down easily. You end up spending more for repair, and at some point, it breaks down completely.
- Failure to clean a humidifier may cause the spreading of mold and harmful bacteria. Water accumulated in the humidifier tank forms a breeding ground for bacteria. These toxic microorganisms might end up in your lungs when you activate the humidifier.
How to Clean a Humidifier
Below is a procedure that you can easily follow as you clean your humidifier.
Requirements
- Plenty of water
- Gloves and goggles
- Bleach or hydrogen peroxide
- White vinegar
- Clean towels
- A soft-bristle brush
There are different models of humidifiers in the market, most of them just have an operating base and water tank, while others have additional pieces. This should not worry you as we are providing a general procedure that can work for all.
Nevertheless, it’s crucial to read through the instructions provided by your manufacturer regarding its cleaning to ensure that you’ve noted every highlighted caution. Ensure you wear a pair of rubber gloves when dealing with chemicals. You shouldn’t use abrasive brushes or detergents to clean your humidifier, to avoid damage. You can use the same procedure to clean a moldy humidifier though you’ll have to scrub harder.
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Steps of cleaning a humidifier
Unplug the humidifier from the wall, and disassemble it completely. Remove the water tank and empty it appropriately. Move to the base part, and unlock any removable parts. Unlock the parts depending on the instructions provided for your particular model. Place the parts in a distinctive way for easy recognition. Some humidifiers have filters, so, if there is one in your humidifier, you should remove it as well. Clean it using cool running water, and leave it to air dry.
You can now focus on the base of the humidifier. Put enough vinegar into it. Ensure that all the areas that come into contact with water have been filled up well. Put more vinegar in a large container, and soak the smaller washable parts. Let them soak for 30 minutes for proper breakdown of the dirt. Use the soft brush to remove the residue that is stuck on the unit. Most of the manufacturers, provide a soft brush for this purpose. If you were not provided with one, then you can just use any other soft-bristled brush can be used. Smaller brushes are good for cleaning hard to reach areas.
Step 3 could be done alongside step two since it involves disinfecting the tank that also requires 30 minutes. Have a mixture of 1 teaspoon of bleach to 1 gallon of water. With the ratio, have the tank half-filled, and swirl it around. This ensures that the inside is coated completely. 3% of hydrogen peroxide can be used to substitute for bleach.
Use tap water to rinse the tank, the base, and other components thoroughly. Shake them well to get rid of all the moisture. The smell of the cleansers may stick for some time, but it dissipates with time. Lay all the parts on a clean ground to air dry, then use the clean towels to dry them completely.
When completely dry, you can begin reassembling the parts. Reassemble them carefully to ensure that the performance of the humidifier isn’t affected. Fill up the tank with clean mineral-free water. Connect it back to the power and enjoy the benefits of the humidifier once more.
Tips on the maintenance and proper usage of a humidifier
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Clean the humidifier once per week
When you’re using the humidifier regularly, it’s recommended that you clean using the above steps at least once in a week. This ensures that no bacteria or mold spores are released in the air, thus everyone in the home is provided with clean air.
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Use distilled water
Avoid using tap water in the humidifiers, this is because it contains minerals that are also released in the air as the humidifier is on operation. When the minerals are released alongside water vapor, white dust forms on the surfaces of the room making it unappealing. This can also encourage the growth of bacteria as it’s at times difficult to clean the deposits.
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Regularly rinse the water basin
Rinsing should be done every time before putting the humidifier into use. this ensures that any bacteria that may have formed in the water is eliminated. You may fail to disinfect it daily, but you should ensure that you add fresh water every time you need to use the humidifier.
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Clean and drain it before storage
When the season that requires the humidifier is over, you should deep clean the humidifier and dry it completely to prevent the formation of mold.
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Replace the filter
For better performance of the humidifier, you can replace the filter after every 30 to 60 days. This is dependent on how frequently the humidifier is used and the condition of the filter. A bad odor is an obvious sign that your filter requires urgent replacement.
To enjoy the benefits of a humidifier for a long period, you have to sacrifice a bit of your time and money for cleaning, disinfecting and maintenance. This will make it durable and maintain its good performance at all times. With that, you will enjoy a healthy and comfortable environment at all times.
How to disinfect a humidifier
As highlighted above disinfecting a humidifier is very crucial for ensuring that clean air is circulating in the room by killing any bacteria that may be present in the humidifier. Follow the steps below for an effective disinfecting.
- Disassemble the humidifier as it is in the cleaning procedure.
- With one teaspoon of liquid chlorine, you should mix with one gallon of water. Use ½ to ¾ of the bleach solution in the water tank. Ensure that the entire area of the tank is covered with bleach.
- If there are two tanks in your humidifier, you should do the same to that tank
- Have the tank placed in the base. Ensure that the bleach solution is draining into the water reservoir. Leave it for about 15 to 20 minutes for better results.
- Pour out the bleach solution and ensure the water reservoir is well-drained. Carefully rinse it with clean water until you can feel the smell of the bleach.
- Dry all the parts carefully and reassemble it.
Cleaning a Dehumidifier is easy, isn’t it?
Your dehumidifier will perform optimally and you’ll get value for money by following these easy tips. Bookmark these article for your next cleaning session.