Humidifiers are an all-season staple. They work by releasing water vapor into the air to increase humidity levels. They are helpful when it gets too dry around your home or office.
The recommended relative humidity for most homes is around 30-50%. Humidifiers can maintain these levels during dry months. Humidifiers are a proven solution to combat the cold, dry air that contributes to dry skin, chapped lips, and an itchy throat.
If you own a humidifier, you know it’s tough to keep it clean. It’s constantly spreading water droplets and dust particles into your home, which can cause all sorts of problems.
If you’re thinking of buying one of these appliances (or you’re already using one), it’s essential to know how to clean HoMedicss humidifiers to ensure you get the most out of them. But before that, you have to know Why You need to clean HoMedics humidifiers?
Why Do You Need to Clean Your HoMedics Humidifiers?
The importance of cleaning HoMedics humidifiers is not only just for your humidifier; it is also vital for your health. A dirty humidifier leads to countless problems with your air quality. To keep everyone healthy, clean your humidifier at least once a week.
A neglected humidifier can spray harmful pollutants into the air in your home. That will make humidity levels more uncomfortable and expose you to toxins.
Here are the Consequences of Why You need to clean HoMedics humidifiers
Mold
Remember that your elegant-looking humidifier can hide mold and yeast very well.
This accumulation mainly occurs on
- the vent
- Inside the humidifier’s water tank or
- Fan blades
Mold and mildew like damp, dark places. That is why your humidifier can be the best playground to roam. In addition to cleaning the water reservoir, remember that water can get into other humidifier parts that you can’t see. So you have to clean the entire machine regularly in a proper way. Be aware that your humidifier can cause mold on the walls.
Even if you can’t see harmful mold spores on the inside surface of your humidifier, they can still contaminate the air. When too much humidity or moisture accumulates, mold will begin to grow on porous surfaces, such as window sills and walls.
Pro tip:- to keep your Humidifier mold-free, try to clean it in the right way regularly.
Odors
A humidifier with lots of molds can smell like vinegar or a musty basement which is very annoying. An unpleasant odor will naturally come out whenever it sprays moisture into the air. If you clean your humidifier correctly, you can eliminate these nasty odors.
Dirt and debris
Even invisible particles of dust, dirt, and debris can affect your humidifier, clogging the spray and creating wear. It makes your humidifier non-effective. That’s why it can’t spray water correctly into the air.
It is the right time to react if you are using it in your dry or uncomfortable room.
Benefits of Proper Cleaned Humidifier
Humidifiers are beneficial for many reasons. They help combat dry air. They have many health benefits, such as
- Relieve symptoms of colds, coughs, flu, allergies, sinusitis, nosebleeds, and hay fever.
- Improves the air quality in the home
- Improves skin health
- Healing essential oils are a great source of inhaling.
- Soothe and prevent dry, chapped skin and chapped or chapped lips.
- It helps babies sleep peacefully.
- Helps to deal with bronchial problems from cold weather
But if you don’t clean a humidifier regularly, it’s a prime breeding ground for bacteria and mold that is returned to the air you breathe. Not such a good combination.
Also Check: Dehumidifier Blowing Hot Air? – Things to Check Now
How to Clean HoMedics Humidifier: 4 Proper Steps
Whenever the air in your room becomes uncomfortable and dry, humidifiers can be a lifesaver for you for sure. But the device that keeps you from waking up with dry sinuses, dry skin, or a scratchy throat may pump more than just fog into the air. Without regular cleaning, humidifiers can become prime breeding grounds for mold and other germs, which are then released into the air and water vapor.
These air pollutants can be your best friend if you are problematic with allergies, asthma, or other breathing issues. To stop spreading bacteria around your home, you must be very careful about cleaning HoMedics umidifiers. Here we discussed some expert tips and advice about step-by-step guides about that.
Although it is essential to notice manufacturer institutions about the specificity of your humidifier model, the method we share here mainly works for all types of machines, including cool mist and warm mist humidifiers. Follow our instructions about How to clean HoMedics humidifiers.
Requirements (equipment)
- White distilled vinegar
- Liquid chlorine bleach
- Soft-bristled brush or toothbrush
- Water
Step 1: Disassemble Humidifier
First, you need to take apart your humidifier to make sure you thoroughly clean all the parts of the humidifier. Unplug the humidifier, empty the water chamber and detach all the removable parts, including the air filter, if any. If the filter forms a hard crust or smells, that is the right time to replace that one.
Step 2: Clean Humidifier with Vinegar
Let’s pour enough white vinegar into your humidifier to clean the area that comes into contact with the water the most. Depending on the size of your humidifier, you can use concentrated vinegar or dilute it with some warm water. But it also depends upon how long you soak it while cleaning. Place small pieces like a tank cap all into the solution rather than large parts. You can fill the solution in large pieces for soaking. Wait at least 20 minutes for the vinegar to clean and break down any scale buildup.
Then empty your humidifier into a sink and use a soft-bristled brush or toothbrush to clean the further residues. A toothbrush can easily reach hard-to-reach corners and crevices for scrubbing, or a brush with a flexible head.
Step 3: Disinfect Humidifier
After cleaning the humidifier with vinegar, you need to disinfect it to kill any lingering bacteria. To do that, mix one teaspoon of liquid chlorine bleach with 1 gallon of cold water and fill the humidifier tank in half. Rub the solution to coat the inside and outside, and let it sit for 20 minutes.
Step 4: Rinse with Water and Let Dry
Place each piece of humidifier under running tap water and rinse it thoroughly several times until the pungent smell of bleach is gone totally. Let the parts under the sun dry and disinfect them before you resemble them. Repeat this cleaning process at least once a week and before storing at the end of the dry season.
How to Disinfect a Humidifier Properly?
Cleaning is not enough for your humidifier when it comes out of storage. You need to disinfect before use. Many bacteria, molds, and viruses can be present even though they are not visible. Before storing a humidifier, you should clean, sterilize and dry it, so it is away from the packaging.
When using your humidifier regularly, you can get rid of germs and prohibit the growth of bacteria and mold when you sterilize the humidifier. Use one of these disinfectants in your humidifier water tank daily and enjoy clean, healthy indoor air.
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Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil has been used as a natural antibacterial, antifungal, and disinfectant for centuries. Add five drops of tea tree oil to the full water tank for a cool mist humidifier and set it for half an hour. After that, rinse the tank and let it dry. A warm mist humidifier not only disinfects your humidifier’s water tank but also helps reduce your breathing problem. Add five drops of tea tree oil into the water tank and let it turn on.
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Distilled White Vinegar
White vinegar is a safe, naturally antibacterial, antimicrobial solution that can sanitize a humidifier and other appliances. Fill your humidifier’s tank with distilled white vinegar and set it for half an hour. Rinse the water tank and let it air dry before putting the humidifier back together.
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Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a safe and effective natural disinfectant to help prevent mold. Mix four parts of water to one aspect of 3% hydrogen peroxide in the humidifier tank. Let them sit for half an hour, then rinse them and let them air dry before reassembling them.
Also Check: Top 6 Best Dehumidifiers for Garage to Choose [Buying Guide]
FAQs
Q. Are Humidifiers Good for the Bedroom?
Yes. But don’t use it too much, as high humidity can worsen allergies and asthma. However, adding moisture to dry air can help relieve coughing or congestion.
Q. Should You Sleep With a Humidifier Every Night?
A humidifier can help reduce dryness and is a great way to keep your air moist. Yes, it is good to sleep with a humidifier, but some precautions should be taken before sleeping through the night every weekend. Remember to filter or use distilled water instead of the municipal supply (which may contain chemicals). This process will ensure that both the humidifier and you stay healthy.
Q.How do you know if humidifier is dirty?
It is really important to know Whether your humidifier is dirty to avoid any illness. If you found film or scum on the water surface, or nearby tank and motor, it is a sign of bacteria or fungi accumulated. You need to take action immediately.
Q. How Often Should I Clean My Humidifier?
It’s best to give your humidifier a quick clean once every week. Not only to keep it running smoothly but also to extend its life.
Q. How to Keep My Humidifier Mold Free?
To keep you dehumidifier, you need to schedule your time daily for rinsing, towel-drying, and changing the water of tank. Plus, need to do some deep cleaning of base and water tank. Also, replacing the filter and winks according to manufacturing guidelines.
Q. When Should You Use a Humidifier?
- If the humidity is below 30 percent.
- When the day seems cool and dry. And your sinuses are itchy or burning with irritation.
- When allergy season is coming, and you’re having trouble breathing.
Q. Can You Get Sick From a Dirty Humidifier?
Humidifiers have many health benefits, but the downside is that they can worsen your asthma or allergies when not cleaned properly. So clean your humidifier regularly to keep the air in your room healthy.
Conclusion
Humidifiers are a great addition to any home during the cold winter months. But you should clean your humidifier at least once a week because bacteria grow quickly. And it smells terrible that time and makes the air quality poor for those around them. That’s why we share How to clean HoMedics humidifiers straightforwardly. With all the steps and cleaning methods above, you can easily clean your ultrasonic humidifier without mess.
Make sure, whenever you use it, to keep the water in the tank from standing for a short time. Refill the humidifier water tank regularly before using it at night. So remember to clean your humidifier regularly for a healthy home.
