How To Clean A Humidifier, Plus Tips For Maintaining And Replacing

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How to Clean and Maintain Your Humidifier

Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH — Written by Natalie Silver on November 7, 2019

Dangers of not cleaning
Humidifier basics
Cleaning
Maintenance
When to replace
Product considerations
Takeaways

Running a humidifier can be a great way to add moisture to dry indoor air. But keep in mind that dirty humidifiers can create a dangerous environment.

Uncleaned machines can emit harmful particles into the air. These can affect your respiratory health. Cleaning your humidifier regularly will reduce your risk of these unsafe particles entering the air and your lungs.

Keep reading to learn how to properly clean and maintain your humidifier, when to replace your humidifier, and what to consider when purchasing a new one.

Why you should clean your humidifier

A humidifier releases moisture into the air. This process can also release other particles, such as:

bacteria
molds
minerals
chemicals

The particles may be invisible to the eye or settle as white dust in your room.

Breathing in these elements can irritate your lungs. People with asthma and allergies may be especially prone to unwanted particles in the air.

But even those without these conditions can develop harmful symptoms from a dirty humidifier. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, you may experience flu-like symptoms or lung infections by running a poorly maintained machine.

Humidifier basics

Most humidifiers contain a tank, or reservoir, that you fill with water. These machines have other parts that help pump moisture into the air as well. These can include:

a fan
a wick
a filter
rotating disks

There are several types of humidifiers:

Central humidifiers. These are installed and humidify your entire home.
Cool mist humidifiers. These include portable impeller humidifiers and ultrasonic humidifiers that emit cool moisture.
Warm mist humidifiers. Like portable steam vaporizers, these heat water and then cool it before releasing it into the air.
Evaporators. These are portable and inexpensive and blow air on the water from a fan that releases through a wick, belt, or filter.

Each humidifier has strengths, but some are safer for certain situations than others. Read more about humidifier safety.

How to clean a humidifier

There are several ways to keep a humidifier clean. As a general rule, you should rinse and dry out your humidifier every day, and clean it more deeply every few days. Always unplug your machine before cleaning.

Follow these tips to avoid unwanted particles entering the air.

Wash and dry the humidifier after each use

Empty out the humidifier’s water basin between each use. Rinse out this part of the humidifier with soap and water every day. Dry the basin each time you replace the water. Make sure the humidifier is unplugged before cleaning it.

Read the manufacturer’s instructions

Before proceeding with deep cleaning your humidifier, first consult the manufacturer’s instructions. This will give you proper guidance on how to clean the humidifier as well as whether certain parts should be cleaned or replaced.

Permanently installed humidifiers may need to be serviced regularly by a professional or require special care.

Use the right cleaning products and tools

You may want to use a water and vinegar or hydrogen peroxide solution or another manufacturer-recommended cleaner every few days to clear the machine out of potential toxins.

The Environmental Protection Agency suggests that a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution may be useful for cleaning purposes.

Use a scrubbing brush to reach small areas of the machine to ensure the entire device gets cleaned. Watch for scales or other build-up when you clean and make sure to clear away any of it.

Thoroughly rinse the machine out with water before using it again if you use a cleaning solution.

Replace the filter

Some humidifier parts may need to be replaced on a regular basis. Central humidifiers and evaporators may have filters to replace or clean.

Review the instruction manual to find out how often to replace a filter or other parts. Consider purchasing a few additional filters to have on hand for easy replacement.

Use fresh distilled water for each use

Distilled water is largely free of minerals and other materials that may leave deposits in the humidifier and release particles into the air. Before purchasing water, make sure to read the label because not all bottled waters are distilled.

Keep the area around the humidifier dry

Avoid mold and other build-up in the humidifier by keeping the area surrounding the machine as dry as possible. Check upholstered furniture, rugs or carpet, and window treatments for moisture. Turn down, stop, or remove the humidifier from the area if the area is damp.

Clean it before and after storing

Make sure to deeply clean and thoroughly dry the humidifier before storing the machine for any length of time. Dispose of filters and other replaceable products. Store the humidifier in a dry area. Clean and dry the device again when getting it out of storage.

Best practices for maintaining your humidifier

Cleaning your humidifier every time you use it is the best way to maintain the machine. Here are a few other tips to keep in mind:

Do not allow the humidity to get above 50 percent in any room. Too much humidity can foster mold and bacteria growth. Use a hygrometer to measure humidity levels.
Empty, dry, and refill your humidifier each time you use it.
Use distilled water in your humidifier to reduce the spread of minerals in the air.
Stop using a humidifier immediately if you develop any breathing issues.

You can purchase a hygrometer for measuring indoor humidity levels online.

What might signify it’s time to get a new one?

Cleaning your humidifier regularly may keep out unwanted particles and mold growth, but you should consider replacing poorly maintained humidifiers or old machines. It’s not always possible to clean every part of a neglected or aging machine.

Additionally, if you notice mold or scale in your humidifier and can’t remove it with a heavy cleaning, it may be time to dispose of it and get a new one.

Recommendations for humidifiers

When you purchase a humidifier for your home, consider:

The size of the room. Find a humidifier that works best for your space.
Location of the humidifier. Children shouldn’t be near warm mist units because they could scald or burn them when touched.
Whether you can adjust the humidifier’s mist level. Look for extra features that may suit your needs, such as the ability to adjust mist levels.
The portability of the machine. Some humidifiers work for travel, while others may be too bulky to move from room to room regularly.
Customer reviews and consumer ratings. Find out whether the humidifier is easy to clean and maintain before purchasing. See what others have said about it.

Key takeaways

There are a variety of humidifiers available for purchase that all require regular cleaning. Ignoring routine maintenance may put your health at risk because mold, bacteria, and other particles can enter the air and your body.

Consider replacing old or neglected humidifiers. When choosing a new humidifier, look at the many options available to select the right one for your needs.

Contact your doctor immediately if you notice any respiratory issues developing during humidifier use.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Dirty humidifiers may cause health problems. (n.d.).https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/5046.pdf
Hoecker JL. (2019). When should I use a cool-mist humidifier versus a warm-mist humidifier for a child with a cold?https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/expert-answers/cool-mist-humidifiers/faq-20058199
How you can tell if you need a humidifier. (2019).https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-you-can-tell-if-you-need-a-humidifier/
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2019). Humidifiers: Air moisture eases skin, breathing symptoms.https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/in-depth/humidifiers/art-20048021
Use and care of home humidifiers. (1991).https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-08/documents/humidifier_factsheet.pdf

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Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH — Written by Natalie Silver on November 7, 2019

How To Clean A Humidifier, Plus Tips For Maintaining And Replacing

Why you should clean your humidifier

Humidifier basics

How to clean a humidifier

Wash and dry the humidifier after each use

Read the manufacturer’s instructions

Use the right cleaning products and tools

Replace the filter

Use fresh distilled water for each use

Keep the area around the humidifier dry

Clean it before and after storing

Best practices for maintaining your humidifier

What might signify it’s time to get a new one?

Recommendations for humidifiers

Key takeaways

How we reviewed this article:

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