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Home and Garden
Home Appliances
Humidity Appliances
How to Clean a Vicks Humidifier Co-authored by Victor Belavus
Last Updated: January 30, 2026 References
Rinsing the Humidifier Daily
|
Deep-Cleaning the Humidifier Weekly
|
Disinfecting the Water Reservoir Monthly
|
Expert Q&A
|
Warnings
|
Things You'll Need
|Show more|Show less X
This article was co-authored by Victor Belavus. Victor Belavus is an Air Conditioning Specialist and the Owner of 212 HVAC, an air condition repair and installation company based in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to HVAC and air conditioning units, Victor also specializes in furnace repair and air duct cleaning. He has over 10 years of experience working with HVAC systems. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 104,770 times.
A Vicks humidifier can be a godsend when you’ve got the flu, a nasty cold, or sinus issues. They use special filters to remove contaminants from the air and contaminants from your water can build up into scaly deposits over time. Fortunately, cleaning your Vicks Cool Mist humidifier is actually really easy. Rinse the humidifier daily to keep it lasting longer, and do a nice deep-cleaning at least once a week to remove any scale deposits. We’ll even show you how to make a DIY vinegar cleaning solution to disinfect the water tank and tray monthly to prevent bacteria build up.
Descaling & Disinfecting the Humidifier
To descale, fill the tank with 1 cup (237 mL) of distilled white vinegar. Place the tank on the base so the vinegar fills the reservoir. Wait 30 minutes, pour out the vinegar, and wipe away loosened deposits. Rinse with water. To disinfect, repeat this process with 1 gal (3.8 L) of water and 1 tsp (5 mL) of bleach.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 3:
Rinsing the Humidifier Daily
1 Place the humidifier on a flat surface. Make sure the humidifier is turned off and unplug it. Set it on a clean, flat surface like a table or a countertop. Make sure you have enough space to clean the humidifier.[1]X Expert Source Victor BelavusAir Conditioning SpecialistExpert Interview
Make sure the surface is flat and even to keep water from running off the sides.
2 Remove the water tank and water tray. Both pieces are attached to the base of the humidifier. Take off the water tank first, which will allow you to slide out the tray. Be careful not to damage the filter when you remove the tank and tray.[2]XResearch source
If your humidifier doesn’t have a tank, remove the top housing and lay it upside down on a flat surface. Make sure you don’t rest the housing on the water tube or you could damage it.
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3 Empty the tank and flush it with warm water. Unscrew the cap on the water tank and empty the water into a sink. Flush the container with clean, warm water. Shake the container to slosh the water around inside of it.[3]XResearch source
Use warm, but not hot water to flush the tank. Hot water could melt or warp the plastic.
If your humidifier doesn’t have a water tank, empty the base of any remaining water and wipe it down with a clean rag or paper towel to dry it off.
4 Wipe down the water tank with a dry cloth or paper towel. Take a clean cloth or a few paper towels to the exterior of the water tank and any other areas that may have gotten water on it. If any other parts of the humidifier are dusty or dirty, use the damp cloth or paper towel to wipe them down.[4]XResearch source
Safety Warning: Be sure to remove all of the water from the tank or it could cause an electric shock.
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 3:
Deep-Cleaning the Humidifier Weekly
1 Empty the water tank and flush it with warm water. Remove the water tank, unscrew the cap, and empty any water inside of it. Then add some warm water to the tank and shake it around to flush it. Set the tank off to the side until you’re finished cleaning the humidifier.[5]XResearch source
Place the tank upside-down to allow any additional water to run out of it.
2 Turn on the humidifier to allow air to flow through the filter. With the tank still removed, turn on the humidifier. When the wicking filter is completely dry, turn off the humidifier and unplug it.
It should take about 10-15 minutes for the filter to dry out.
If your humidifier doesn’t have a removable tank, turn off the humidifier and unplug it. Then remove the top housing, and dump out any water left inside. Wipe it down dry with a cloth or a paper towel.
3 Lift the filter from the water tray. Gently pull the filter straight up to remove it without tearing it. The filter should be completely dry before you try to remove it. If it isn’t dry, wait another 5 minutes.[6]XResearch source
Tip: Some humidifiers use cartridge filters, which need to be replaced instead of cleaned.
4 Remove the water tray and pour 1 cup (240 mL) cup of vinegar into it. Slide out the water tray and set it aside. Pour the undiluted vinegar into the tray and allow it to sit for 30 minutes. The vinegar will loosen any scale deposits that may have built up over time.[7]X Expert Source Victor BelavusAir Conditioning SpecialistExpert Interview
For humidifiers that don’t have a removable tray, use a sponge soaked in vinegar and wipe the inside of the base. Then rinse it out with warm water.
Use distilled white vinegar.
5 Scrub the water tray to remove any scale deposits. After 30 minutes, take a sponge and scrub off any scale from the water tray. If the scale isn’t coming off, soak the tray in vinegar for another 30 minutes then scrub it again.[8]XResearch source
Use a sponge that has an abrasive side to scrub the tray.
6 Rinse the tray and pickup tube with warm water. Once you’ve scrubbed off the scale deposits, rinse off the water tray and the pickup tube that transfers the water from the tank. Use warm water that isn’t too hot. Dry off the tray, tank, and tube with a clean cloth or paper towels when you’re finished.[9]XResearch source
Make sure you rinse the inside and outside of the pickup tube.
Advertisement Method 3 Method 3 of 3:
Disinfecting the Water Reservoir Monthly
1 Fill the water tank with water and bleach. Mix together 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of bleach and 1 gallon (3.8 L) of warm water. Allow the water tank to soak for 20 minutes. Stir the water occasionally by gently shaking the container every few minutes to make sure the bleach reaches every part of the tank.[10]XResearch source
If you don’t have a removable water tank, add the bleach and water mixture to the water reservoir in the base.
2 Pour out the bleach water after 20 minutes. Remove the pickup tube and carefully pour out the bleach so it doesn’t get on any other parts of the humidifier. Pour the bleach into a sink or another safe disposal area.[11]XResearch source
If any of the bleach water splashes onto the humidifier, dry it off immediately with a cloth or paper towel.
Safety Precaution: Be careful not to breathe in the fumes from the bleach.
3 Rinse the water tank and the pickup tube until the bleach smell is gone. It’s important that you flush away all of the bleach from the humidifier. Use warm water to rinse the water tank repeatedly until you no longer smell any bleach at all. Make sure you flush the pickup tube as well.[12]XResearch source
Flush out the water reservoir in the base if your model doesn’t have a removable tank.
4 Dry off the entire humidifier. Use a clean, dry cloth or paper towels to dry any surface that got wet. It’s important that the exterior of the humidifier is completely dry before you plug it in and use it.[13]XResearch source
Let the humidifier air-dry for about 3-4 hours to make sure it’s fully dry.
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Expert Q&A
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Question What can I use to clean my Vicks humidifier? Victor Belavus Air Conditioning Specialist Victor Belavus is an Air Conditioning Specialist and the Owner of 212 HVAC, an air condition repair and installation company based in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to HVAC and air conditioning units, Victor also specializes in furnace repair and air duct cleaning. He has over 10 years of experience working with HVAC systems. Victor Belavus Air Conditioning Specialist Expert Answer You can use a combination of distilled white vinegar and water, or a mixture of citric acid and water to clean your humidifier. Soak the filter and tank in your cleaning solution for 15-60 minutes. Then, rinse the filter and tank with clean water before reassembling your humidifier. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 5 Helpful 5
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Warnings
You may want to wear protective rubber gloves when handling bleach. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Things You’ll Need
Dry cloth or paper towels
White vinegar
Bleach
Sponge with scrubbing surface
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References
↑ Victor Belavus. Air Conditioning Specialist. Expert Interview
Co-authored by: Victor Belavus Air Conditioning Specialist This article was co-authored by Victor Belavus. Victor Belavus is an Air Conditioning Specialist and the Owner of 212 HVAC, an air condition repair and installation company based in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to HVAC and air conditioning units, Victor also specializes in furnace repair and air duct cleaning. He has over 10 years of experience working with HVAC systems. This article has been viewed 104,770 times. 13 votes - 69% Co-authors: 5Updated: January 30, 2026 Views: 104,770 Categories: Humidity Appliances | Cleaning Home Appliances In other languages Spanish Japanese
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Victor Belavus Air Conditioning Specialist 13 votes - 69% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 5Updated: January 30, 2026 Views: 104,770
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Co-authored by: Victor Belavus Air Conditioning Specialist This article was co-authored by Victor Belavus. Victor Belavus is an Air Conditioning Specialist and the Owner of 212 HVAC, an air condition repair and installation company based in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to HVAC and air conditioning units, Victor also specializes in furnace repair and air duct cleaning. He has over 10 years of experience working with HVAC systems. This article has been viewed 104,770 times. 13 votes - 69% Co-authors: 5 Updated: January 30, 2026 Views: 104,770 Categories: Humidity Appliances | Cleaning Home Appliances In other languages Spanish Japanese 
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1 Place the humidifier on a flat surface. Make sure the humidifier is turned off and unplug it. Set it on a clean, flat surface like a table or a countertop. Make sure you have enough space to clean the humidifier.[1] 
2 Remove the water tank and water tray. Both pieces are attached to the base of the humidifier. Take off the water tank first, which will allow you to slide out the tray. Be careful not to damage the filter when you remove the tank and tray.[2] 
3 Empty the tank and flush it with warm water. Unscrew the cap on the water tank and empty the water into a sink. Flush the container with clean, warm water. Shake the container to slosh the water around inside of it.[3] 
4 Wipe down the water tank with a dry cloth or paper towel. Take a clean cloth or a few paper towels to the exterior of the water tank and any other areas that may have gotten water on it. If any other parts of the humidifier are dusty or dirty, use the damp cloth or paper towel to wipe them down.[4] 
1 Empty the water tank and flush it with warm water. Remove the water tank, unscrew the cap, and empty any water inside of it. Then add some warm water to the tank and shake it around to flush it. Set the tank off to the side until you’re finished cleaning the humidifier.[5] 
2 Turn on the humidifier to allow air to flow through the filter. With the tank still removed, turn on the humidifier. When the wicking filter is completely dry, turn off the humidifier and unplug it. 
3 Lift the filter from the water tray. Gently pull the filter straight up to remove it without tearing it. The filter should be completely dry before you try to remove it. If it isn’t dry, wait another 5 minutes.[6] 
4 Remove the water tray and pour 1 cup (240 mL) cup of vinegar into it. Slide out the water tray and set it aside. Pour the undiluted vinegar into the tray and allow it to sit for 30 minutes. The vinegar will loosen any scale deposits that may have built up over time.[7] 
5 Scrub the water tray to remove any scale deposits. After 30 minutes, take a sponge and scrub off any scale from the water tray. If the scale isn’t coming off, soak the tray in vinegar for another 30 minutes then scrub it again.[8] 
6 Rinse the tray and pickup tube with warm water. Once you’ve scrubbed off the scale deposits, rinse off the water tray and the pickup tube that transfers the water from the tank. Use warm water that isn’t too hot. Dry off the tray, tank, and tube with a clean cloth or paper towels when you’re finished.[9] 
1 Fill the water tank with water and bleach. Mix together 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of bleach and 1 gallon (3.8 L) of warm water. Allow the water tank to soak for 20 minutes. Stir the water occasionally by gently shaking the container every few minutes to make sure the bleach reaches every part of the tank.[10] 
2 Pour out the bleach water after 20 minutes. Remove the pickup tube and carefully pour out the bleach so it doesn’t get on any other parts of the humidifier. Pour the bleach into a sink or another safe disposal area.[11] 
3 Rinse the water tank and the pickup tube until the bleach smell is gone. It’s important that you flush away all of the bleach from the humidifier. Use warm water to rinse the water tank repeatedly until you no longer smell any bleach at all. Make sure you flush the pickup tube as well.[12] 
4 Dry off the entire humidifier. Use a clean, dry cloth or paper towels to dry any surface that got wet. It’s important that the exterior of the humidifier is completely dry before you plug it in and use it.[13] 
Victor Belavus Air Conditioning Specialist Victor Belavus is an Air Conditioning Specialist and the Owner of 212 HVAC, an air condition repair and installation company based in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to HVAC and air conditioning units, Victor also specializes in furnace repair and air duct cleaning. He has over 10 years of experience working with HVAC systems. 
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