4 Humidifier Best Practices: Cleaning Your Humidifier and More
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1 min read
How to Clean Your Humidifier, and More Best Practices
From better skin to better sleep, summertime dryness to harsh winter air, humidifiers work wonders for your general wellness. Get the most out of your humidifier by following proper care routines, like cleaning your humidifier and regularly descaling, for the TLC you both deserve.
Table of contents
Always Use Distilled Water
Make sure your humidifier lives a long, happy life in your home by filling the tank with room temperature distilled water. Using better water keeps your humidifier clean of mineral buildup for longer and can reduce the risk of mold growth in your tank. You wouldn’t want to be breathing in bacteria or excessive minerals the water carries. Your body is a temple—keep the impurities out of it.
Clean Your Humidifier
No matter what you do, stagnant water sitting in the tank can still become a breeding ground for algae and bacterial growth, and a humidifier can send an army of contamination into your air and your body. While using distilled water can reduce the risks of dangerous particles, you must still clean your humidifier by emptying the water and wiping any residue weekly. This is the most surefire way to keep your air healthy.
To clean your humidifier:
- Remove the water tank, filter, and base chamber of your humidifier
- Rinse with room temperature water to clear any contaminating build ups.
- Make sure all the pieces are dry before replacing the water in the tank.
- Welcome back moisturized air!
Descale Your Humidifier
One additional step to clean your humidifier is occasional descaling of the water tank. This is important to maintain healthy conditions for both you and your humidifier. To do this, it’s time to pull out the classic kitchen cleaner: vinegar.
- Pour 3 US cups of distilled white vinegar into the water tank and let it soak for 15–20 minutes, where it will drain into the base chamber and loosen up any mineral build up before dumping.
- You can use a soft bristle brush to remove any caked-up deposit that the vinegar doesn’t get off.
- Soak the float, filter, and noise silencer in vinegar
- Rinse everything in water and dry completely before reassembly.
Placement is Key
Where you place your humidifier can make all the difference between perfect humidity and lackluster results. Airflow is essential to the productivity of your humidifier and will evenly disperse the moisture throughout your space. While it may be easiest to place your humidifier in a corner and forget about it, take extra steps to place it in a central location of the room where it can get the best airflow. Never let moisture become your enemy by pointing the mist away from objects that shouldn’t get wet such as outlets and walls. You should enjoy the humidity, not be remedying any damage it can cause to your electronics or paint.
Humidifiers can be a great tool in improving your overall health and environment. Make sure to take steps to maximize the benefits of your humidifier so that your relationship with humidity can always be a good one.
Summary
There are four key things to remember when it comes to caring for your humidifier:
Use Distilled Water : Filling your humidifier with room temperature distilled water helps prevent mineral buildup and reduces the risk of mold growth, ensuring cleaner moisture output.
Regular Cleaning : Empty and wipe down the humidifier weekly to prevent algae and bacterial growth. Rinse the water tank, filter, and base chamber with room temperature water, ensuring all components are thoroughly dried before reassembly.
Descale Periodically : Occasionally, pour 3 cups of distilled white vinegar into the water tank and let it soak for 15–20 minutes to loosen mineral deposits. Use a soft-bristle brush to remove any remaining buildup, then rinse and dry all parts completely.
Optimal Placement : Position the humidifier in a central location with good airflow, directing the mist away from walls, outlets, and electronic devices to prevent moisture damage.
By following these practices, you can maintain a healthy environment and prolong the lifespan of your humidifier.
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