How to Clean Room Humidifiers

Room humidifiers are a popular home appliance used to add warm or cool moisture to the air. This added moisture eases health problems related to excessively dry air, such as headaches, dry skin and nasal passages, cracked lips and certain respiratory illnesses. Clean your room humidifier easily at home at least every three days to prevent hazardous mold and bacteria growth.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Nylon scrub brush
• Washcloth
• Lint-free cloth
• Hydrogen peroxide (3 percent solution)

1. Unplug the humidifier and empty all water from its water reservoir.

2. Scrub the interior of the water reservoir with a nylon scrub brush using either a disinfecting agent recommended by the manufacturer or hydrogen peroxide (3 percent solution). Pay particular attention while scrubbing to any mineral deposits or film on the interior of the water reservoir.

3. Rinse the water reservoir several times with hot tap water and dry it thoroughly with a clean, lint-free cloth.

4. Remove the filter and wipe the filter reservoir with a tap water-dampened washcloth. Dry the filter reservoir with a clean, lint-free cloth. Replace the existing filter if still clean, or put in a new filter.

5. Wipe the remaining surfaces of the humidifier with a tap water-dampened washcloth.

6. Dry all surfaces of the humidifier with a clean, lint-free cloth.

Tips & Warnings

• Help prevent mineral deposits and scale build-up in your humidifier by filling it with demineralized or distilled water instead of tap water.

References

• Humidifiers - Mayo Clinic
• Humidifier Health

Resources

• Care of Room Humidifiers