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How to Clean a Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier

Jenny Harrington

Humidifiers add moisture to the air during long dry winters. Vicks humidifiers go a step further and release medication into the air to help ease sore throats and coughs. Unlike the traditional humidifier, these come with a separate tray to hold the medication.

You need to clean a Vicks Warm Mist humidifier weekly to avoid mineral scale build-up and to prevent bacteria from growing in the water tank. This will prolong the life of your humidifier and ensure the quality of the air.

Tip

Rinse the water tank out daily and wipe down all interior parts to cut down on scaling.

Warning

Unplug the humidifier before cleaning. Never store the humidifier with water in it. Avoid submerging the base in water.

  1. Take the water tank off the unit and empty any excess water. Fill with 1 teaspoon of bleach mixed with 1 gallon of water and let soak for 20 minutes, shaking every few minutes.

  2. Remove the medicine cup from the top of the cooling chamber then carefully lift the cooling chamber from the base. Take the removable water tray off the base.

  3. Rinse the water tray then soak it and the heating chamber in white vinegar for 20 minutes. This will remove any mineral scale buildup.

  4. Dump the vinegar out of the heating chamber and water tray. Wipe with a cloth dampened with vinegar.

  5. Dump out the water tank and rinse until all traces of bleach are removed. Wipe dry with a clean cloth.

  6. Wash the water tray, medicine cup and cooling chamber on the top shelf of your dishwasher to disinfect.

  7. Wipe down all surfaces with a cloth soaked in diluted bleach. Wipe clean with a cloth dampened only with water to remove traces of bleach.

The Drip Cap

  • Humidifiers add moisture to the air during long dry winters.
  • Vicks humidifiers go a step further and release medication into the air to help ease sore throats and coughs.
  • Wipe with a cloth dampened with vinegar.
  • Dump out the water tank and rinse until all traces of bleach are removed.