Humidifier is an electronic device that functions to humidify the air by spraying water vapor into the air.
When placed in a room, a humidifier can help keep the skin, nose, lips, and throat from becoming too dry and contribute to better sleep.
Some humidifiers are even designed to help prevent airborne bacteria. However, the opposite can happen if the humidifier is not kept clean.
A dirty and moldy humidifier can pose a health risk, so it is important to clean the humidifier regularly.
Home care professionals usually recommend cleaning the humidifier at least once a week to prevent mold on the humidifier.
If someone in your household has breathing problems, including asthma or severe allergies, the humidifier should be cleaned more often.
Reporting from Today, here's how to clean a humidifier that you can follow.
Tools and materials needed
Luckily, it's pretty easy to clean the humidifier. You don't need abrasive detergents or harsh cleaning chemicals to clean them.
You can use ingredients at home such as the following:
Distilled white vinegar
Small cleaning tools such as a toothbrush or cotton bud
Liquid chlorine bleach (deep cleaning if necessary)
How to clean the humidifier
Each humidifier model is slightly different, so be sure to read the user manual to understand the details of your humidifier.
If you don't have a user manual, you can find one online by searching for the make and model of your humidifier.
However, most humidifiers can be cleaned simply using the same process below.
Unplug and disassemble the humidifier tank
Unplug the humidifier, disassemble it, and completely empty the tank. This stagnant water allows mold and bacteria to grow. So make sure you get that old water out.
If any part of the engine feels a little dirty or mossy, it means that your humidifier was cleaned too late.
Add vinegar to clean
Once the humidifier is unplugged, fill the tank with water as usual, then add one to two tablespoons of distilled white vinegar to the tank.
Stir, then let the water and vinegar mixture sit in the tank for 30 minutes. Vinegar acts as a disinfectant agent.
Do the same with the humidifier base. Wash with vinegar water solution and leave for half an hour.
Rub the dirty part
Empty the base and tank. Use a toothbrush to clean any remaining oily stains as well as small parts of the humidifier such as the tank cap or any areas with mildew.
Rinse and dry
Rinse all parts of the humidifier thoroughly with water and allow it to dry before reinstalling it.
How to clean the humidifier wick or foam?
It's best to avoid trying to clean the wick filter in the humidifier because the wick can be easily damaged. If the wick is dirty, the best way is to replace it.
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How to deep clean the humidifier and sterilize it?
If your humidifier hasn't been cleaned in months or has mildew, you'll need to deep clean it using liquid chlorine bleach.
For a deep cleaning of the humidifier, you can follow the same steps as described above. Just replace the vinegar with chlorine bleach.
However, make sure to get the right proportion of chlorine bleach and water mixture. The trick, mix 3.5 liters of water with a teaspoon of liquid chlorine bleach, then pour about half of the mixture into a humidifier to clean it.
Leave it for at least 20 minutes, then rinse until the bleach smell is completely gone, and wipe dry.