How to Prevent Mold In Humidifier? [3 Extra Care Tips]
Dealing with dry air is tough unless you have a humidifier at home. This helpful appliance increases the humidity level in your room and improves your indoor air quality. However, the main key to your happy life is taking proper care of your home helper.
Daily, weekly, monthly
A key hack to prevent mold is to clean your humidifier regularly. As a constantly wet appliance, a humidifier is always prone to get moldy without proper care. A clean humidifier needs daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance.
#1. Daily maintenance
Daily care includes using fresh and pure water. Taking the humidifier’s water from the tap increases the risks of mold growth as hard water contains numerous minerals and germs.
Opt for filtered or distilled water instead. Clear and pure water is the simplest way to prevent mold and germ growth in your humidifier.
Change the humidifier’s water daily. Mold spores thrive better in stagnant water, so when you use clean water for each session, is a great tip for preventing mold growth.
After each use, empty the water tank and let the humidifier air-dry. The excess moisture is a source of extra issues such as germs and fungi.
Double-check if the inner surfaces of your humidifier feel slimy! Sometimes mold thrives invisibly in the early stages, so check them each time you clean the humidifier from the inside.
An additional tip is to use tea tree oil. As a natural disinfectant, it helps you both with healthy breathing and preventing mold. Just add about 5-6 drops of tea tree oil to the tank and let it do its magic!
#2. Weekly maintenance
This point includes regular cleaning. In most humidifiers, you can find a specific list of maintenance tips. Thus, always double-check with the user manual to detach and clean your humidifier correctly.
As a rule, clean your humidifier weekly (or even once in three days). To check all the parts, detach and inspect all the plastic elements. If there are no mold or mineral build-ups, just rinse them thoroughly (except those with electrical components).
In case you find any limescale or mold growth on the humidifier’s parts, you need to clean them well. Each model can require specific care tips, so make sure that you choose the right cleaners.
After cleaning, rinse the parts again and towel dry them. The excess moisture is not what you need to prevent mold buildup in your humidifier, so make sure that you wipe all the parts dry before reassembling the unit.
#3. Monthly maintenance
This means regular disinfection of the whole unit once a month. The best idea is to use hydrogen peroxide or a bleach solution to fully disinfect the humidifier. Even with regular cleanings, there is a risk of missing some germs and fungi, so this measure is still essential.
Clean the whole unit with hydrogen peroxide or a bleach solution. If possible, take the humidifier out and run the disinfectant through it. Never do that at home!
Common cleaning tips
To clean your humidifier properly, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. As a rule, cleaning, and maintenance tips can differ according to different types of humidifiers:
- Central humidifiers
- Evaporators
- Impeller humidifiers
- Steam vaporizers
- Ultrasonic humidifiers
Each model has its own tips, so using the wrong cleaning agents can destroy the humidifier. For example, evaporative humidifiers have antimicrobial-coated filters, so you can’t clean them with bleach and other harsh chemicals.
The most common way to clean humidifiers weekly is to use a white vinegar solution. Dissolve 2 tablespoons of distilled white vinegar in 1/2 gallon of water, and gently scrub the accumulated mold and minerals from the humidifier’s parts.
If there are any stubborn spots, soak the affected part in the vinegar solution. Pour some diluted vinegar or citric acid on the stubborn spot, and let it work for about 20 minutes. Then, scrub it with a sponge or brush until the residue is gone.
After you finish, don’t forget to rinse and dry all the parts completely!
FAQ
Why is my humidifier getting moldy?
As a permanently wet appliance, your humidifier is always prone to hide and grow mold. You have to check it regularly and prevent mold before it becomes a severe issue that affects your indoor air quality.
The main reasons why humidifiers are getting moldy are the wrong maintenance and rare cleaning.
How quickly do humidifiers get moldy?
Generally, at least 2 days is enough for mold to grow in a humidifier. The invisible mold spores are prone to spread with water droplets into the room where they can settle up on some other surfaces.
How do I prevent bacteria in my humidifier?
The best way to prevent mold and bacteria in your humidifier is to use filtered, demineralized, or distilled water. Extra contaminants in water create a breeding ground for germs. So, the purer your water tank is, the less risk of germ growth inside you can face.
Don’t forget about daily, weekly, and monthly cleanings! Using diluted weak acids is a good idea to deal with germs and fungi.
Should I throw away a moldy humidifier?
In small amounts, mold can be easily removed and then controlled. However, severe mold growth is health hazardous, so it’s better to throw such a humidifier away and get a new one instead. That’s why you should check your humidifier regularly to prevent such situations.
What happens if you breathe in mold from humidifier?
Moldy humidifiers are a source of several health issues. When working, they release mold spores into the air that can cause a list of symptoms:
Respiratory issues:
– Allergic reactions
– Itchy skin
– Eye and throat irritation
– Coughing and sneezing
– Hay fever
Is mold common in humidifiers?
A humidifier itself is not a cause of mold, but as a constantly wet appliance, it is prone to get moldy. If you don’t maintain your home humidifier properly and skip the weekly cleaning, there is a high risk of growing mold.
Can I use tap water in my humidifier?
This is not a good idea since there are lots of contaminants that can quickly lead to mineral buildup in the humidifier. Opt for filtered or distilled water instead.
How do I keep my humidifier clean?
The best way to keep your humidifier free of mold and other contaminants is to regularly clean it with distilled white vinegar. Add a tablespoon or two of this versatile helper in the tank and leave it to work for half an hour. Then, gently scrub the surfaces with a sponge or brush to remove the residue.
Final thoughts
If cleaned properly and regularly, your humidifier has all the chances to live a long life. It is always better to take care of a new humidifier correctly to prevent any further issues! We hope that our simple guide was helpful to you.
You might also like to read:
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Greetings, readers! I’m Sandra Wells, an air purification expert dedicated to helping you achieve a cleaner and fresher living space. Stay tuned for practical tips and insights to enhance your air quality. Click here to read more about our team.
