How to Clean Your Humidifier—And How Often You Should

Prevent mold and mildew with this expert cleaning routine.

A modern essential oil diffuser or humidifier misting on a table.
Photo:

Catherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images

Winter weather usually has us reaching for the things we've shoved to the closet or stored in the basement or attic. These may include your extra throw blankets, sets of flannel sheets, and a humidifier to combat the dry winter air. Using a humidifier can help hydrate skin and keep sinuses healthy, as flaky skin and a raspy throat can be the result of turning up your home's heat—but they require regular cleaning to function properly.

"A regular cleaning routine helps maintain your humidifier's performance and ensures the quality of the air it disperses," explains Steve Leasure, vice president of operations at Rainbow Restoration. If you don't empty and clean yours regularly, mold, mildew, bacteria, and mineral buildup can impact its functioning (and your comfort).

To prevent the appliance's dirty vents from spewing germs around your home, we asked cleaning experts to share their cleaning and care tips that will allow you to breathe easy all winter long.

  • Steve Leasure, vice president of operations at Rainbow Restoration
  • Melissa Maker of Clean My Space
  • Sarah Drake, seasonal humidifiers brand manager at Honeywell Humidifiers

What You'll Need

Materials

  • White vinegar (or specialized humidifier cleaner)
  • Water
  • Soft brush or sponge
  • Cloth
  • Toothbrush
  • Small container
  • Towel

Instructions

  1. Disassemble humidifier: Unplug the humidifier and empty the tank. Remove the water tank, filter, and other detachable parts to disassemble the humidifier.
  2. Make cleaning solution and add to tank: Mix a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar, says Melissa Maker of Clean My Space. "Add it to the water tank up to the maximum fill line." You can also use a mixture of 10 drops of tea tree oil and a cup of water, says Maker, but "be aware that you may smell tea tree oil when you run your humidifier over the next few uses." (If this fragrance isn't for you, skip it.)
  3. Let solution sit: Let the mixture sit for about 30 minutes to "break down mineral deposits and kill bacteria," recommends Leasure.
  4. Clean the exterior: While your cleaning mixture is sitting in the tank, break out the scrub brush. "Use the brush or sponge to clean the exterior and interior surfaces of the humidifier, removing any scale or residue," says Leasure.
  5. Empty and rinse: Empty the water tank and rinse all parts with clean water.
  6. Reassemble humidifier: Put the humidifier back together, refill it with distilled water, and plug it in.

How to Deep Clean a Humidifier

You should give your appliance a thorough deep clean every one to two weeks, depending on how much you use it and how hard your water is, recommends Leasure. "This comprehensive cleaning process ensures optimal performance and air quality from your humidifier," he says.

Instructions:

  1. Disassemble humidifier: Disassemble the humidifier completely to access all the parts. "Use the instruction manual it came with for step-by-step instructions, as each machine will differ slightly," says Maker.
  2. Mix cleaning solution and add to tank: Fill a small container with equal parts water and vinegar. Allow small parts to soak for 30 minutes.
  3. Scrub thoroughly: While soaking, use your soft brush or sponge to scrub all surfaces, and use a toothbrush for harder-to-reach areas, says Leasure.
  4. Rinse and reassemble: Rinse everything with clean water and reassemble.

How to Clean a Humidifier With Bleach

While cleaning with bleach can disinfect a moldy, mildewed humidifier, you should only do so sparingly. "Bleach can damage the material and also absorb into it, so that when you use it again, you could be breathing the product in," Maker cautions.

Leasure recommends following the safety precautions on the bleach container and ensuring your space is properly ventilated. "This method is typically reserved for deep cleaning and should not be used regularly to avoid damage to the humidifier's components," says Leasure.

In only cases of serious buildup does Leasure recommend the following.

Instructions:

  1. Disassemble humidifier: Unplug humidifier, empty, and disassemble it.
  2. Make cleaning solution: Bleach should be used only in a diluted solution and never mixed with vinegar. Mix 1 tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water and add to tank. "Submerge all removable parts in this solution for 15 to 20 minutes to disinfect and remove any mold or bacteria," says Leasure.
  3. Rinse and perform a test-run: "After soaking, thoroughly rinse all parts with clean water to remove any bleach residue," says Leasure. "Run the humidifier for a short time to ensure there's no residual bleach odor."

How Often to Clean Your Humidifier

To keep your humidifier clean, experts recommend emptying the water daily. "Keeping your humidifier clean is crucial because it prevents the growth of mold, bacteria, and mineral buildup, ensuring that the air it disperses remains clean and healthy while also prolonging the appliance's lifespan," says Leasure.

If you run it overnight, empty it and let it dry during the day; if you run it non-stop, then replace the water regularly at any point. "Pour out the water, wipe down all surfaces, and refill the tank with distilled water," says Leasure. "Be sure to unplug the unit during this process."

Leasure recommends wiping the water tank more thoroughly every three days. "Empty the tank and scrub it with a brush to remove mineral deposits, scale buildup, or moldy film that has formed," he says. "Wipe all surfaces dry, and refill with distilled water."

Tips for Keeping Your Humidifier Clean

To limit mold regrowth, Sarah Drake, seasonal humidifiers brand manager at Honeywell Humidifiers, recommends putting an antimicrobial cleaning ball inside the tank. "It fits in almost all humidifiers—just drop it in the water tank," she says. Be sure to replace the ball about once a month.

Using distilled water, which contains fewer minerals than tap water, can also cut back on the buildup inside your humidifier, says Leasure. "There's no specific health risk associated with using tap water in a humidifier, but the high mineral content can cause 'white dust' to settle on surfaces in the room," he says. "More importantly, minerals found in tap water increase crusty scale buildup in humidifiers, creating the perfect breeding ground for mold and bacteria."

Another important part of humidifier maintenance is checking the filter—many models use a disposable one to wick away moisture or absorb minerals. "Replace it when it gets hard and crusty, starts to give off an odor, or moisture output decreases," says Drake.

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