How to Keep a Humidifier Clean and Free From Bacteria

Humidifiers add moisture to dry air. Thus, these handy machines may relieve a variety of ills, from itchy skin to sinus congestion. They prove especially helpful during winter months when every vent in the house blasts dry air.

People who use humidifiers should not neglect them. Dirty humidifiers can cause more problems than they solve. Find out why it’s so important to keep humidifiers clean and how to handle this task with ease.

Home humidifiers offer plenty of benefits. Besides making homes more comfortable by humidifying dry air, they may help relieve some health issues. Still, these devices run by utilizing a tank of water. If neglected, the machine could become a source of health issues instead of a remedy.

According to Good Housekeeping, standing water offers the perfect environment for growing bacteria and mold. If nobody cleans the humidifier, it will eventually pump those contaminants into the air right along with the steam.

To prevent this issue:

Humidifiers come with a user booklet that should include cleaning instructions. Of course, many people lose or discard these little manuals, but they can still probably find a digital copy on the company’s website or ask the manufacturer to send them a new one.

However, you don’t need the manual or booklet to properly clean the humidifier. In most cases, you can follow a basic list of instructions that will ensure your humidifier is clean and bacteria-free. Here’s how to clean your humidifier.

Rinse all parts with clean water, dry them, and reassemble the humidifier. If the machine needs an even deeper cleaning, substitute a solution of one teaspoon of chlorine bleach and one gallon of water for the vinegar.

When nobody’s using the humidifier, always empty the tank and let it dry out. Consumer Reports found that some types of humidifiers could grow bacteria within just a couple of days. With that in mind, they suggested rinsing these out daily and performing a more thorough cleaning at least weekly. In addition, Consumer Reports conducted tests on bacteria growth within home humidifiers and suggested purchasing an evaporative wick model to minimize this issue.

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