Humidifiers are an amazing piece of technology. They keep your air moist during the dryer winter to prevent sore throats, nasal congestion, dry skin, and a whole bunch of other health issues that can arise when the air is too dry. They are also great to use year-round to help control allergies, prevent illness, and help prevent aging by moisturizing the skin. If you have a humidifier, you know how great they are! However, you must make sure you clean them every week or mold, mildew, and dust can build up and prevent your humidifier from working properly (and possibly make you sick). Here’s how to clean it the green way:
1. Take Apart Your Humidifier
This means taking the nozzle off the top, the lid off the tank, and if you have any filters, remove them. Please refer to your manual before dismantling your humidifier, as you definitely don’t want to break it!
2. Get Out the Vinegar
It’s amazing how many times we talk about vinegar! Pour about ½ cup to 1 cup of vinegar in the tank and let it sit. Make sure the bottom of the inside of the tank gets covered, so replace the tank lid and flip it so it’s sitting right. Let it sit for about 30 minutes. When the time is up, pour out the vinegar and wipe it down with a sponge or soft cloth.
3. Take Care of the Entire Machine
Once you’ve deep cleaned the tank in step 2, fill the tank back up with water and add about ½ cup of vinegar. Turn it on so this mixture can get into all those nooks and crannies that the humidifiers has! Word of warning: this may smell a bit so, if you choose, run it outside or in your garage. Let it run for about 20 minutes.
4. Rinse Time
After you’ve run the vinegar/water mixture through it, empty the tank and fill it entirely with water only. Run the water through for about an hour to make sure it’s thoroughly rinsed and clean.
5. Take It Apart….Again
After the deep cleaning is all done, I like to go back and make sure the parts all look de-gunked. If you notice that some parts still look goopy, take a soft cloth and use vinegar or water to wipe down those areas. Once you’re satisfied, take the humidifier apart and let it dry thoroughly before using it again or storing it. It’s especially important for everything to be fully dry before storing, as you don’t want mold to build up!
Now your humidifier is all set to help your health (and your house plants - they love humidifiers too!). Just make sure to clean it regularly. Do you have any tips or tricks that you do when you clean your humidifiers? Let us know below!
XOXO,
Your Squeaky Green Team