how to clean a cool mist humidifier

Depending on where you live and the season, dry skin, lips, nose, and throat can be a real issue. And unfortunately, year-round we have to worry about coming down with some type of illness. Whether it is a minor cold or a more serious flu, it's important to treat symptoms. One popular way to ease stuffy noses without medication is to use a humidifier. But while humidifiers can work dry-air miracles and are on every new mom's must list, all that moisture makes for cozy conditions for bacteria and mold. So just like your other modern-day must-haves, you have to clean it thoroughly and often. But filling the tank with vinegar and calling it a day may not be the bet way to go. Thankfully, you can keep your humidifier clean and humming with a few safe and simple steps. Now that you're on a cleaning spree you may be wondering how to clean your essential oil diffuser, how to clean your dishwasher, or how to clean your electric kettle.

Humidifiers

W4 Hybrid Humidifier

Objecto verishop.com

$169.99

This wooden finish will help this appliance blend right in with your decor.

360 Degree Cool Mist Humidifier

Safety 1st amazon.com

This option rotates to make sure that the room gets a steady level of moisture in all directions.

3-in-1 Humidifier

A nightlight, humidifier, and diffuser come together in this unobtrusive appliance.

Germ Free Humidifier

Honeywell amazon.com

UV technology helps keep germs at bay.

How often should you clean a humidifier?

You may not like the answer to this one, but it's best to give your humidifier a quick cleaning about once a week in order to keep it in its best shape.

Can you run vinegar through a humidifier?

It's best not to. While vinegar is used to clean a humidifier, you should not run the humidifier with vinegar in it, as it can irritate your eyes, nose, throat, and lungs.

Can you get sick from a humidifier?

While using a humidifier won't make you sick, if you have asthma or allergies, it's important that you keep your humidifier clean, so that you aren't filling your home with dirty air that will up the allergens and bacteria in your home.

How do you clean a moldy humidifier?

Thankfully, keeping your humidifier germ-free isn't a huge amount of work. The steps can vary slightly depending on your make and model though, so be sure to read your instruction manual. In general, here's what you need to do to ensure your humidifier is clean:

Unplug and disassemble your humidifier. Fill the tank with water as you normally would, but add 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar, too. Let this mixture sit in the tank for 30 minutes.
Put the tank on top of the reservoir and let the water drain through like it normally would. Let it stand for another 30 minutes.
Empty the humidifier, and use a Q-tip, toothbrush (used for household cleaning, not hygiene!), or other small brush or cloth to clean any areas with extra build-up. Also clean any other parts to the humidifier, like the cap, with full-strength distilled white vinegar.
Rinse all the parts and let them air dry before its next use. Done!

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