How often should a humidifier be cleaned and how should we clean a humidifier?
Once a week every humidifier needs to be cleaned. This is the basic rule that every company recommends. After using a humidifier for 5/6 days, a slimy layer of bacteria grows on it. If we don’t clean it will allow mold to grow which will affect our health. Also as we know water has lots of minerals in it like, calcium, magnesium, lime, etc. After long use, those minerals can get stuck in a humidifier. In this situation, the humidifier needs to be cleaned. If we don’t clean the humidifier properly, lots of negative things can happen. Like, it will consuming more electricity, have less performance, white duct issues, water leakage issues, mold growing, spreading various all over the house, etc problem. In this blog, we discussed the following topics:
- What kind of issues can happen if we don’t clean the humidifier timely?
- Which type of humidifier has a higher chance of spreading dust?
- Other issues and using an air purifier.
- How to clean a humidifier?
What kind of issues can happen if we don’t clean the humidifier timely?
slimy layer of bacteria and mold issues:
if you keep water in a pot for 4 days, you will notice a slimy layer on the pot. Actually, it is a layer of bacteria. The same thing happens with the humidifiers. If we don’t clean the humidifier properly, viruses and bacteria will spread all over the house. It will also allow mold to grow all over the house. Mold makes our room smelly and unhygienic, it causes illnesses like respiratory issues, allergies, asthma exacerbation, sinus infections, and skin irritation. Also, it is very harmful to babies and pregnant ladies. Small birds and pets are hyper-sensitive, and because of that, they will get sick a really fast way.
Nowadays modern humidifiers have inbuilt hygrometer sensors on them. If dirt is stuck over this sensor, then the humidifier will no longer be able to maintain your required humidity. In this condition, the humidifier will randomly produce a high amount of mist. Which can be a cause of mold issues and high electricity consumption.
To prevent those issues, clean the filter, water tank, humidifier base, valve, rubber gasket and other all parts once a week. If the room is already affected by the mold issue, then no need to be wary. Every problem has a solution. First, remove the mold by using the mold removal spray.
Using the humidifier in a closed room makes an ideal place for growing mold. So make sure your room has a proper fresh air supply. If needed you can add air bricks, small holes in doors, and install a fresh air fan for fresh air supply. You will find mold-resistant paint on the market, you can also use it if you want to.
White dust issues:
After a long use, the minerals of the water can get stuck in the humidifier. This mineral of the water is the main reason behind the white dust issue. It’s hard to clean because it’s become very hard. The effective solution is cleaning it with the vinegar.
Water leakage issues:
there is a valve between the water tank and the base. Water comes to the base through the valve. The valve is fitted with some small rubber/gasket to prevent water leakage. If water minerals make the rubber dirty then it can’t be set properly with the valve. Also if the water tank’s lower surface gets dirty and it’s not perfectly fit with the base then water leakage will happen.
High electricity consumption:
There are many types of humidifiers on the market. Like a steam humidifier, it makes mist by slowly boiling the water. There is an electrical coil on it, while it’s turned on this coil gets hot and bold the water. After long use, water minerals get stuck over this coil. When this happens the humidifier takes more time to boil the water, even if you set it on a high setting it will still provide you with low performance. To avoid this issue clean it properly. In this condition, it will consume 40%(+) (-) extra electricity.
In an evaporative humidifier, mist comes through the filter. If the filter is Jammed because of dust, then you will always run it on a high setting to get the required humidity level. This way it will consume 30% (+) (–) extra electricity.
The ultrasonic humidifier has no filter, so if we don’t use soft & clean water and do not maintain it then it will get jammed and it will not provide the impacted result. This is how not cleaning a humidifier can cause high electricity consumption.
Which type of humidifier has a higher chance of spreading dust:
Ultrasonic humidifier has the most white dust issues. Because it doesn’t have any filter on it. It spreads mist by making ultrasonic vibrations. When water minerals are stuck as dirt in the humidifier it get vibrated which causes white dust This is the type of humidifier that is highly affected by regular water. To prevent white dust issues use a steam humidifier, it doesn’t spread white dust and an evaporative humidifier is also better.
Every humidifier can spread dust if we don’t clean and maintain it properly.
Other issues and using an air purifier:
A dirty humidifier can easily spread the virus all over the house. So people think if they turn it off virus will not spread by it. But In some cases even if the humidifier is off, the virus can still spread in your room. When you have central AC at home, then with the air conditioners this virus will spared allover the house. The most terrifying thing is mold can grow inside the ducting system if you use the humidifier in the wrong way. and it is very hard & costly to clean inside the ducting system. So for home always keep the humidity level at 50%.
Using an air purifier will be a good choice. When you have babies, pets, old parents, and a pregnant wife then an air purifier will improve the air quality for your family.
How to clean a humidifier?
Previously I used soup to clean my humidifier. But it’s not useful to avoid biofilm materials. So now I use enzyme cleaner or hydrogen peroxide cleaner to wash my humidifier. Lots of people suggest using vinegar for cleaning, it is a piece of good advice but not for every time. When you have a white dust issue or you find out that water minerals as hard dirt on the humidifier then you should go for vinegar. In this condition put 1 glass of water and 1 glass of vinegar on the humidifier. You can take more or less as per your humidifier size. After some time clean it using a brash. Repeat the process 2/3 times and you will get the perfect result.
But for weekly washing, you can use enzyme cleaner or hydrogen peroxide cleaner. It is available on Amazon so you can purchase it from there.