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A humidifier tin can be a dandy thing to have around during the winter months when common cold, dry air leads to chapped peel and increased chance of respiratory illness. With frequent employ, still, mold and mineral deposits can brainstorm to build up on the internal components of the apparatus, potentially reintroducing harmful substances to the air. If y'all rely on a humidifier to continue your living space comfortable, yous should go far the habit of cleaning and sanitizing the removable filter regularly. This can be achieved with a little fresh water, some vinegar or a few drops of bleach if you discover yourself with a peculiarly bad mold problem.

  1. 1

    Unplug your humidifier. Before you disassemble your humidifier unit, make certain information technology's turned off and asunder from the wall outlet. Yous're going to be handling a lot of wet parts, and so this will assistance you lot prevent whatsoever accidents or damage.[1]

    • Choose a apartment, h2o-resistant surface as your piece of work surface area. A countertop nigh the sink is optimal.
    • E'er read your user manual advisedly before performing whatsoever cleaning or maintenance on your humidifier.[2]

  2. 2

    Remove and empty the water tank. You tin usually admission the tank by opening the top compartment of the humidifier. Well-nigh water tanks will lift direct off the base. Drain the erstwhile water out of the tank and ready it aside.[three]

    • Information technology may exist a skillful idea to lay the water tank in the sink or on a folded towel in case it continues draining after y'all've emptied information technology.
    • You can clean and rinse the tank separately after if needed.

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  3. three

    Take out the muddied filter. Removable air filters tin most often be located inside the humidifier'south motor housing. Remove the outer casing of the unit and slide out the old filter. Wait over the filter to see what level of cleaning it will require.[4]

    • Filters that are mildly dusty can be rinsed clean. If there'south mold or an excessive amount of mineral buildup present, you may demand to use a vinegar or bleach-based cleaning solution instead.[5]
    • Dispensable paper filters can simply be thrown abroad and replaced. These should be changed at to the lowest degree every 3 months.[6]

  4. 4

    Rinse the filter with cool water. Rotate the filter under the stream to dislodge whatever traces of grit or dirt. Lightly castor away stuck-on debris with a soft-bristled brush or fingertip, but be conscientious non to apply too much pressure level to the mesh. In one case the filter looks clean, shake off the excess water.[7]

    • You should just always use fresh h2o to rinse your humidifier filter.

  5. 5

    Allow the filter to dry out completely. When it comes to drying a clean filter, air drying is the safest option. Attempting to speed the drying procedure along using some other tool, such as a pilus dryer, may cause permanent impairment. Set the filter on an absorbent towel and check back in 1-two hours.

    • Mold needs wet to thrive. Reloading your humidifier with clean water and a dry out filter volition prevent mold from returning.
    • Once the filter is dry out, y'all can reassemble and beginning using the humidifier again.

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  1. 1

    Fill a sink or bucket with warm water. Run enough h2o to completely submerge the filter. For deep-cleaning tasks, warm or hot water will piece of work best.[viii]

    • Make sure you unplug and drain the humidifier before removing the filter.

  2. two

    Pour in distilled white vinegar. Add one office vinegar for every two parts water. Mix the vinegar and water gently by hand. This solution will be effective for cleaning and disinfecting filters with modest amounts of mildew or discoloration.[ix]

    • Vinegar is naturally acidic, making it a prophylactic culling to harsh chemic cleansers.[x]
    • Peculiarly moldy filters should exist treated with bleach or thrown abroad.
    • You tin can also use a mixture of citric acid and water to make clean your filter.[xi]

  3. iii

    Soak the filter in the vinegar solution for xxx-45 minutes. Submerge the filter and leave it to sit. The vinegar volition gradually begin working to dissolve small mold spots and other stuck-on residual.[12]

    • Yous should let the filter soak for at least half an hour, though you can as well go out it for an 60 minutes or more.
    • Never use formulated cleaning solutions on a humidifier air filter. These can deteriorate synthetic materials.

  4. 4

    Run clean water through the filter. Afterward the filter has had a chance to soak, remove it from the vinegar solution and rinse it thoroughly under the faucet. Try to launder away as much loose gunk equally you can. Give the filter a shake and set it aside to air dry.[13]

    • Smell the filter after rinsing information technology to make certain y'all've gotten out all of the vinegar.
    • Exercise not squeeze or wring out clammy filters.[14]

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  1. 1

    Fill a large container with water. Run a couple gallons of lukewarm water into a sink or bucket. Since you'll be working with bleach, you'll need a higher concentration of water than you would when cleaning with vinegar. Make certain at that place's nothing in your work area that might be damaged by spilled bleach.

    • Bleach will demand to be used to clean humidifier filters with extensive mold or mildewing.[15]
    • Avoid using hot water, as steam can cause the release of bleach fumes.[sixteen]

  2. two

    Add a splash of bleach. You lot'll but need to use most a teaspoon of bleach for every gallon of water. This will sufficiently dilute the bleach then that it can exist used every bit an effective yet non-harmful cleaning amanuensis. Exist careful not to overdo it—too much bleach may consume right through a plastic filter.[17]

    • When treatment bleach, always wear gloves and work in a well-ventilated expanse. If possible, equip a respirator and eye protection.[18]
    • Avoid coming into contact with the bleach solution with bare skin.

  3. three

    Soak the filter in the diluted bleach for 10 minutes. Dunk the muddy filter into the solution and make sure information technology's fully submerged. Bleach has potent cleaning and sterilizing properties, so no scrubbing is necessary. After a short soak, your humidifier filter will look as good every bit new.[xix]

    • If at that place's any mold, mildew or mineral deposits remaining after the initial soak, mix up a fresh batch of solution and soak the filter for some other 10 minutes.

  4. four

    Rinse and dry out the filter. Carefully remove the now-clean filter from the bleach solution and rinse information technology under warm water. Plow the filter slowly and aim the stream so that information technology flows through the filter from every angle. This will ensure that it comes out free of both mold and bleach. Air dry the filter, and then render it to the humidifier.[20]

    • You can also make certain the filter has been properly rinsed by swishing it through a sinkful of clean water.
    • It's important that you launder away every remaining trace of bleach, or it could be released into the air when you lot operate your humidifier once more.[21]

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Add New Question

  • Question

    Are you supposed to wet a humidifier filter?

    Victor Belavus

    Victor Belavus is an Air conditioning Specialist and the Owner of 212 HVAC, an air condition repair and installation visitor based in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to HVAC and air-conditioning units, Victor besides specializes in furnace repair and air duct cleaning. He has over ten years of experience working with HVAC systems.

    Victor Belavus

    Air Conditioning Specialist

    Expert Answer

  • Question

    How practise you change a paper humidifier filter?

    Victor Belavus

    Victor Belavus is an Air Conditioning Specialist and the Owner of 212 HVAC, an air condition repair and installation visitor based in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to HVAC and air conditioning units, Victor also specializes in furnace repair and air duct cleaning. He has over 10 years of experience working with HVAC systems.

    Victor Belavus

    Air conditioning Specialist

    Expert Respond

  • Question

    What solution can I use to clean my humidifier's filter?

    Victor Belavus

    Victor Belavus is an Air Conditioning Specialist and the Owner of 212 HVAC, an air status repair and installation company based in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to HVAC and air conditioning units, Victor too specializes in furnace repair and air duct cleaning. He has over x years of feel working with HVAC systems.

    Victor Belavus

    Air Conditioning Specialist

    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    I recommend using a mixture of either distilled white vinegar and water or citric acid and water. Allow the humidifier filter and tank sit in this mixture for 15-60 minutes, and so wash it with clean water.

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  • Cheque the manufacturer's recommendations included with your humidifier to learn how best to clean it.

  • If you've been using disposable filters in your humidifier, consider switching to reusable ones. They're durable, easy to clean and will end upwardly saving you coin in the long run.

  • To keep your humidifier safe, clean and running properly, arrive the habit of emptying and refilling it daily and deep-cleaning information technology once every few weeks.

  • Keeping your humidifier'south water tank filled with distilled or purified water volition aid forestall mineral deposits, as these are typically the result of difficult h2o exposure.

  • Apply a mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide to sanitize any external parts of the humidifier.

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  • Be extremely careful when working with bleach.

  • If left untreated, mold and mineral buildup can be reintroduced to the air in your domicile, causing a host of potentially severe health complications.

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Things You lot'll Demand

  • Humidifier with reusable filter
  • Clean water
  • Distilled white vinegar
  • Chlorine bleach
  • Soft-bristled brush (optional)
  • Make clean, dry towel

References

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Reader Success Stories

  • Anonymous

    "I'one thousand glad I can wash & re-use these filters because they are not cheap."

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