How to Clean Your Humidifier

Daily: To prevent the growth of mold and other contaminants, we recommend rinsing, towel-drying, and refilling your humidifier’s tank with fresh water every day.

Weekly: Give the tank and the well a deep cleaning once a week, as outlined below.

We suggest using white vinegar, because it’s inexpensive, you probably have some in your pantry, and it’s gentle on your humidifier’s parts. It also encourages you to keep rinsing the unit until it stops smelling like a salad.

Some manufacturers suggest using bleach to sanitize. While that can be effective, James Dickerson, PhD, CR’s former chief scientific officer, says that it has its risks. “Bleach can degrade some plastics and seals that keep the unit watertight and structurally sound,” he says. Never use both vinegar and bleach. Mixing those two common household substances can form toxic chlorine gas, which can be dangerous and even deadly.