Stop Mold When You Are Using A Humidifier with These Tips
Since it is in constant contact with water, you might want to know how to prevent mold when using a humidifier.
It all boils down to how well you maintain a humidifier.
Mold is one of the most sinister indoor allergens. It can cause some serious issues with your health, such as mold toxicity.
If you let mold fester in your unit, it will be spread out with the mist. The presence of pink mold in a humidifier also indicates the presence of other bacteria.
You want pure mist! You don’t want any sinister pathogens finding their way into your lungs.
What to put in the humidifier to prevent mold
The first thing to think about is what to put in a humidifier to prevent mold. And indeed, there are things that you can add to the appliance that will prevent the formation of this scourge.
Add white vinegar to your unit
White vinegar is one of the most respected cleaning agents that you have at home. When you fill your appliance with water, add a cup of white vinegar to the tank.
That should go a long way in preventing the formation of mold inside the tank.
Because white vinegar is a natural antibacterial agent, it kills not only mold but other allergens as well that might grow in the tank.
We all know that when water is enclosed in a tank or container, it becomes an abode for germs. Just add vinegar and be done with it.
Besides, mold does not damage the plastic parts of your appliance. Remember, vinegar is also used in many of your cleaning projects at home.
Do not add fabric softener to the humidifier. Also, do not add other cleaning agents since they can cause oxidation, which would affect the lifespan of the humidifier.
Humidifier tablets
Drop-in tablets for humidifiers work very well. In fact, they can also be part of your aromatherapy.
Therefore, if you would like to introduce some mint into your indoor air, just get tablets that have a minty aroma.
You will be glad you did!
Before using the humidifier tablets, read the label to learn how to use them. Usually, you just need to add one to the unit’s tank.
These tablets prevent the formation of mold. They could also kill other bacteria that may be in that tank and eventually find their way into your indoor air. If you inhale it, you could experience mold exposure symptoms.
These tablets are available in stores such as Walmart. You may also order them online on Amazon.com.
Add tea tree oil
Is it OK to put essential oils in a humidifier?
The answer is yes, especially tea tree oil. This special essential oil comes from the tea tree that is mostly found in Australia.
In the case of using this oil in your humidifying unit, you will not only add some scent to your home. You will also be preventing the formation of mold in your appliance’s tank.
To use this product, just add a few drops every time you empty, clean the tank, and top it up. This oil is a natural disinfectant.
Add hydrogen peroxide to your humidifier
This is another mold remedy. You just need to add a few drops to your tank when you top it up. It not only kills mold, but it also kills bacteria, which would have found their way into the air in your home.
Similar to white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide is also used when cleaning the unit. After cleaning, add either a cupful of white vinegar into the water or a few drops of hydrogen peroxide, whatever you have ready at home.
Cleaning humidifier to prevent mold
Now that you know what to put into the appliance to prevent the formation of mold and the festering of bacteria, here is another surefire technique to prevent mold.
Cleaning the humidifier!
How often should you clean your humidifier?
This depends on usage. If you live in one of the driest cities or regions, you will use your unit almost daily. Therefore, you need to clean it more often.
If you can, clean it daily. It will help you get fresh, clean mist all the time.
If you only crank it up a couple of times a week, you need to clean it a few times a week.
Cleaning the unit is always easy and should not take too much of your time, especially if you clean it regularly.
- First, you need to switch it off and unplug it from electricity.
- Empty any remaining water in the tank and remove it.
- Clean the tank in warm or hot water. Add a cup of white vinegar or a few drops of hydrogen peroxide to the cleaning water to kill any mold or bacteria that may be attached to the tank walls.
- If there is any mineral scale, especially if you have hard water or have been using a warm mist unit, use a soft-bristled brush to clean the interior of the tank.
- Remember to clean the base of the unit too in your cleaning water. It, too, harbors bacteria.
- Use hot water for rinsing the unit and place the cleaned parts on a rack to air-dry them
- Reassemble your unit, add water, and plug it in, ready to roll again.
Conclusion
That is it for how to prevent mold when using a humidifier. If left unattended, the same unit that’s supposed to make the air breathable can cause illness.
Thankfully, with regular cleaning, you will get rid of mold and bacteria. Remember to check this post on mold toxicity signs, so that you can watch out for this allergen.
