Humidifiers have many benefits to home and health. Keeping your humidifier clean is extremely important to the proper working of the unit. And since evaporative humidifiers and ultrasonic humidifiers function differently, their cleaning requirements are different as well.
Before doing any kind of maintenance to your humidifier, always unplug the unit. Never submerge the base of the unit into water.
Evaporative humidifiers use a wicking filter to evaporate the water into the air. Keeping the unit clean will help extend the life of the wicking filter. First, let the wicking filter dry, then carefully remove it from the base. Next, fill the water tank halfway with water and add 1 cup of white vinegar. Let it sit for around 20 minutes. Empty the tank, then rinse thoroughly with clean water, wiping it dry with a soft cloth. Do the same with the base. For any hard-to-reach places, use a toothbrush or small soft brush. Check with your owner’s manual to see if the vinegar solution is appropriate for also cleaning the outside of the humidifier unit. Usually, a soft cloth dampened with water only is enough for keeping the humidifier clean.
Several AIRCARE evaporative humidifiers have an indicator code that reads “CF” after 720 hours of humidifier running time. This code is a reminder to check the cleanliness of the wicking filter. After checking the wick, simply unplug the unit for a few seconds, then plug it back in to clear the code. This will restart the 720 hour timer.
TIP: Using AIRCARE 1970 bacteriostatic solution consistently in the water tank of the humidifier can significantly reduce the growth of bacteria, mold, and algae, keeping the unit and the wicking filter cleaner for longer.
Ultrasonic humidifiers need more frequent cleaning. At the end of each day’s use, empty the water tank and the base, then rinse each with clean tap water. Wipe dry with a soft cloth. At least once a week, fill the water tank halfway with water and add two teaspoons of white vinegar to the tank. Swish the water around inside the tank to reach all surfaces. Fill the base with the same solution and let both sit for around 20 minutes. For any hard-to-reach places, use a toothbrush or small soft brush to gently clean. Empty the base and the water tank, rinsing both with clean water until no vinegar solution remains. Wipe dry with a soft cloth. The same vinegar solution can be used to wipe down the outside of the unit, drying completely.
A demineralization cartridge is available for our AIRCARE ultrasonic units. This easy-to-install accessory keeps any mineral buildup to a minimum inside of the humidifier. Our ultrasonic humidifiers use different demineralization cartridges, so be sure to order the correct cartridge for your humidifier.
Humidifiers need a minimum of maintenance to keep them running smoothly. If you have any questions about cleaning a humidifier, give our Customer Support team a call at 800-547-3888, Monday through Friday from 7:30am to 5:30pm CST.
