Why Humidifiers Need Regular Cleaning

A dirty humidifier is worse than no humidifier — it can disperse bacteria, mould spores and mineral particles into the air you breathe. Mineral deposits from hard water build up inside the tank and base, providing surfaces for bacteria and mould to colonise. Clean it regularly to prevent this.

Weekly Cleaning

  1. 1

    Unplug and disassemble

    Always unplug before cleaning. Remove the water tank, any trays, filters and removable parts.

  2. 2

    Empty and rinse all parts

    Empty any remaining water. Rinse the tank, tray and removable parts with clean water.

  3. 3

    Wipe with diluted vinegar or disinfectant

    Mix equal parts water and white vinegar. Wipe the inside of the tank and base with a cloth dampened in the solution. Rinse all parts thoroughly afterwards.

  4. 4

    Dry completely before refilling

    Leave all parts to air dry fully before reassembling and refilling. Damp reassembly promotes mould growth.

Monthly Descaling

  1. 5

    Fill the tank with undiluted white vinegar

    Pour undiluted white vinegar into the water tank until it covers all mineral deposits. For the base, pour in enough vinegar to cover the heating element or ultrasonic disc.

  2. 6

    Soak for 30–60 minutes

    Leave the vinegar to soak and dissolve mineral deposits. For heavy buildup, soak for up to 2 hours or overnight.

  3. 7

    Scrub with a soft brush

    Use a soft brush (bottle brush, toothbrush) to scrub away any remaining scale. Pay attention to the heating element, ultrasonic disc and any corners where deposits accumulate.

  4. 8

    Rinse thoroughly — multiple times

    Rinse all parts with clean water several times until no vinegar smell remains. Any vinegar residue will be dispersed into your room air when the humidifier runs.

Use distilled waterIf you live in a hard water area, using distilled or demineralised water in your humidifier dramatically reduces mineral buildup. No minerals in the water means no white dust dispersed into the air and much less frequent descaling needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Visible black, pink or orange spots inside the tank or on the misting nozzle. A musty smell when the humidifier is running. Pink slime in the water tank (common — this is a bacteria called Serratia marcescens). If you see any of these, clean immediately with vinegar or a diluted bleach solution (1 teaspoon bleach per litre of water, then rinse very thoroughly).
Only if your humidifier is specifically designed for it and has an aromatherapy tray or diffuser attachment. Adding essential oils directly to the water tank damages the internal components of most humidifiers and voids the warranty. Use a dedicated essential oil diffuser instead.