Housekeeping · Humidifier hygiene

Daily water changes and safe cleaning for humidifiers

Empty and dry a portable humidifier daily, clean regularly as instructed, and avoid excess indoor moisture.

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US EPA recommends emptying, drying and refilling portable humidifiers daily and cleaning them about every three days. Use cleaning products only as permitted by the manufacturer, rinse thoroughly, and keep indoor relative humidity at or below 50%. Steam units can cause burns.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

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Check whether humidification is needed; do not intentionally raise indoor relative humidity above 50%.
Unplug the humidifier before handling the tank and empty remaining water.
Daily, wipe accessible water-contact surfaces dry and refill with the type of water recommended for the unit.
About every third day, remove deposits with a soft brush according to the user manual.
If a permitted cleaner or disinfectant is used, rinse thoroughly as directed so chemicals are not dispersed; never mix cleaning products.
Reduce output if windows or nearby materials become wet. Empty, clean and dry the unit before storage.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

Further reading

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