Adding vinegar to humidifier water will help to reduce bacteria, mold and mildew

Adding vinegar to humidifier water will help to reduce bacteria, mold and mildew

There are two types of people: one who loves winter and one who loves summer. Both want to enjoy the charm of their loved season.

Those who love winter or live in cold areas have to deal with the problem of lower humidity level.

Table Of Contents

GreatHouseWork is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.

In A Hurry?

If you require a humidifier and do not want to read the entire article, below are the recommended items from the article.  (Low, Medium and High Price)

Which Is the best Humidifier for Vinegar

When dealing with Vinegar, the best humidifier is the Honeywell Top Fill Tower Humidifier with Digital Humidistat White Auto Shut-Off

However, this will depend on several things, like if you want it to do several tasks – like Dorm Room, or Cold and Flu symptoms.

There will also be costs for the humidifier - like Mist Type, Water Tank Capacity, Coverage Area and Noise Level. So as you can see, there is a lot in picking the right humidifier!

Cold Air has less water molecules than hot Air. This is because of the lower energy level. The humidity level is not only low in cold regions but there are certain hot regions where the level of humidity is very low but the problem is in cold areas.

Low degree of humidity can cause many problems like irritation in many parts of the body, dryness of skin, cold, cough, allergy and asthma. To deal with this problem, we need humidifiers.

Humidifiers release moisture-filled air which helps in dealing with the problem of cracked lips, dry skin, dry throat, dry cough, headache and skin irritation. It also improves air quality, hence making the environment better for inhabitants.

Why do we need to clean Humidifiers?

The humidifiers help in a lot of ways, but they can also cause severe problems. If they are not cleaned appropriately, they develop bacteria and Mold and release contaminated air in the surrounding.

Breathing in contaminated air has severe repercussions. It may lead to problems like severe cough, lung infection, high fever, asthma, anxiety and depression. It may cause respiratory problems. To deal with these problems and to make humidifiers run effectively, we need to clean them.

Why adding Vinegar to the humidifier water is better than other disinfectants?

As said, the humidifiers need to be cleaned like any other electric appliance. If they are not cleaned repeatedly and properly, they can develop bacteria and fungus on their filter and surface. If we do not remove these harmful microorganisms, humidifiers might release contaminated air in the surrounding.

This will have a negative impact on the health of individuals who will breathe in that surrounding. There are many disinfectants available which can clean the humidifiers. The best method to clean the humidifier is to clean it by adding the Vinegar in its water.

Other ways by which we can clean the humidifier is by using the chlorine bleach, hydrogen peroxide or any other disinfectant. But there are some repercussions of using these chemicals. These chemicals have a terrible impact on the health of individuals. They can cause problems like nose, throat and skin irritation, lungs and respiratory problems.

To prevent oneself and one's family from a ramification of these disinfectants, one should use vinegar to clean humidifiers as it has stood the test of time. It is a cheap option and is readily accessible. It has no side effects as one can understand from the fact that vinegar is used in food to make the taste of food better.

Steps of adding vinegar to the humidifier water:

  • The first step is to unplug the humidifier and disassemble it.
  • After disassembling, remove all water from the tank or water reservoir.
  • Add a cup of vinegar in boiling water and mix it.
  • Then add this mixture in the water reservoir and leave it for a half-hour.
  • Rinse the filter thoroughly with this mixture.
  • After waiting for 30 minutes, pour the mixture.
  • After that clean the reservoir with a brush to clean remaining particles.
  • Then wait for the humidifier to dry completely.
  • Repeat these steps after every 3-4 days for better health.

This is the most organic way of cleaning the humidifier. It is easy and cost-efficient.

Health benefits of using vinegar to clean the humidifiers

Vinegar has long been used for food preservation. Since the old times, it has been used to preserve food e.g. pickles.

The author of the book "Encyclopedia of Food Science and Nutrition" (2nd edition, 2003) opines that because of acetic content and low PH level of vinegar, it a preservative for both domestic uses and in the food industry. He further says that they use it for food preservation or pickling of a wide variety of foods such as vegetables, meat, fish and spiced fruits.

  1. Kwon and Y.S. Jeong, in their book " Encyclopedia of Agriculture and Food system, 2014" argue that antiseptic properties of vinegar make it a powerful defence against bacteria, virus and fungus.

From the above discussions, we can see that vinegar is a credible choice and when it is used in water to clean the humidifiers, it cleans fungus and bacteria hence helping the humidifier release fresh air which is very helpful for good health.

 

Types of vinegar we can add in humidifier water to clean it

Vinegar history dates back to 5000 BC and is one of the most commonly used products in the world. It is available in almost every country. It is available in various flavours around the world depending on the substrate:

  • Wine vinegar
  • Balsamic vinegar
  • Red vinegar
  • White vinegar
  • Distilled white vinegar
  • Sherry vinegar
  • Fruit vinegar
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Rice vinegar
  • Coconut vinegar
  • Honey vinegar
  • And many more

Any vinegar will work but preference should be given to Apple cider vinegar, and white distilled vinegar.

This is because of certain characteristics they have in relation to the cleaning of fungus. They are easily available and can be used for other food items in the home.

Conclusion

In this article, we have tried to discuss the use of humidifiers, the need of cleaning them and the best way to clean them. Adding vinegar to the humidifier water is the most effective way of cleaning them.

It shows better results than other disinfectants, and the best thing is that it does not have a terrible impact on the health of individuals. Vinegar is readily available and is cheap. One has to consider the cost-effectiveness of the process as the process has to be repeated after every three-four days. People conscious about their health prefer adding vinegar as a cleaning agent in the humidifier water.

Please Note: Just because a humidifier is marked, for example “Baby Room”, it will still work for other things, for example “Living Room” or “Plant Humidifier”

Items To Buy

Again, the humidifiers below are probably the ones that you will need to buy!

The prices of these are low, medium and high. This will give you the best range. The lower prices will not have all the bells-and-whistles, and the higher price one's will.

  • INSTANT DRY AIR RELIEF: Ultrasonic cool mist technology safely and quickly moisturizes dry air for up to 25 hours of continuous operation in medium to large rooms up to 250 square feet. Powerful mist output with high and low settings makes this humidifier ideal for bedrooms, baby nurseries, office, and indoor plants.
  • YEAR-ROUND COMFORT: High and low-speed settings combined with a 360° mist nozzle help you consistently balance and regulate the humidity in your home all year long for relief from congestion, coughs, cold-like symptoms, allergies, dry skin, and sinus issues.
  • ENCOURAGE RESTFUL SLEEP: Easily run the humidifier overnight to maintain a healthy humidity level in your space. The optional night light offers a soothing glow while the whisper-quiet operation ensures you can sleep peacefully without any disturbance.
  • EASY-FILL TANK & AUTO SHUT-OFF: The sleek and transparent 1.5 liter water tank is easy to fill right from your kitchen or bathroom sink and the compact design doesn’t take up too much tabletop space. Plus, the automatic shut-off feature turns the humidifier off when the water level is low or the tank is removed.
  • 5-YEAR WARRANTY: This BPA-free humidifier comes with an AC power adapter, disk cleaning brush, and Pure Enrichment’s guaranteed 5-Year Warranty. Our customer support team provides quality service and peace of mind to millions worldwide all from a brand you can trust.
  • COOL MIST HUMIDIFIER: Uses the power of ultrasonic vibration to turn water into a cool hydrating mist that runs for up to 24 hours. Mist adjuster goes from gentle mist to tropical rainforest with a twist of the knob. The water tank is BPA free
  • DIFFUSER: Add Breath Frida Vapor Drops or any aromatherapy-grade essential oil for easier breathing - it covers up to 320 square feet with a 0.5 gallon tank.
  • COLOR CHANGING NIGHTLIGHT: Equipped with a range of nightlight colors for even more control over the dreamy ambiance.
  • AUTO-STOP FEATURE: Designed to automatically turn off when the water runs out or the tank is removed.
  • 3-IN-1: Use humidifier, diffuser and nightlight all together, or individually.
  • COOL MOISTURE HUMIDIFIER – Honeywell Top Fill Tower Humidifier (HEV620) produces cool, invisible moisture to ensure proper humidity levels in your home. Indoor humidity levels between 40-60% can help relieve cough and congestion, keep throat hydrated and more.
  • QUICK AND EASY TO USE – This humidifier features a removeable top fill tank that makes it easy to fill at the sink or with a pitcher. It has a space saving slim tower design that is optimized for high moisture output, and can run for up to 24 hours.
  • COUGH AND CONGESTION RELIEF – Cool moisture humidifiers for home can be helpful during cold and flu season, when it’s difficult to sleep with cough and congestion. A humidifier or vaporizer can provide temporary relief by adding necessary moisture to the air.
  • HUMIDIFIERS FOR BEDROOM AND MORE – A cool moisture humidifier fits perfectly into any room, making it a great choice for your whole family. Use them when the air is dry, in sensitiviy season, when sick or even just to maintain optimal indoor humidity levels.
  • A BRAND YOU CAN TRUST – Honeywell has been keeping families comfortable in their homes for over hundred years with our full line of humidifiers, filters and more.

Other Questions

1. What can I add to my humidifier water?

People are interested to know about the things to use in a humidifier. The very first thing that you can use out is purified water, which is vaporized while boiling it. The use of tap water leaves all the calcium on the heating element, which results in failure.

Another thing that you can add is a cleaning agent, which dissolves all the calcium buildup and sit it for a long time and get it hot. Another thing that you can add to humidifier water is scented additives for the atmosphere, but don't use it all the time. Scented rose, it does not make water up of real roses; it is complex of rose that is entirely harmless during use in manner.

2. What can you put in a humidifier to prevent mold?

There are several things that we can add in humidifier water for protection against the mold. The first thing that we can add is tea tree oil that is a natural disinfectant; a few drops of it prevent the image and serve as breathing aid.

Humidifier tablets are available online or in local stores designed to avoid the humidifier from mold growth and lime buildup. The least expensive option is the use of hydrogen peroxide for preventing mold in the humidifier, this gas kills the bacteria and fungus at the same time. You can pour out a few drops of it, and you get the job done. 

3. How do I clean my humidifier with vinegar?

It is effortless to clean out the humidifier using vinegar; first, you have to fill out the water tank with one cup of vinegar and a gallon of water. Plug it in outside and run the humidifier for an hour. When you did it after an hour, pour out the remaining liquid from the tank and rinse it with clean water.

Please don't turn on an indoor humidifier during vinegar use because it makes them smell of vinegar in your home. If you feel smell again after cleaning it, then use a few drops of essential oil, but don't be using the bleach or any chemical for clean.

References

If you require more information, please check these references

Temperature and Relative Humidity Affect Weed Response to Vinegar and Clove Oil , article, "bioone.org", retrieved on, Thu 09-July-2020

EDIBLE VINEGAR:ITS BACTERICIDAL ACTION AND EFFICACY , article, "en.cnki.com.cn", retrieved on, Thu 09-July-2020

Chapter 4 Technological and Microbiological Aspects of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar and Their Influence on Quality and Sensorial Properties , article, "www.sciencedirect.com", retrieved on, Thu 09-July-2020

Affiliate Disclosure

EarsToday is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program.

Search

Please enter search query below:

nick
Nick Le Page

 An air purifier is a device designed to remove dust, pollen, smoke, soot, mold spores, smog, and other airborne pollutants from the air.

If you want to keep your home clean and free of contaminants—and save money on heating and air conditioning bills—quality air purifiers are a powerful first step.

follow us!

Click on the links for our Social Media

linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram