Humidifier mold can be annoying to deal with, but with simple humidifier mold prevention, you’ll no longer have that problem.
The best way to prevent mold in your home humidifier is by using distilled water.
Give your humidifier regular cleanings with white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide, but make sure to rinse these substances out before using your humidifier again.
Below you’ll also find out how to clean a humidifier and additives you can use to help aid in mold prevention.
Let’s get started.
How To Prevent Mold in Your Home Humidifier
The best way to prevent mold in your humidifier is by using distilled water in your water tank.
Distilled water will make it less likely that any mold growth occurs and will keep your humidifier clean, resulting in less maintenance.
You’ll benefit from clean air, fewer mineral deposits as well as no white dust on your walls and furniture.
Tap water is going to leave mineral buildup in your humidifier and create white dust that will end up on your belongings.
The “White dust” is minerals that are left once the water dries out.
You can also prevent mold in your humidifier by washing it out with white vinegar.
White vinegar can kill bacteria growth and viruses and kills mold spores. Basic humidifier maintenance can go a long way in preventing mold growth.
Why Does My Humidifier Keep Getting Mold?
If mold growth is common in your humidifier, then you’re not properly maintaining it.
You have to ensure you’re putting in only distilled water.
Wash your humidifier regularly with either hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar.
You can also purchase humidifier tablets to aid in this process by preventing mineral buildup and mold growth.
What Can I Add to My Humidifier to Prevent Mold?
White vinegar
White vinegar is a preventative measure, not something that you want to put in a humidifier and leave it running.
It will prevent mold spores but it should only be used to clean your humidifier as the vinegar mist can irritate your nose, throat, eyes, and lungs.
Hydrogen peroxide
Just like white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide is NOT safe to put in a humidifier while it’s running.
It’s a great way to remove any mineral deposits and clean your humidifier to kill off any mold spores.
Make a solution of four parts water and 1 part hydrogen peroxide (3%) and leave it there for 30 minutes.
After the time has elapsed, clean out the solution, scrub it with a soft bristled brush, and let your humidifier air dry before putting in distilled water.
Humidifier tablets
Humidifier tablets are demineralization tablets that will help aid in cleaning your water.
They prevent white dust buildup as well as help extend the life of your humidifier with less mineral buildup.
Is it safe to put tea tree oil in a humidifier?
Tea tree oil is made from the melaleuca plant and is known for its medicinal properties. It’s anti-bacterial, antiviral and has antifungal properties.
While some recommend putting tea tree oil in your humidifier, it may not be the best case.
The oils can get stuck in the wick filter, damaging your humidifier. Unless your humidifier was made for essential oil use, avoid putting any in your humidifier.
Essential oils can also cause your humidifier’s tank to crack, so it’s best to avoid using them.
Can a Humidifier Cause Mold on Walls?
If the humidity levels reach above 50%, it can encourage mold growth to start on porous surfaces like the walls in your home.
The best way to prevent this is by running your humidifier only until you reach the optimal humidity levels of 35-50%.
If you don’t have a way to measure the humidity in your home, then you’ll want to pick up a hygrometer.
Why a Clean Humidifier is Important for You and Your Family
A clean humidifier is important because you’re breathing in the mist that it’s creating.
If you don’t maintain your humidifier’s tank and the type of water you put inside, you’ll encourage bacterial growth and can suffer from humidifier lung which can be deadly.
If you have a whole home humidifier, you should hire a licensed HVAC technician to service the humidifier to prevent mold from growing.
If your humidifier is giving an off-smell, then that’s a sign you need to give it a deep clean.
How to Prevent Bacteria in Your Humidifier?
Always use distilled water, change the water often, give it regular cleanings and if you feel that your humidifier is getting old, feel free to replace it.
Also, change the air filter in your home so that the air you’re breathing in as clean as can be.
Place the humidifier in the correct spot, away from any windows and out of direct sunlight.
Final Thoughts
While humidifier mold prevention seems like a lot to take in, you want to ensure your indoor air quality is as good as it can be.
By using distilled water in your water tank and regularly cleaning your humidifier to prevent mold, you’ll have no issues with mold in your humidifier.
Avoid using tea tree oil, which is a popular essential oil, as an additive in your humidifier.
Be sure that you don’t leave vinegar or hydrogen peroxide in the water tank, only use them as cleaning agents and let your humidifier air dry afterward.
Image Credit: Flickr.com
