It’s the air conditioning season, and you may have packed and stored away your humidifiers. Soon enough, you will have to take them out of storage again in time for the heating season.

That being said, we all know that humidifiers need regular cleaning. When it’s used frequently, the more vigilant you must be. The reason? It’s a good breeding ground of mold, as mold can grow within 48 hours of wet surfaces. The mold in the tank can then be transferred airborne which can cause itchy eyes and breathing troubles. Units equipped with anti microbial finishes on tanks and wicks become scaly and moldy if they are not cleaned.

It is therefore imperative to change the water daily. The tank should be emptied and refilled with clean water. Some units have parts that are even washable in the dishwasher, but they still need to be descaled with vinegar and disinfected with bleach.  Thorough rinsing is needed too to avoid breathing in harmful chemicals. And of course, before storage, they should be cleaned. As added precaution, clean it up too prior to using it for the heating season.

One last note: it’s important to follow manufacturer’s directions and schedule for descaling and disinfecting parts as well as filter replacement, wicks and the like.