How to clean/disinfect the humidifier

[Juliebove]

I have been using tap water to clean and to mix with vinegar to disinfect my humidifier. But in reading some posts on here it got me to wondering. Should I be using distilled water to do this? Thanks.

[bdp522]

I use distilled water to fill my humidifier for use but I use tap water(and vinegar) for cleaning it. Of course being that i only use distilled water for use, it needs cleaning very rarely.

Brenda

[JoyD.]

First, vinegar isn't a disinfectant. I used to be a microbiologist, and vinegar (acetic acid) won't reliably kill bacteria or viruses. It is useful around the house, added to water, for cleaning purposes.

You use distilled water in your humidifier, and if you wash it every couple weeks, why do you think it needs disinfection?

You don't NEED a disinfectant to keep your humidifier container clean. Wash it with a little mild detergent & warm water.

Joy

[DoriC]

Joy, you're a treasure. I've been wondering if just washing with a drop of Dawn, rinsing and airdrying every 2wks or so was enough. Now I know, thanks.

[Marietjie]

cleaning purposes.

.......Yes, this a very true......½ water ½ vinegar cleans windows beautifully. Specially if the glass has water staines (spots)

and

airdrying

.........I lately, after I washed my equipment, wipe it softly with a lint free cloth.
Looks good !

[Juliebove]

The man at the sleep lab told me once a week to disinfect it with vinegar and water and to sniff it to make sure all the vinegar was rinsed off. The instructions that came with it say to do the same. The man at the sleep lab also said to wash it and the hose and mask with unscented dish soap. I believe he said to wash the hose and mask daily and the humidifier weekly. I haven't been doing that. I got some citrus wipes to use daily on the mask. I do wash it once a week and have been washing the hose every couple of weeks. I never see anything in the hose that would need to be washed out.

[kebsa]

a 1part white vinegar to 10 parts water makes a cleaning solution that is useful at removing lime scale and mineral deposits from in kettles and in humidifiers for those who use tap water. Our tap water is very hard, we tend to get mineral build up around the elements in the kettle very quickly but when i went to buy distilled water for the humidifier on my vpap the only brands i find were clearly lalbled as not drinking quality and not suitable for use in medical devices such as humidiers so for a short while i did use tap water and not suprisingly in less than a month there was the beginnings of lime scale etc around the heater plate etc in the humidifier so i used the vinegar solution and in less than 10 minutes it was gone. So i think when it was suggested that this solution be used in humidifiers it was as a means to deal with mineral deposits rather than as an antibacterial or disinfectant

i since found my best option is to filter my own water with a filter that states it is suitable to deal with limescale deposits etc and that seems to be doing the trick

[Paul56]

I have been using the same humidifier tank since September... darn close to 8 months now.

Always use distilled water and simply top up the tank once each morning. Never washed the tank but have emptied it a couple of times and allowed it to dry out. The tank in service is as a clear as the spare new tank I have.

They key is to be using distilled water.

[DreamStalker]

I have been using the same humidifier tank since September... darn close to 8 months now.

Always use distilled water and simply top up the tank once each morning. Never washed the tank but have emptied it a couple of times and allowed it to dry out. The tank in service is as a clear as the spare new tank I have.

They key is to be using distilled water.

I've been using the same HH tank for over 2 years and have never washed (much less disinfected)it. I have swished excess water out of it into the sink maybe 2 or 3 times during that period.

I do use only distilled water though and it stays squeaky clean as the day I took it new out of the box. Paul is absolutely correct.

[Juliebove]

a 1part white vinegar to 10 parts water makes a cleaning solution that is useful at removing lime scale and mineral deposits from in kettles and in humidifiers for those who use tap water. Our tap water is very hard, we tend to get mineral build up around the elements in the kettle very quickly but when i went to buy distilled water for the humidifier on my vpap the only brands i find were clearly lalbled as not drinking quality and not suitable for use in medical devices such as humidiers so for a short while i did use tap water and not suprisingly in less than a month there was the beginnings of lime scale etc around the heater plate etc in the humidifier so i used the vinegar solution and in less than 10 minutes it was gone. So i think when it was suggested that this solution be used in humidifiers it was as a means to deal with mineral deposits rather than as an antibacterial or disinfectant

i since found my best option is to filter my own water with a filter that states it is suitable to deal with limescale deposits etc and that seems to be doing the trick

Not likely we'd get mineral deposits here. We have very soft water.

[Juliebove]

I have been using the same humidifier tank since September... darn close to 8 months now.

Always use distilled water and simply top up the tank once each morning. Never washed the tank but have emptied it a couple of times and allowed it to dry out. The tank in service is as a clear as the spare new tank I have.

They key is to be using distilled water.

I've been using the same HH tank for over 2 years and have never washed (much less disinfected)it. I have swished excess water out of it into the sink maybe 2 or 3 times during that period.

I do use only distilled water though and it stays squeaky clean as the day I took it new out of the box. Paul is absolutely correct.

Okay. Thanks!

[kebsa]

I think filtering the water is solving the problem of buidling up lime scale deposits but my preference initially was to use distilled water- infact that would still be my preference. As hard as i look though the only brands of distilled water i can find say that they are are not suitable for drinking or for use in medical equipment. they are intended for use in steam irons, batteries etc. Where have you found distilled water that is suitable for use in medical equipment

[Sleeprider]

I use tap water. Every month or so, I open the tank and clean it. I don't get deposits, I don't get sick and I don't think distilled water is necessary if you have clean water with a reasonably low mineral content.