It is difficult to underestimate the benefits of industrial climate control devices designed to increase the level of humidity in a residential area. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to simply buy a device and enjoy the benefits of civilization; you will have to at least familiarize yourself with the methods of how to clean an air humidifier from limescale.
Refusal to carry out preventive and restorative manipulations is fraught with serious problems, the least of which will be a decrease in the performance of the device. Of course, you can turn to a professional who will do everything correctly and quickly, but in this case you will have to shell out at least a third of the amount already paid for household appliances.
Causes and consequences of pollution of climate control equipment
Today, the household appliance market is filled with various types of humidifiers. The type of their work affects not only the condition of the air and its physical indicators, but also causes the development of specific problems:
- Steam installation. In the process of generating steam, which is mixed with air, active separation of salt molecules from particles suspended in the atmosphere occurs. They settle on the internal walls and elements of the device, causing scale formation. As the lime layer compacts, the thermal conductivity of the device decreases, which affects the quality of its operation. After some time, the device fails.
Advice: To avoid such consequences, it is worth taking a closer look at devices in which the evaporation of liquid occurs not during the boiling process, but at room temperature.
- Ultrasonic humidifier. Through the action of ultrasound, the surface of the water releases wet dust, the particles of which are so small that they take on the appearance of a cool fog. While water molecules mix with air components, salts are separated, settling on various horizontal and vertical surfaces. The whitish coating does not look very aesthetically pleasing and creates problems during the cleaning process. After some time, it begins to appear on the internal parts of the humidifier.
- Traditional mechanical device. In this case, the main load falls on the moistened cartridge, which becomes covered with a salt coating as a result of constant filtration of hard water. In addition, these devices are characterized by stagnation of water in the tank, which leads to the active proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms and the appearance of a putrid odor from the installation.
- Comprehensive air washing. In this case, you may encounter all of the problems listed - from limescale to whitish deposits. Such structures are quite difficult to wash and clean, but this must be done regularly.
The frequency of processing of functional products will be significantly reduced if filtered or distilled water is poured into their tanks, filters are regularly inspected and replaced, and the liquid used is changed more often. At the same time, it is forbidden to unnecessarily run the device at full power and remove limescale build-up with sharp objects.
How to properly descale a humidifier or air washer?
Removing dirt, scale or deposits may differ in certain specifics depending on the humidifier model, but the basic recommendations are the same everywhere:
- First, the device must be de-energized, freed from liquid and, if possible, disassembled into its components.
- The main container is washed in warm water using a soft cloth. Standard household chemicals are not used in this case, because... their residues are very difficult to wash out, and they will begin to get into the air when the device is connected.
- If such an effect does not give the desired result, you will have to use specialized preparations recommended by the humidifier manufacturers themselves. As a last resort, the use of citric acid or soda is allowed, but no aggressive pastes or abrasives with large particles.
- The case can be wiped with a very weak solution of vinegar, this will reduce the amount of dust settling on the product.
If, after such manipulations, traces of plaque or scale remain on certain parts of the container, it is better to contact a specialist. Such a dense limestone layer can quickly damage the device, so in some cases it is necessary to replace functional elements.
How to properly disinfect the device?
Simultaneously with cleaning, it is recommended to carry out several manipulations aimed at eliminating microbes on the walls and elements of the humidifier. Neglecting this stage increases the risk of developing allergies, fungal and infectious diseases among residents of the house.
The required result is achieved by performing one of the following actions:
- Cleaning with bleach. Fill the working container with cool water, add a teaspoon of chlorine bleach to it and leave for about an hour. After this, pour out the composition and thoroughly rinse all elements with which the product came into contact. If the humidifier has impressive dimensions, then it is recommended to increase the exposure period by half an hour; the concentration of the product does not change.
- Peroxide cleaning. Fill all internal elements of the device with 3% peroxide. There is no need to add water, such an effect will be enough. After an hour, wash off the liquid and rinse the container thoroughly.
- Cleaning with vinegar. We carry out the procedure only in the fresh air. Pour a glass of vinegar into the tank of the device and add water to the standard level. We start the unit in standard mode and keep it like that for at least an hour. After the specified time, wash off the liquid and rinse the product with plenty of water.
Regardless of what type of device we are talking about - be it an innovative ultrasonic humidifier, a classic steam humidifier, a universal one, or the most inexpensive mechanical one, all of them are guaranteed to be affected by environment during operation. We are talking, first of all, about limescale - a problem that is generally characteristic of all equipment that comes into contact with water in one way or another.
The humidifier most often becomes dirty due to limescale deposits.
The water that flows from domestic taps cannot boast of cleanliness, even if it wants to. Outwardly, it, of course, looks clean, but it also contains a significant amount of foreign impurities and various chemical elements. Heating such a liquid leads to the formation of a precipitate that clings to all possible structural elements of the device, gradually destroying them, causing it to become inoperative.
Humidifiers are also susceptible to dust, dirt deposits, mold and other unpleasant factors. Contrary to popular belief, contamination of the hardware of equipment threatens not only with a significant deterioration in its performance, but also with a negative impact on the health of people in the humidified room. Dust, fungal microspores, small particles of dirt and plaque - all this can get into the air, and from it directly into the human lungs.
Accordingly, the humidifier cleaning process should be approached as responsibly as possible. If existing recommendations and rules are correctly followed, the functionality of the device will be restored, which will immediately be felt by people who will again be able to breathe clean, moist and pleasant air.
Initially, you need to consider how to descale your humidifier. It should be understood that this event must be carried out as often as possible. The fact is that voluminous plaque, which has already become embedded in the material of the device, is much more difficult to remove.
First you need to disconnect the device from the power supply, then pour out all the liquid from it and dry it thoroughly. After this, it is advisable to disassemble it into parts - the more spare parts you get, the easier it will be to clean.
Prepare a container with warm water and load all the humidifier parts into it. Each element is thoroughly washed and wiped with a clean cloth. There is no need to use any auxiliary means in this case. At the end of the event, evaluate the result - it is quite possible that you will be able to get rid of most of the scale, for example, if it was fresh and has not yet had time to harden.
Disassemble the device and start cleaning
If the limescale has not gone away, you can try using some improvised means that are found in literally every kitchen. First of all, we are talking about. This is a fairly soft material that does not scratch the surface of parts, and at the same time fights scale very effectively.
You need to pour a small amount of baking soda onto a clean cloth or brush, and then thoroughly rub the problem areas with it. This procedure must be performed until the plaque disappears.
In more complex cases, you may have to resort to citric acid. This is an aggressive acid, and therefore must be used carefully. You need to add a few tablespoons of the substance to warm water and stir. A cloth is moistened in the resulting solution, and the parts of the humidifier are wiped with it.
Lemon acid
If the scale does not want to be removed under any circumstances, it is likely that you will have to seek help from specialized specialists. This will entail additional time and, importantly, financial costs.
Important - using household chemicals to clean air humidifiers is strongly discouraged, since the hazardous substances contained in them can remain on the walls and subsequently enter the air.
If everything is clear with scale, then what to do with mud deposits, stubborn dust and mold? To solve this problem, you can also use some available tools that are quite effective:
What to do if there is mold?
A very useful product that will also help in cleaning the humidifier from dirt. Using peroxide is very simple - several glasses are poured directly into the device (that is, it must first be collected back) so that the liquid completely fills the entire volume.
Peroxide will help get rid of dirt
After this, you need to leave the equipment for about an hour - this is enough to act on dirt and mold in the most destructive way. Next, all the liquid is drained, and the device is thoroughly washed under running water.
It can be used not only to remove scale, but also dirt. Inside the humidifier you need to pour several glasses of water and one glass of table vinegar. After this, the device is turned on for about an hour and left. Completion is traditional - draining the liquid and thoroughly washing.
Vinegar can be used for dirt and mold
It is necessary to understand that a unit operating on such a mixture stinks all the air in the room, and therefore it is advisable to take it outside, or at least leave it in a ventilated non-residential room.
Bleaching
You need to work with this substance very carefully. You can use either a self-prepared chlorine solution or regular bleach, for example, White. It is recommended to add just one teaspoon of chlorine bleach to four liters of warm water. This mixture is poured inside the humidifier for about an hour, after which it is drained. Next, the device is washed under running water until the characteristic smell of the chemical disappears.
It is always much easier to prevent a problem than to try to fix it in the future. That is why it is strongly recommended to carry out preventative cleaning of the humidifier at least once a month. To do this, you can use soda or citric acid.
It is also advisable to fill the device not with ordinary tap water, but with distilled water, which can be purchased at a specialized store. It is virtually devoid of any chemical impurities and, especially, abrasive particles. Therefore, scale will form much more slowly.
The more often you carry out preventive cleaning of your humidifier, the more reliably it will work and the safer it will be.
Any climate control equipment, due to the contact of moisture and air, sooner or later becomes polluted. But how to clean air humidifiers and how to use them so that you have to clean them as little as possible? Answers to all questions can be found in this article.
Causes of contamination of climate control equipment
In order to learn how to clean a humidifier with your own hands, first of all, you need to understand how it increases the humidity of the air in the room. True, if the humidifier is dirty, you can take a completely different route and have it repaired, or call a specialist from a service center, but this procedure will cost approximately 30% of the cost of the device itself. If you decide to repair the humidifier yourself, then read.
What happens when water boils
A steam humidifier works on the principle of an electric kettle: boiling water turns into steam, which, when combined with air, increases its humidity level. But, when water is boiled, the salts in it do not evaporate along with the steam, but are deposited in the form of a dense limescale deposit on the internal surfaces of the device and especially on the heating element. Plaque sharply reduces the thermal conductivity of the heating element of the humidifier, as a result of which this device begins to work worse and eventually fails.
There are types of humidifiers where the water does not boil, but evaporates at room temperature. We recommend you read it.
Ultrasonic Humidification Equipment
The device contains a special membrane, which, vibrating at an ultrasonic frequency, breaks the surface of the water into fine water dust. The moisture particles are so small that they create “cold steam” or fog. Water dust mixes with the air, and salts in the water settle on the surface of furniture, floors, equipment, etc., creating a white coating. This is the most common “disease” of ultrasonic climate control technology. In addition, such a “patina” appears over time on the internal surfaces of the device’s parts, which can cause deterioration in its performance, even to the point of failure of the device.
Humidifier of traditional - mechanical type
The operating principle of this type of air humidifier is to create an air flow mechanically, which, when in contact with a moistened cartridge, leads to the evaporation of moisture from its surfaces. As a rule, all the salts in the water are retained in the cartridge, which, during intensive operation of the device, becomes clogged after a certain time. As a result, there is a loss of productivity. The second problem is frequent stagnation of water in the tank, which leads to the growth of bacteria on the internal surfaces of the humidifier tank and the appearance of a putrid odor.
Combined action technique or “air washing”
Such devices include devices in which the humidification function is coupled with air purification. These climate systems are most often called “air washers”. The principle of their operation is not complicated: a certain structure made of a whole set of plastic disks rotates in a container of water. The air flow created by the fan “washes” the wet discs, due to which the air is humidified. Most of the contaminants in the air remain on the disks, and when they rotate, they are washed off with water into the device’s tank. 
“Washers” require careful care and frequent changes of water, since they have all the “diseases” that traditional humidifiers suffer from. The only thing worth remembering is that such climate control equipment is more difficult to clean and wash due to its more complex design.
What is needed for long-term operation of the device
- Use soft, purified or distilled water. This will prevent or dramatically reduce the appearance of limescale in the device and on surfaces in the room.
- Replace filters in a timely manner. Quite often, modern climate control equipment, including humidifiers, are equipped with sensors for filter contamination.
- Carry out preventative maintenance on the device: washing the internal surfaces of the humidifier, cleaning the heating elements.
- Change the water in the tank frequently.
What not to do to keep your device in working order
Turn on the climate control equipment at full power, and when the desired humidity results are achieved, turn off the device completely.
Advice!
A humidifier is a device that is designed to maintain a certain humidity in the air in the room, and not to “suddenly change the climate” in the home. The on-off process can lead to failure of the power supply and rapid formation of scale on the internal surfaces and attachment of the device.- Remove limescale using sharp objects.
- Use the device for purposes other than its intended purpose.
How to clean yourself
Let's consider cleaning several climate control devices from the Boneco company, with different humidification principles.
Cleaning the Ultrasonic Humidifier
- Drain all liquid from the device.
- Pour part of the solution into the water tank, and fill the lower part of the humidifier with the second part of the remaining solution.
- Clean the reservoir with cleaning liquid from various contaminants using a soft brush.
- The bottom of the humidifier should just sit with the cleaning solution for a few hours.
- After that, thoroughly rinse both the lower part of the humidifier and the reservoir with running water.
- Assemble the device and remove any remaining moisture from its surface.
Cleaning an air washer is practically no different from cleaning traditional humidifiers. Let's look at cleaning the Boneko Air-O-Swiss 2055D device
These simple tips will help you with weekly cleaning of your HVAC equipment. But don't forget that The device should be disinfected at least once a month. To do this, perform the same steps, but with a solution made from 1 spoon of bleach per 1 liter of clean water, after using which, thoroughly rinse the device several times with running water.
Advice!
To clean such equipment, do not use detergents, which may remain in the device and enter the body along with moisture. As a cleaning agent, you can use a “folk” solution of citric acid in clean water.
During their use, air humidifiers accumulate various harmful elements that can trigger allergies - plaque, mold and chemicals. To avoid deterioration of health, they must be removed regularly. Caring for an air humidifier involves 3 stages - cleaning, disinfection and prevention. To do this correctly, you need to determine what type of device it is.
Types of humidifiers
There are 4 types of devices in total:
- ultrasonic;
- mechanical;
- combined;
- steam.
Ultrasonic ones are one of the most popular models that require regular maintenance. When cleaning them, special attention should be paid to the membrane.
Ultrasonic humidifier Boneco
Mechanical devices are simple devices that are less popular due to the noise they create and low efficiency. Caring for them involves constantly replacing cartridges and systematically cleaning the water container.
Finether - mechanical humidifier with aromatherapy
Combined humidifiers are quite difficult to clean and have a number of advantages over other types of devices. Maintenance problems arise due to increased formation of dust and scale in the device.
Combined air humidifier Ramili Baby
Steam - this type of device accumulates the most scale. Such devices operate on steam, which makes them similar to an electric kettle, including methods for caring for the unit.
Steam humidifier
Moreover, each type of humidifier is susceptible to water blooming, up to a change in its properties. The reason for this is pauses in the operation of the device. To eliminate flowering, disinfection is carried out. Basically, solutions that have a characteristic pungent odor are used to clean and prevent air humidifiers, so it is recommended to carry out the procedures outdoors, but not indoors.
The devices also differ in what harmful substances are deposited in them. Because of them, problems may arise during the operation of the units:
- the formation of plaque (scale or salt) reduces the performance of the humidifier;
- the appearance of microorganisms, mold on water, harmful chemicals, etc. can pose a danger to human health.
Rules for descaling your device
When cleaning the device from scale, it is better not to use standard detergents, since they are difficult to wash off. It is also not recommended to use abrasive substances.
To clean the humidifier from scale, you must perform the following steps:
- 1. Unplug the cord from the device from the outlet.
- 2. Remove the components as indicated in the operating instructions.
- 3. Drain the remaining water from the tank and wash it thoroughly.
- 4. Clean the nozzle with a soft damp cloth.
- 5. Use a sponge to remove the main scale from the surface.
- 6. If this is an ultrasonic humidifier (Boneco, Electrolux, Polaris), then at this stage you should rinse its membrane. This can be done using a special brush, which is usually supplied with the device.
- 7. Using the same brush, clean off the remaining scale as indicated in the instructions.
After this, the following recipes for detergents are used, which must be poured into a working device (no longer than 1 hour):
- vinegar solution in a ratio of 25 ml of substance per 500 ml of water;
- essence with citric acid at the rate of 2-3 sachets per 1 liter of water.
With such solutions you need to leave the device to work, and after a few hours check the result - if the plaque remains, the cleaning should be repeated, otherwise you need to thoroughly rinse the tank with water. After this, the unit is ready for operation.
Mold Removal
To clean the device from microorganisms and greens, you need to follow a certain sequence:
- 1. Disconnect the device from the power supply.
- 2. Empty the humidifier from any remaining liquid.
- 3. Fill the tank with the previously prepared solution, and fill the lower section of the device with the other part.
- 4. Clean the container with a soft brush.
- 5. Leave the lower section for 3-5 hours.
- 6. Rinse the container and lower section of the device with water.
- 7. Assemble the device.
There are the following recipes for solutions against deposits and pollution that can be prepared at home (they must be used with the device running within 1 hour):
- vinegar solution;
- hydrogen peroxide: pour 500 ml of the product so that the liquid covers the entire space;
- bleach or bleach solution: 1 tsp. Dilute chlorine or bleach in 4.5 liters of water.
Air humidifiers help create a favorable microclimate in the home. To ensure trouble-free operation of the device, it is necessary to carefully care for it. You can descale your humidifier at home. Depending on the type of device, the washing process may vary, but the main stages of this procedure remain unchanged.
Causes of pollution
Full care of the humidifier includes regular cleaning of the tank, periodic disinfection and timely prevention. To combat device contamination You can use time-tested home remedies: citric acid, soda, vinegar.
The device can become dirty for several reasons. Tap water is very hard; it contains calcium and magnesium salts, which provoke the formation of limescale inside the humidifier, and during its operation spread through the air in the apartment. Getting rid of this plaque is very difficult. Also, this water may contain harmful microorganisms that not only contribute to the formation of mold, but also enter into the environment during operation of the device. Airways owners of the house.
Insufficient care of the device can lead to its failure. Even if you use clean filtered water, the device will gradually become dirty if you do not clean it regularly. Stagnation of moisture inside gradually creates a favorable environment for the proliferation of fungi and microbes.
Cleaning your humidifier is easy
Mineral deposits that form on the walls of the device must be cleaned regularly, otherwise their accumulation will lead to failure of the humidifier. The operation of the device will be simplified if you use purified water that contains less salts, which lead to the formation of limescale. You can clean the humidifier as follows:
Caring for the CRANE air humidifier, model DROP
A limescale remover can be prepared at home. There are several simple ways to remove scale from your humidifier:
How to clean a humidifier? Cheap, simple, safe!
This procedure is necessary to remove bacteria and harmful microparticles. There are simple but effective ways, with which you can disinfect the device:
Cleaning the polaris air humidifier from scale with a solution acetic acid (70%)
Cleaning and disinfecting the device should be carried out regularly. It is recommended to wash it every three days and disinfect it once every three weeks. To prevent the formation of limescale, it is necessary to use distilled, bottled or settled water (it must be changed more often).
Water that remains in the tank for a long time not only leaves lime deposits on the walls, but also causes active growth of bacteria. It is necessary to promptly replace filters and cartridges in the device. Do not clean the membrane with a stiff brush that is not included with the device, otherwise it will be damaged.
It is not recommended to turn on the device at full power, as this will shorten its service life. After creating the optimal level of humidity in the room, you must turn off the device; it should not work continuously. High humidity creates a favorable environment for the spread of mold and bacteria.
Large amounts of contamination should not be allowed to appear. Only special chemical solutions and powders can remove thick limescale deposits. In advanced cases, a metal sponge can be used. In this case, there is a high probability of damage to the case, so you should not overuse such cleaning.
The device should only be used for its intended purpose. It is prohibited to add aromatic or essential oils, herbal decoctions, use the device as an inhaler. This will cause the filters to become clogged and the device to fail.
If the humidifier is not used for some time, it is necessary to empty the water from it, rinse thoroughly and dry it. A faulty or outdated device should be replaced. It is recommended to buy a new humidifier after 5 years of use. An old device will do more harm than good.