Humidifiers are an essential tool to boost comfort at your home or workplace. They remove the dry surrounding air by adding moisture. This helps you stay hydrated and relax after a long working day. However, the humidifier can become a problem for you if not maintained properly.
Humidifiers may become homes for mold and bacteria. Oftentimes, bacteria and mold are not so dangerous for human health, but when they are accumulated inside a humidifier, they can be the reason for many potential health risks. There are several colored molds that can accumulate in your humidifier, but pink mold could be a major concern.
When you see pink mold in your humidifier, you must understand that your humidifier needs a thorough cleaning. You will be happy to know that pink mold is a common issue and can be cleaned following some simple steps. Let us go through this article to learn how to clean pink mold from a humidifier.
Understanding Pink Mold Bacteria in a Humidifier
You will be surprised to know that pink mold is a bacteria, despite having the name mold. This bacteria can be dangerous when it gains a large number. As your humidifier is the best place for pink mold to accumulate, you can often notice it. This is the reason why it is suggested to clean the humidifier once every three days.
Molds grow in different colors, but pink mold is commonly found in areas that are dark and wet. Pink molds can be commonly found in many parts of your humihumidifier, including the water tank, internal components, and even filters. The best solution to avoid these molds is to keep the humidifier clean by following the cleaning procedure twice in a particular week.
Dangers Associated with Pink Mold Bacteria
Pink mold can become a cause of many health risks and could be dangerous if not treated and cleaned timely. Several instant reactions associated with pink mold bacteria include:
- Runny Nose
- Congestion
- Coughing
- Dry and Scaly Skin
- Eye Irritation
- Sore Throat
- Respiratory Issues
How to Clean Pink Mold from a Humidifier
Cleaning pink mold from a humidifier is a simple and straightforward process. You do not need a lot of stuff to clean it as the process can be carried out using some tools and homemade mixtures. The following are the steps that can help you:
Step 1: Foremost, your safety must be on your priority list. For this, you must unplug the humidifier and ensure there is no power supply to it. Also, you must wear gloves and other protective gear. After that, collect all the essential items needed in the procedure. The items will include vinegar or bleach solution, bristle brush and cloth, and other supplies.
Step 2: Now, you will need to disassemble the humidifier so that you can clean each part thoroughly. You can check the manual instructions for this. Typically, this will include the water tank, the base, and any removable parts like filters, etc. When done, you can clean the parts using warm water to wash out loose debris. This will make your mold cleaning easier.
Step 3: Prepare a solution of vinegar or bleach by adding some water to it. The acidity of vinegar and normal bleach will help to remove the pink mold and disinfect the surfaces. You can also choose to soak the parts in the solution for easier cleaning. After soaking, you can start by gently scrubbing the areas with a simple brush and use a small toothbrush for tough molds.
Step 4: After scrubbing, rinse all the components thoroughly with clean, warm water to remove any remaining mold and vinegar residue. If your humidifier has filters or wicks, replace them if they are disposable or clean and disinfect them in the vinegar and water solution. Allow them to dry before reassembling.
Step 5: When all the components are dried, you can simply reassemble all of them as per the instructions given in the manual guide. You should also test its functionality after reassembling it. If it is working properly, then your work is done and you can rest stress-free. Ensure that you clean the humidifier frequently so that there is no further accumulation of pink mold.
Conclusion
Your health can be badly affected due to the presence of pink mold in your humidifier. As you breathe in that air, there is a high possibility that you get respiratory issues and allergic reactions. Your health is the main reason why you should keep pink mold away from your humidifier.
In this detailed guide, we shared the best method of how to clean pink mold from a humidifier. All you have to do is choose the most suitable cleaning agent, follow the above-mentioned simple steps, and get a clean humidifier. Take instant action to clean the pink mold or else it can become a major issue in the long run.