air purifier in living room with mother and kid reading on couch

Safety First offers humidifiers made with safety and wellness in mind. They have ultrasonic models, cool mist models, and self-sanitizing models that give people a way to make their home’s air more comfortable and help them breathe well. Like every humidifier, these humidifiers can get dirty and develop bacteria that result in potential health risk. Humidifiers often have slight differences between models and manufacturers, so it’s useful to have knowledge on maintaining your specific model. This is our complete guide how to clean Safety First Humidifier models.

Cleaning your humidifier properly is crucial to a healthy home; save this guide, so you always know the best way to sanitize your Safety First humidifier.

Safety First Humidifiers

Safety First humidifiers are high-quality and safe humidifiers that can help keep your home at the perfect humidity level, so you and your family are uncomfortable.

Safety First humidifiers do not utilize heat plates or warm mist, or anything that poses a threat to a small child or curious pet. The manufacturers focus on designing humidifiers that pose as few risks to buyers as possible.

That is why they offer a self-cleaning model, so the busy person can neglect the cleaning routine periodically and still have safe air to breathe. Their models are quiet and affordable and perfect for families looking for a better breathing environment.

Steps to Clean a Safety First Humidifier

how to clean Safety First Humidifier
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1. Unplug

The first step to cleaning any household appliance is to unplug it first. Water and electricity do not mix well, in case you didn’t know. It’s best to clean the humidifier in an area nearby a sink anyway, likely in your kitchen.

2. Empty Tank

Remove the water tank from the Safety First humidifier and dump out the old water. This is something you should be doing often anyway.

3. Fill and Soak

Now, you will fill the water tank with a cleaning solution. You have some options when it comes to what you want to use when cleaning your humidifier. The most recommended substance is bleach but it kills all bacteria and mold, but some people may not like using such harsh products.

Here are the cleaning substances you can add to a gallon of lukewarm water in your tank to disinfect and clean it:

  • Two teaspoons of bleach
  • One cup of distilled white vinegar
  • Two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide
  • A 50/50 mixture of citric acid and lukewarm water

All of these solutions will kill bacteria and any old growing inside your humidifier tank. Once you fill the tank all the way, set it aside and let it soak for at least 20 minutes and no more than an hour.

4. Wipe Exterior

While the water tank is soaking, use some of the cleaning mixture you made to wipe down the outside of your humidifier. Use a gentle sponge or a microfiber rag to wipe down every part of the humidifier you can get to.

Sometimes bacteria or mold hides in the dark nooks and crannies of your humidifier. If you don’t clean these, the bacteria will continue to spread and likely taint your water tank.

5. Scrub Tank

When the tank is done soaking, use a sponge to scrub the sides and bottom of the water. This will remove any residue or bacteria stuck to the walls of the tank. Clean the sides even if you don’t see any scum, as sometimes it isn’t visible.

6. Air Dry

The best way to dry anything, from dishes to humidifiers, is to air dry. Drying your humidifier with a rag or paper towel may leave bacteria on the surface that will then live in your humidifier.

It will take between 1-3 hours for your humidifier to completely dry, but it helps if you place the water tank upside down on a towel.

7. Reassemble

Once the unit is dry, you can fill the water tank and replace it in the humidifier. Plug the unit back in, and you’re all set!

Risks of Using a Dirty Humidifier

There are consequences to neglecting humidifier maintenance. Regular cleaning is crucial to keep your humidifier running well and avoid these unpleasantries.

Bacteria and Mold Spores

Mold and bacteria love to live in damp, dark places. And humidifiers are often wet, so the likelihood of mold growth in a neglected humidifier is high.

You may see a brown or pink film on your water tank, or even notice black water or particles. These are all signs of a mold infestation in your humidifier, and probably means it needs to be cleaned, and probably means you’ve waited too long to clean it.

Particle Build-Up

Most water contains impurities, and some of those purities are minerals, tiny, imperceptible particles. These particles can build up inside your humidifier and cause a layer of residue or block your humidifier sprayer.

Whether it’s minerals, dirt, debris, or dust, these tiny particles can lower your humidifier’s efficiency and also make it dirty.

Unpleasant Odor

When bacteria live in your humidifier, it may produce an unpleasant musty odor or smell like vinegar. If you notice these smells, your humidifier needs cleaning, or the scent will only worsen.

Maintenance Tips

Here are some maintenance tips, so your humidifier never gets to the point that it isn’t functioning or lowers your air quality.

Clean Weekly

No one wants to do it, but if you want your humidifier to work in tip-top shape, it needs thorough cleaning once a week. Once you clean your humidifier two or three times, it will become a habit, and we promise it isn’t as bad as it sounds.

Fill Daily

The water in your humidifier needs to be changed at least once a day to prevent bacteria and mold. This takes less than five minutes to do and makes a world of difference in your humidifier’s performance.

Use Pure Water

Try not to use plain tap water as it has many impurities. Distilled water is the best option for your humidifier, but you can also use filtered water.

Bottom Line

It’s important for every humidifier owner to regularly clean their unit, or they may fall victim to an uncomfortable environment or allergy symptoms from mold.

We promise, cleaning your Safety First isn’t as awful as you may think. Stay on top of humidifier maintenance so you and your family can breathe well.

FAQ

Can I add things to the water?

Yes, you can add some lemons, vinegar, essential oils, or a tiny bit of bleach to keep the water sanitized and eliminate any unpleasant odors you may be experiencing.

Can I run my humidifier overnight?

Yes, humidifiers can run for 24 hours a day if you need them to. But be careful not to increase the relative humidity too much, or you may feel uncomfortable.