Dehumidifiers are used in the improvement of indoor air by its lowering of the environmental humidity. This product can assist people with asthma and another respiratory disease as it will take dust away from them. The humidifier works using a mechanism that draws air in from a fan, then cools it using coils after which the air is heated and emitted out.
Since dehumidifiers draw air into the vents.
There will surely be an accumulation of dust and dirt from the air in some of the humidifier components. This could result in mold growth or slime. Dehumidifier slime can be found in the water tank or reservoir. If left without cleaning, it gives an offensive odor and affects performance. Therefore, cleaning a dehumidifier is very important. Whether it is a small humidifier or a large size one, there should be a thorough cleaning of it regularly. Lack of care will reduce the dehumidifier efficiency and proper maintenance will reduce the risk of damage. After all, prevention is better than repair.
How Then Can A Dehumidifier Be Cleaned?
When you want to clean a dehumidifier, you will need a cleaning agent to do the cleaning. They are:
- Hand gloves for protection
- A nose mask to avoid dust inhalation
- Soap
- Rags and towels
- Scrub brush
- White vinegar
First, Unplug The Dehumidifier From The Socket Then You Can Start Your Step By Step Cleaning.
Start from the exterior components
The outward parts of the dehumidifier are as important as its interior. So try to clean off the dust, dirt and debris it has accumulated throughout use using a dry or dampened rag.
Remove And Clean The Water Tank
Some dehumidifier makes use of a hose that removes water into a drain, but most dehumidifier uses a water tank. To clean this component, pour hot soapy water into the tank. Carefully shake to clean off slimes and other impurities that are stored in the water tank. If necessary, use a scrub brush to thoroughly clean the water tank. Rinse properly and wipe with a dry towel.
Clean The Dehumidifier Filter
If the dehumidifier filter is very dirty and may be in need of change, it is wise to do so but only through the manufacturer’s direction using the manual guide. After accumulation of dirt and dust, the air filter can look mulchy and this can affect the dehumidifier efficiency. Carefully dust off the large dirt particles, afterward rinse under a running tap so as to wash off any hidden impurities. When cleaning a dehumidifier filter, use little to no cleaning solution. This is because excess of this can affect the machine adversely and the filter won’t work as normal.
♣ Clean The Interior Parts
These parts include the fan blades, the dehumidifier coils and fins. These parts are sensitive and you would need to remove screws to locate them, so be careful not to lose the screws or tamper with sensitive parts.
Clean The Dehumidifier Coils And Fins Carefully
Dehumidifiers have coils that are useful for the removal of moisture from the air while the fins which look like a ‘thin shutter’ are used in collecting dust. Cleaning these parts is important in the improvement of dehumidifier performance and effectiveness. Clean the dehumidifier coils and fins by removing the dust and slimes it had accumulated. Carefully use soapy water and a small brush to reach areas that are impenetrable. These parts are sensitive so be careful. Try not to damage the coils or bend the shutter looking fins unless the airflow rate of the dehumidifier will be affected.
Wipe clean the fan blades
Like fan blades at home, these components accumulate dust in large amounts. This could affect dehumidifier efficiency, so carefully wipe clean these blades with a damp towel and dry with a rag to ensure it works better.
How To Clean A Dehumidifier With Vinegar?
Vinegar is a natural cleanser that can help in breaking down slimes, dust, and particles that are stuck up in the water tank into smaller pieces. It can also be used in disinfecting a dehumidifier.
When cleaning a dehumidifier, fill the water tank with about three cups of vinegar. By using agitation, try to ensure that each of the vinegar reaches each side of the tank or if the slime in the tank is to much, it is advisable to use a scrub brush to dislodge the slime carefully or rice mixed in vinegar and cold water. All these methods will ensure that the dehumidifier slimes are totally removed. Leave the vinegar in the tank to stay for one hour.
Afterward, pour out of the tank and rinse with cold water. When disinfecting a dehumidifier, fill the tank with vinegar and water. Switch on the dehumidifier to work for an hour. Do this outdoor to avoid your home smelling like vinegar. Pour out and rinse with water, then repeat the same process this time with only water. You can also use white vinegar to disinfect other smaller components especially those that are in no way electrical. Submerge these parts into vinegar and scrub lightly. Afterward, rinse each and dry with a clean towel before reassembling it.
Many people may prefer using bleach to clean a dehumidifier than vinegar, but this is not recommendable.
In fact, many dehumidifier manufacturers warn against using bleach. Although, bleach is an ideal cleansing agent in killing bacteria or mold growth. Yet, to be on the safe side and for family-friendly dehumidifier maintenance. The best material to use is white vinegar when you want to clean a dehumidifier.
Conclusion
Cleaning a humidifier is no hard task, it is highly recommended to do it regularly at least every three days. You can do extensive cleaning once a month. All this care routine is to ensure that the dehumidifier can last long and have little to no technical faults. The most humidifier comes with a guide manual that shows how to clean and maintain it, so make sure you read through that as well for added insight on how to clean the dehumidifier.
Now that you have knowledge on how to clean a dehumidifier, you can use this information to ensure you always have improved air quality in your indoor environment.
