Tips for Keeps: Caleaning Your Humidifier and Replacing Humidifier Wicks
Humidifier wicks are filters made of porous material that draws water upward in a capillary action. Humidifier wicks are present in most kinds of evaporative portable units. An evaporative humidifier is composed of a water container or reservoir, a basin, a fan and a filter. Some filtered humidifiers use a sponge, dampened grill, foam or cloth drum. The philosophy behind the evaporative technology is simple. Water from the water reservoir flows into a basin and the wick filter is directly in contact with the basin. Humidifier wicks absorb the water and traps large particles such as dirt and minerals. The fan blows through the filter, making water evaporate.
A humidifier will only function well when it is properly set up and regularly cleaned. Humidifier wicks must always be in good condition, and the same goes for other parts of a humidifier. When a water-filled humidifier is left to stand unused even for a while, the stagnant water accumulates dirt and becomes a breeding ground for mold spores and bacteria. This poses a lot of health risks because when dirty water evaporates, the harmful elements also become airborne. The water tank should always be emptied when not in use, washed and disinfected, and refilled with clean water when to be operated again.
Humidifier wicks, which play a very important role in keeping the water vapor clean, must be washed or replaced with an unused filter depending on the manufacturer’s instructions. Most humidifier wicks are very economical that inserting new filters is usually more practical than washing and reinserting old ones.
Humidifier instructions indicate if humidifier wicks of a particular model can be washed or not. Washable filters can be soaked in soap and cool water. Hand cleaning is advisable when removing scale and build-up in humidifier wicks. Although certain filters can be washed, they should not be used over and over again. It is always safer and more convenient to use new humidifier wicks. Old and worn-out filters will not do their job very well and cleaning dirty filters takes time and effort. Replacement filters for non-reusable humidifier wicks are easy to find.
The humidifier base or basin needs to be de-scaled and disinfected during maintenance. Even if the water tank is clean, water is fresh and wick filter is new, a grimy base can contaminate other parts of the humidifier. Humidifier wicks draw water from the base so any scale, residue and dirt from the base can end up in the water, filter and air.
Related Articles:
- Tried and Tested Tips: How To Clean Your Evaporative Unit’s Humidifier Parts When you take care of the parts of your humidifier, you also look after your health. Clean parts make way for clean humidification....
- Back to Basics: The Truth Behind Humidifier Pads A humidifier pad or filter, which strains dirt as it absorbs water, comes in various shapes and sizes. Invest in good humidifier pads because they affect the performance of your...
- Tips in Cleaning Humidifiers The manual of your humidifiers may provide information about keeping it clean. However, there may be some that they forgot to include that involves protecting yourself and the humidifier....
- Humidifier Wick: How It Works and How To Keep it Clean A self-regulating evaporative humidifier is a good addition to your home. Keep your humidifier wick clean to prevent dirt and bacteria from spreading....
- Keep Your Humidifier Wick in Good Condition A self-regulating evaporative wick humidifier is a very handy device. Keep the humidifier wick clean and replace it when necessary to avoid dirt, molds and bacteria in the air....















