How to clean and disinfect a humidifier

As summer comes to an end, temperatures drop, leaves fall from the trees - and the air gets dryer than before. Not to worry! You have your humidifier clean and ready to go, right?
If you haven't cleaned and disinfected your humidifier in a while, this is the perfect time of the year to do it. And here's an easy way to do so!

Why clean the humidifier?

1. Clean it or lose it: Your humidifier works the same way as any other household appliance (a vacuum, for example). If you don't clean it, it'll break down sooner rather than later.
   
2. Humidify your air, don't harm yourself: A dirty humidifier won't make the air easier to breathe, it'll fill your room with bacteria and other nasty things you don't want to inhale.
   

The items you'll need for the job

• A toothbrush
  
• Distilled white vinegar
  
• Bleach
  

How to clean and disinfect a humidifierCleaning it:1. Lights out, loads offFirst things first, turn off your humidifier. Then, unplug it. Finally, disassemble it. Easy, right?
2. Mix vinegar with water and fill the tankNow comes the tricky part: mix one cup of vinegar with one cup of water, then pour it into the tank. Move the tank around; that way, the vinegar will get everywhere.
3. Put the tank in the base and let it sit there for a whilePlace the tank on its base and let it sit there for a good 20 minutes.
In the meantime, you can figure out whether you'll use an old toothbrush next - or, if one of your roommates thinks a humidifier is unnecessary, you can use their toothbrush. Be advised that act of aggression will start a prank war.
4. Remove the vinegar and scrub awayPour the vinegar out of both the tank and base. Then, using a toothbrush, scrub away. Remember to be gentle but firm when you do.
If the toothbrush is too big for certain parts, use a wet cloth dipped in vinegar to finish the job.
5. Rinse but don't reassemble yetUse water to rinse your humidifier. After that, let it air dry for a while. Now you can reassemble it (and use it), or you can disinfect it if you want to do a more thorough job.
Disinfecting it:1. Mix water and bleachPour one teaspoon of bleach into one gallon of water. It might seem like too little bleach - but it will get the job done.
2. Pour the water and bleach mix inside the tankBe careful not to spill when you do. And, as you did before, swish the tank around so the mix gets everywhere.
3. Put the tank on the base againThen, let it sit for another 20 minutes. Don't try to come up with ways to prank your roommates using bleach, that's too dangerous.
4. Empty the tank, rinse, and wipe itPour the bleach mix out of the tank, rinse thoroughly using water (until you can no longer smell bleach), and then dry it using a piece of cloth.
5. Reassemble and enjoyPut everything back together - and take a deep breath, the air feels better already!

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