How to Clean a Vicks Humidifier

Co-authored by Victor Belavus

Last Updated: March 19, 2024 References

A Vicks humidifier can be a godsend when you’ve got the flu, a nasty cold, or sinus issues. They use special filters to remove contaminants from the air and contaminants from your water can build up into scaly deposits over time. Fortunately, cleaning your Vicks Cool Mist humidifier is actually really easy. Rinse the humidifier daily to keep it lasting longer, and do a nice deep-cleaning at least once a week to remove any scale deposits. We’ll even show you how to make a DIY vinegar cleaning solution to disinfect the water tank and tray monthly to prevent bacteria build up.

Descaling & Disinfecting the Humidifier

To descale, fill the tank with 1 cup (237 mL) of distilled white vinegar. Place the tank on the base so the vinegar fills the reservoir. Wait 30 minutes, pour out the vinegar, and wipe away loosened deposits. Rinse with water. To disinfect, repeat this process with 1 gal (3.8 L) of water and 1 tsp (5 mL) of bleach.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Rinsing the Humidifier Daily

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1
Place the humidifier on a flat surface. Make sure the humidifier is turned off and unplug it. Set it on a clean, flat surface like a table or a countertop. Make sure you have enough space to clean the humidifier.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Victor Belavus
Air Conditioning Specialist

Expert Interview. 6 May 2020.}
- Make sure the surface is flat and even to keep water from running off the sides.
2
Remove the water tank and water tray. Both pieces are attached to the base of the humidifier. Take off the water tank first, which will allow you to slide out the tray. Be careful not to damage the filter when you remove the tank and tray.^{[2]
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- If your humidifier doesn’t have a tank, remove the top housing and lay it upside down on a flat surface. Make sure you don’t rest the housing on the water tube or you could damage it.
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3
Empty the tank and flush it with warm water. Unscrew the cap on the water tank and empty the water into a sink. Flush the container with clean, warm water. Shake the container to slosh the water around inside of it.^{[3]
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- Use warm, but not hot water to flush the tank. Hot water could melt or warp the plastic.
- If your humidifier doesn’t have a water tank, empty the base of any remaining water and wipe it down with a clean rag or paper towel to dry it off.
Take a clean cloth or a few paper towels to the exterior of the water tank and any other areas that may have gotten water on it. If any other parts of the humidifier are dusty or dirty, use the damp cloth or paper towel to wipe them down.^{[4]
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Safety Warning: Be sure to remove all of the water from the tank or it could cause an electric shock.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Deep-Cleaning the Humidifier Weekly

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1
Empty the water tank and flush it with warm water. Remove the water tank, unscrew the cap, and empty any water inside of it. Then add some warm water to the tank and shake it around to flush it. Set the tank off to the side until you’re finished cleaning the humidifier.^{[5]
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- Place the tank upside-down to allow any additional water to run out of it.
2
Turn on the humidifier to allow air to flow through the filter. With the tank still removed, turn on the humidifier. When the wicking filter is completely dry, turn off the humidifier and unplug it.
- It should take about 10-15 minutes for the filter to dry out.
- If your humidifier doesn’t have a removable tank, turn off the humidifier and unplug it. Then remove the top housing, and dump out any water left inside. Wipe it down dry with a cloth or a paper towel.
Gently pull the filter straight up to remove it without tearing it. The filter should be completely dry before you try to remove it. If it isn’t dry, wait another 5 minutes.^{[6]
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Tip: Some humidifiers use cartridge filters, which need to be replaced instead of cleaned.
4
Remove the water tray and pour 1 cup (240 mL) cup of vinegar into it. Slide out the water tray and set it aside. Pour the undiluted vinegar into the tray and allow it to sit for 30 minutes. The vinegar will loosen any scale deposits that may have built up over time.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Victor Belavus
Air Conditioning Specialist

Expert Interview. 6 May 2020.}
- For humidifiers that don’t have a removable tray, use a sponge soaked in vinegar and wipe the inside of the base. Then rinse it out with warm water.
- Use distilled white vinegar.
5
Scrub the water tray to remove any scale deposits. After 30 minutes, take a sponge and scrub off any scale from the water tray. If the scale isn’t coming off, soak the tray in vinegar for another 30 minutes then scrub it again.^{[8]
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- Use a sponge that has an abrasive side to scrub the tray.
6
Rinse the tray and pickup tube with warm water. Once you’ve scrubbed off the scale deposits, rinse off the water tray and the pickup tube that transfers the water from the tank. Use warm water that isn’t too hot. Dry off the tray, tank, and tube with a clean cloth or paper towels when you’re finished.^{[9]
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- Make sure you rinse the inside and outside of the pickup tube.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Disinfecting the Water Reservoir Monthly

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1
Fill the water tank with water and bleach. Mix together 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of bleach and 1 gallon (3.8 L) of warm water. Allow the water tank to soak for 20 minutes. Stir the water occasionally by gently shaking the container every few minutes to make sure the bleach reaches every part of the tank.^{[10]
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- If you don’t have a removable water tank, add the bleach and water mixture to the water reservoir in the base.
2
Pour out the bleach water after 20 minutes. Remove the pickup tube and carefully pour out the bleach so it doesn’t get on any other parts of the humidifier. Pour the bleach into a sink or another safe disposal area.^{[11]
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- If any of the bleach water splashes onto the humidifier, dry it off immediately with a cloth or paper towel.
Safety Precaution: Be careful not to breathe in the fumes from the bleach.
3
Rinse the water tank and the pickup tube until the bleach smell is gone. It’s important that you flush away all of the bleach from the humidifier. Use warm water to rinse the water tank repeatedly until you no longer smell any bleach at all. Make sure you flush the pickup tube as well.^{[12]
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- Flush out the water reservoir in the base if your model doesn’t have a removable tank.
4
Dry off the entire humidifier. Use a clean, dry cloth or paper towels to dry any surface that got wet. It’s important that the exterior of the humidifier is completely dry before you plug it in and use it.^{[13]
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- Let the humidifier air-dry for about 3-4 hours to make sure it’s fully dry.

Expert Q&A

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What can I use to clean my Vicks humidifier?

Victor Belavus
Air Conditioning Specialist
Victor Belavus is an Air Conditioning Specialist and the Owner of 212 HVAC, an air condition repair and installation company based in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to HVAC and air conditioning units, Victor also specializes in furnace repair and air duct cleaning. He has over 10 years of experience working with HVAC systems.

Victor Belavus

Air Conditioning Specialist

Expert Answer

You can use a combination of distilled white vinegar and water, or a mixture of citric acid and water to clean your humidifier. Soak the filter and tank in your cleaning solution for 15-60 minutes. Then, rinse the filter and tank with clean water before reassembling your humidifier.

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