Musty humidifier needs a cleaning

By KAREN YOUSO, Star Tribune

Last update: November 10, 2009 - 12:03 PM

Q Our humidifier has a musty odor when it comes on. What can we do about it?

A Clean it. It's very important to clean portable humidifiers regularly. Otherwise, they can grow bacteria and molds that spread throughout the home, harming your health.

Clean your humidifier according to the manufacturer's instructions in the manual. (If you don't have the manual, check the manufacturer's website.) If the cleaning instructions call for chlorine bleach or humidifier cleaner, be sure to rinse the tank well afterward, to avoid breathing harmful chemicals.

If there are no specific cleaning recommendations, then clean all humidifier surfaces that come in contact with water with a 3 percent solution of hydrogen peroxide every third day.

Send your questions to Fixit in care of the Star Tribune, 425 Portland Av. S., Minneapolis, MN 55488, or call 612-673-7032, or e-mail fixit@startribune.com. Past columns are available at www.startribune.com/fixit. Sorry, Fixit cannot supply individual replies. Fixit appears every day except Friday.

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