How to Get a Stagnant Water Smell Out of a Humidifier

Regular use of your humidifier helps increase the air moisture level during dry weather but can add unpleasant smells, too. Water that's left to sit in the humidifier becomes stagnant and produces odor, as does hard water. Rather than put up with rotten smells in your room, you can get a stagnent smell out of your humidifier by cleaning it regularly with simple supplies found around the home.

Bucket
White vinegar
Sponge
Toothbrush
Towel

Instructions

- 1
  Unplug the humidifier. Empty any standing water out of the water reservoir. Allow the reservoir to air-dry to kill any mold spores inside it.
- 2
  Pour 1 cup white vinegar into the water reservoir of the humidifier. Fill the remainder of the reservoir to the fill line with water.
- 3
  
  White vinegar cleans and removes stagnant odors.
  
  Run the humidifier to move the diluted vinegar through the system. This removes mineral deposit and deodorizes the inner workings of the humidifier.
- 4
  Turn off and unplug the humidifier after one to two hours. Don't let the unit run out of the vinegar solution. Empty the reservoir of the vinegar solution.
- 5
  Moisten a sponge with undiluted white vinegar. Wipe off the exterior of the humidifier and the inside and outside of the reservoir with the sponge.
- 6
  Scrub hard-to-remove mineral deposits or mold stains with a toothbrush dampened with white vinegar.
- 7
  Wipe the humidifier off with a towel to remove moisture. Let the humidifier air-dry before using it again.

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