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Can I Use Vicks Humidifier Without Vapopads

Can I Use Vicks Humidifier Without Vapopads? [Solved]

Vicks is a famous brand for making products to relieve respiratory conditions. Their products can often work with each other to achieve a better result. For example, it is usually recommended to use Vicks humidifier with Vapopads.

Many people who just got their first Vicks humidifier may be wondering if they can use Vicks humidifier without Vapopads. When I got my Vicks Starrynight model with a Vapopad in the package, I also had the same question.

In short, you can use your Vicks humidifier and vaporizer without Vapopads. Running it with water is totally fine in any Vicks model. 

If you want to know more about Vicks Vapopads and what you will get when using a humidifier with or without it, you should keep reading.

What is Vicks Vapopads?

what is vicks vapopads

When I searched on Vicks’s official website, I found that Vapopads is in the category of humidifier accessories. 

It is a series of scent pads that contains menthol, eucalyptus, rosemary, and lavender oil. Unlike Vaporub and Vaposteam, Vapopads is non-medicated, meaning that it is not aim to cure any health conditions. 

That being said, Vapopads do help in soothing some conditions such as cold, cough, and nasal congestion, according to my friends and reviews online. It also promotes a night of better sleep.

Vicks Vapopads are not able to release menthol vapor itself, and it has to work with Vicks humidifiers, inhalers, and plug-ins that can heat or send airflow to the pad. Luckily, Vicks provides all these products. 

Coming with a low price tag, each pad can disperse soothing vapor for up to 8 hours, and you can choose from different functions and scents. Some pads are specific for a good night’s sleep, and some have a mixed aroma of rosemary and lavender.

Can I use Vicks humidifier without Vapopads?

Yes, you can use Vicks humidifier without Vapopads. I personally run my Vicks humidifier without it in most cases.

Many Vicks humidifiers come with unique designs to work with accessories, like Vapopads and Vaposteam. Some have a medicine cup, and some have a slot or door. For example, my Starrynight model has a small slot between the water tank and base for putting scent pads which I neglected at the beginning. 

It is worth mentioning that you can’t add Vicks Vaporub or Vapopads to a humidifier tank because it can clog the machine.

While Vapopads can create an aroma that makes us feel relaxed,  the machine will operate normally with just water.

Whether a medicine cup or slot, it is an independent part that takes advantage of the heat or air flow produced in the machine. Therefore, the humidifier will continue to work with or without Vapopads.

Can I use Vicks vaporizer without Vapopads?

These days, the dividing line between vaporizers and humidifiers has become blurred, and many customers refer to Vicks vaporizers as Vicks humidifiers.

When you look at the top cover of the steam vaporizer, you will find a medicine cup that is for you to put scent pad, Vaposteam, or other medication. 

Vicks vaporizer can work independently without Vapopads. The warm steam expelled from it can increase the indoor humidity and help alleviate cough and congestion even though the effect would be better with added Vapopads.

Who needs to use Vicks humidifier without Vapopads?

use humidifier without vapopads

As a non-medicated product, Vapopads are generally safe. Nonetheless, you should exercise caution when using it with a humidifier on children. 

The package of my Vapopads shows that it is not for infants younger than 3 months or weight less than 4.5kg, while the website shows that “For infants under 10 pounds, DO NOT use more than 2 packs in a 24-hour period. For children 10-22 pounds, DO NOT use more than 6 pads in a 24-hour period.”

If these are the situations of your child, you should avoid using Vapopads when running a Vicks humidifier.

Aside from that, Vapopads are full of essential oils, which may trigger allergic reactions such as a stuffy nose, shortness of breathing, and chest tightness. You should check the ingredients carefully if you are prone to allergies. 

Can you use Vicks Vapopads in any humidifier?

Suppose you have a humidifier of another brand in a living room and want to enjoy the relieving vapor of Vapopads there. You may be confused about if you can use it with the humidifier too.

The good news is you can use Vapopads in any humidifier as long as it has a medicine cup or slot. As I said, Vapopads are just accessories. It will not affect the main functions of any humidifiers.

How to use a vapopad in a humidifier?

Inserting a vapopad is super easy, and you can check this video below. 

If the humidifier has a slot that is in between the tank and base, you should lift the tank, insert the pad in the slot and then put the tank back. 

how to insert vapopads

If your humidifier has a scent pad door that is on the outer shell of the humidifier, you can directly open the door, slide one or two pads in and close the door.

For devices with a medicine cup on the top, put one or two pads in the cup, and you are all set.

Don’t worry! The scent will start to release when the machine is running no matter which type of humidifier you have.

Conclusion 

Vapopads is great for calming and soothing, and it is a popular scent pad in the market. Even though it is a great option to run a Vicks humidifier with Vapopads, you can still run your humidifier without it. 

It is just an accessory and will not affect the regular operation of the device. Other than that, you can apply it to any other humidifier that can work with scent pads.

Although Vapopads are non-medicated,  you should read the instructions carefully when using them with your children, especially infants. It may also trigger allergic reactions in adults. 

If your humidifier doesn’t have a place to put Vapopads, you can consider adding Vapostem to the water tank.v

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Liz Yang is the founder of Airsmartly. She has been working at home for a few years and realizes that the performance of the HVAC system plays such an important role in our life. She has tested more than 150 products in person, including humidifiers, air purifiers, dehumidifiers, and ACs, and wants to share tips about using or troubleshooting these products with you. Her uncle is an HVAC expert with over 30 years of experience in the field, and often offers assistance when she is unsure how to handle a situation. He is also in charge of reviewing the articles on this site.

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