Owning a Levoit humidifier is fantastic, but let’s face it, the upkeep can be a bit of a hassle. You should clean it every week to make sure the mist produced is clean.
Now, you might be thinking, “Oh no, I’m not an expert at this!” But trust me, it’s a breeze! As a proud owner of three Levoit humidifiers, I’m excited to share my tried and true tips on how to clean a Levoit humidifier correctly. It’s actually quite simple and straightforward.
Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Be prepared
White vinegar
White vinegar is an effective agent for descaling. You may find a lot of mineral buildup sticking to your Levoit model.
Bleach
This is for disinfecting your humidifier. To kill the bacteria inside it, you will need it.
Water
You will need some water to take away the impurities, vinegar, or bleach left in the machine. When making the solution of bleach, you will also need a lot of water.
A container
You will need a container when soaking the components in the vinegar or making the solution of bleach.
A soft brush
The small cleaning brush which is included in the package can help with removing the scale in the corners.
Two soft cloth
You can use it to wipe down all the contaminants in the machine and dry the machine quickly.
A pair of gloves
Protect you when you apply the bleach to your Levoit model.
1. Unplug your Levoit humidifier and empty all the water from both the water tank and the base chamber.
Don’t try to clean your humidifier when it is connected to a power supply. It is dangerous and inconvenient. Your Levoit humidifier may stop working.
Since we will use plenty of water during this cleaning process, I also suggest you move your humidifier close to a sink and dump all the stagnant water inside the tank and reservoir.
2. Remove small parts
Depending on which Levoit model you have, it may include a float, water filter, noise silencer, aroma pad, mist tube, or absorption pad. These small parts need to be removed. You can place them in a container.
I don’t think cleaning them when they are attached to the machine is a good idea and honestly, I have tried it. You may end up wasting more time because it is hard to access the nooks and crannies under this circumstance.
Taking off and putting back these parts is a breeze. It seems like the designers have considered this aspect.
3. Rinse the water tank and small components
If you have a brand-new model, giving these parts a good rinse under running water should do the trick before you use them for the first time.
Even if your humidifier is filthy, you should still clean it with water before using vinegar to remove dust and dirt.
4. Remove the stains on the surface
Use a damp soft cloth to take away the stains or dirt left on the outer surface. Please make sure the soft cloth is not too damp and the water will not get into the motor housing through the button or the air inlet.
5. Use vinegar to remove mineral buildup
Put all the tiny components back inside the container, and gently pour in ample distilled vinegar to fully submerge them. Speaking of the container, a larger opening is certainly more convenient.
Once this step is complete, add 3 cups of distilled vinegar into the water tank. Give it a good shake and then position it on the base.
The vinegar will slightly get into the base, helping to break down mineral deposits on the diaphragm and other surfaces.
Now, it’s a waiting game. Allow the vinegar to sit for about 30 minutes to work its magic.
6. Use a soft cloth or brush to remove the scale
After 30 minutes of waiting, the mineral buildup should be loosened.
You can go ahead and pour out the vinegar, then use a soft cloth to wipe away the scale from each component.
In some cases, there might still be some stubborn residue left behind. If that’s the case, you can rely on the small brush provided in the package to meticulously clean out any remaining deposits.
If you find the water filter or absorption pad difficult to clean, just replace it. As far as I know, these Levoit replacements are quite cheap.
7. Rinse all parts again
After you’ve successfully removed all the buildup, make sure to thoroughly rinse the humidifier under running water until the vinegar smell dissipates.
8. Disinfect your Levoit humidifier
As per the guidelines in Levoit’s user manual, they recommend disinfecting the humidifier on a weekly basis. However, due to my consistent cleaning routine, I tend to do it once a month.
First, you should mix 1 teaspoon of bleach with 1 gallon of water.
Afterward, pour this solution into both the base and water tank of the humidifier, allowing it to sit for about half an hour.
Once the designated time has elapsed, rinse the components with water until the bleach odor dissipates.
8. Dry out all the parts and put everything back
Utilize the dry cloth you’ve set aside to help speed up the drying process for all the components.
If you’re considering storing your humidifier after the season, it’s crucial to ensure that every part is thoroughly dried. Otherwise, you might end up with a humidifier riddled with mold and bacteria when you unpack it next year.
These are all the steps you need to take when cleaning a Levoit humidifier. It is not complex, right?
How long it will take to clean a Levoit humidifier?
Based on my experience, it takes about 20 to 30 minutes to give a Levoit humidifier a thorough cleaning.
Cleaning the Levoit 200s could be a bit quicker compared to the Levoit 600HH because it has fewer components and the warm mist feature makes the latter a bit more challenging to clean.
Additionally, you will need an extra 30 minutes to disinfect it.
Sum up
Levoit holds a solid reputation within the humidifier industry and according to my experience, their models are easy to clean.
When it comes to cleaning a Levoit humidifier, it’s imperative to take the time to detach and clean the smaller components individually. Moreover, allow the vinegar sufficient time to effectively loosen any buildup during the cleaning procedure.
Don’t be concerned! You’ll quickly get the hang of it.
