How to clean a dehumidifier with vinegar is definitely a beneficial procedure for anyone who owns a dehumidifier or even thinks about owning a dehumidifier.
Typically you should clean your dehumidifier every 2-3 weeks or 3-4 weeks according to your personal usage, and keeping in mind the job of a dehumidifier, this period is pretty logical.
Plus, to be honest, using vinegar is a much better option in comparison with cleaning products that are full of chemicals that we don’t even know what they do to us now or in the future.
1. Gather Your Supplies
The very first thing that you need to do is to gather all of your supplies in a place that you’re not afraid to get dirty. So, you might want to do this in the bathroom as you might end up needing the sink, or maybe even in your garage.
Nevertheless, keep all of your tools next to you so that you’re aware of your surroundings and nothing is spelled. These products will include:
- White vinegar
- A microfiber washcloth
- A soft brush
- A few towels
- A vacuum cleaner
- Clean Water
2. Safety Procedures
Even though the process of cleaning house appliances might seem simple and unworthy of taking safety precautions, remember what the dehumidifier action is: it purifies the air by capturing all of the allergens, toxins, bacteria, dead skin, dust particles, and anything that could be floating around in the air unseeable by the naked eye.
Hence, logically, you would never want to expose yourself or your pets or children to that. Thus:
- Always do this in an open space
- Don’t forget to put on a dust mask
- Have your mask cradle your nose and mouth snuggly
- Don’t allow kids or pets anywhere near your working area
3. Basic Steps
- Turn off your dehumidifier
- Unplug it
- Make sure that it has no electrical current whatsoever
- Disassemble your dehumidifier
Pro Tip: try to dig-out your users’ manual as it’s the most trusted source of information on how to properly disassemble your device without harming yourself or causing significant damage to the device itself.
Actual Cleaning Process
The very first step will be to clean the outer surface of the dehumidifier, and that’s where the microfiber towels will come in handy.
- Make a solution of one part vinegar and one part warm water
- Dip the microfiber towel in the solution
- Start to rub the exterior of the dehumidifier gently
- If you are faced with any tough spots, you can use the soft-bristled brush
Pro Tip: Don’t ever spray or dump the mixture on any part of the dehumidifier as it might cause irreversible damage.
Tank
Next, clean the tank. There are two ways to clean the tank of a dehumidifier, but the first thing you need to do before touching your cleaning supplies is to dump the tank entirely.
Make sure that it’s completely empty of the stagnant water so that you’ll reduce your exposure to everything that the dehumidifier has caught up till now.
- Now, you can either fill up the tank of the dehumidifier with your made solution of vinegar and warm water
- Leave it for 15-60 minutes
- Then dump it and rub it with the microfiber towel to remove any residual solution
OR
- You can jump to the final part and start cleaning using the clean cloth towel, which was dipped into the mixture of vinegar and water, and the soft bristle brush if needed
Hose
Remember, if your dehumidifier uses a hose to get rid of water, then this hose will need to be cleaned too.
- Using the same solution, soak and flush the hose a few consecutive times
Filters
The next thing that you’ll need to clean will be your filters, and that’s where the vacuum cleaner comes into play.
- Use the vacuum cleaner to remove all of the accumulated dirt on the filters
- Next, use your microfiber towels to softly scrub the filters and remove every last trace of dust and dirt
4. Drying Process
The last step will be to let everything completely dry, and that’s where the towels come into play.
- You’ll lay out all of the different parts of the dehumidifier and let them air dry completely
- You can leave them outside or inside to dry for a whole day or maybe even more
You must know that any drop of water coming in contact with the electrical workings of the dehumidifier could easily be the cause of a catastrophe. Therefore, you can never be too careful.
5. Replug
Replug only after you are absolutely sure that your entire dehumidifier is completely dry.
PS: you can go over it with a towel again. You can now reassemble the dehumidifier, again using your users’ manual, to eliminate the chance of any mistakes.
Then, re-plug the device and turn it on.
6. Observation
An essential step that so many people forget is to actually observe their dehumidifiers.
- At first, look for any abnormal lights or alerts that something is wrong or that it’s not behaving as it normally would
- Over time, keep an eye on it that it is working optimally and it’s not making any weird sounds until you’re entirely comfortable with your device again
Final Thoughts
This was our compact and to-the-point guide on how to clean a dehumidifier with vinegar. Keep in mind that vinegar is an excellent alternative for cleaning around the house. All of the things that we come in contact with will be much better off treated with natural vinegar than other chemically structured cleaning products.
Even baby toys and bottles these days are being cleaned with vinegar for better health. If you find that there’s anything wrong with your dehumidifier after you have cleaned it, don’t hesitate to call the company or take it to the shop if you still have its warranty.
Don’t risk keeping an unstable electrical device in your home close to yourself, your kids, and your family. That can easily be the difference between life and death.
