Available products to help keep your humidifier clean

There are a couple of products available that treat the water so as to prevent bacteria from growing in the humidifier water tank. By preventing bacteria growth in the water tank, the cleaning process can be much easier and more effective. The two current products available are detailed below.

Bacteriostatic liquids

There are a few products available and are sold as bottled liquids. This family of products is of similar composition and contains a harsh disinfecting agent as the primary ingredient. Application requires that a measured amount of the liquid be added to the humidifier water every time the tank is refilled.

Pros
  • When administered properly are effective at controlling bacteria growth.
  • Available at most large retailers.

Cons
  • These chemicals are relatively toxic liquids and must be handled carefully, away from children.
  • Their use requires measuring and adding a specified amount of the bacteriostat into the humidifier water – can be difficult to handle and messy.

For more information on available products:

www.sears.com or www.holmesproducts.com

Drop-In Cleaning Cartridge

This is a new product that was introduce a few years ago and is becoming popular as a safe and easy-to-use alternative to bacteriostatic liquids. The product is small round cartridge shaped like a sphere with a handle attached on one side. The cartridge is simply dropped into the tank of the humidifier and replaced every 30 days. In the sphere section of the cartridge is found a patented media that is non-toxic and safe and has been historically used in drinking water filters. In addition to the many testimonials from consumers who have used the product and swear by it, it has been independently tested in a university setting and shown to be effective at preventing mold and bacteria growth. The results of this study were recently published in the Journal of Water and Health and can viewed at www.iwaponline.com.

This product is trade named Protec® Cleaning Cartridge and can be found at: www.kaz.com

Pros
  • Effective at controlling bacteria growth
  • Safe and non-toxic to use and handle
  • Easy to administer by simply dropping the cartridge into tank
  • Continuous protection from bacteria growth for 30 days
  • Works in all humidifiers and vaporizers
  • Effectiveness verified by an independent published study
  • Available at most large retailers

Cons
  • The one downside is that, according to the manufacturer, if you use water in your humidifier containing high concentrations of sulfur the product life may be limited.