Humidifiers are great little devices. They can take care of skin drying, chappy lips, and nasal congestion issues.
However, not everything is excellent about humidifiers. If you do not use them correctly, you can find yourself dealing with molds.
That is why learning how prevent pink mold in humidifier is pretty crucial.
To prevent pink molds from growing inside the humidifier, you must change the water daily. You should also switch from tap water to distilled water. Additionally, use vinegar while cleaning the humidifier.
But why causes the pink molds to grow in the first place? And why do people blame tap water for it? Stick around to learn more about the topic!
What is Pink Mold? Are There Different Types of It?
Before diving deep into the prevention process, let’s first learn a little about the problem.
Like any other mold, pink molds are basically a colony of microorganisms. In this case, this type of mold is bacteria.
That said, two types of bacteria cause this mold. One is ‘Aureobasidium pullulans,’ while the other is ‘Serratia marcescens.’ Let’s give you an overview of both types.
Aureobasidium Pullulans
The first one is the most prevalent type of pink mold. Usually, these types of pink molds fall into the fungus classification.
These start as pink, but they will gradually fade to darker grey or brown over time.
Just like any other molds, these like to grow in damp spaces.
You will mostly find them in gout and bathrooms. However, they can also thrive inside the humidifier.
You should also know that Aureobasidium Pullulans like to thrive on organic stuff.
So, when you see this type of pink mold in the humidifier, the water you use has organic stuff.
Serratia Marcescens
This pink mold will grow in any place with a moist environment.
However, unlike the Aureobasidium Pullulans type, Serratia marcescens will start off pink and remain pink. But they can have some hues of orange in them.
Nonetheless, these pink molds thrive in indoor areas. You will find them in the cabinets, laundry rooms, and kitchen.
However, they can also grow inside the humidifier.
Is Pink Mold in Humidifier Dangerous?
Pink molds are generally less dangerous than black molds. However, that does not mean that they bring no harm.
Any form of mold that you find in your home is not safe. And you should definitely not stay exposed to them for a long time.
If you do not take proper action to clear up the molds, you will find yourself facing different health problems.
When it comes to pink mold, if you are around them long enough, you might develop respiratory infections.
There will also be a high possibility of you facing urinary tract infections, heart problems, gas issues, and other health issues.
So, whatever you do, do not take pink mold and residue in the humidifier lightly.
How to Prevent the Growth of Pink Mold in the Humidifiers?
There is no need to go through complicated steps to ensure pink molds do not grow inside the humidifier.
You can keep your surrounding mold free, by taking care of the following factors while using the humidifier-
Change the Water of the Humidifier Frequently
Before anything else, you must pick up the habit of changing the water tank daily.
In other words, you should not use the water from the previous day to run the humidifier.
Even if the water looks clean, it might have minerals and other organic matter in it.
And when you let such water sit for a while, it will promote mold.
Clean the Humidifier Properly
If you notice pink mold inside the humidifier, stop it immediately and give it a good clean.
To get all the bacteria out of the system, regular soap will not cut it.
Instead, you need to use vinegar. That said, even if you don’t notice the growth of pink mold, you can use the vinegar cleaning method to prevent pink mold.
White vinegar will work like a charm in cleansing the inside of the device.
However, you need to rinse the tank properly after using the vinegar.
Otherwise, the vinegar will get into the air and will cause eye, throat, and nose irritation.
Consider Using Humidifier Tablets
Along with cleaning the humidifiers, you can use humidifier tablets to lower the chances of pink mold growth.
These tablets basically neutralize the molds, bacteria, and other odor-causing organisms that might be thriving inside the device.
And the best part is that you will find these tablets pretty easily.
Clean the Areas Around Your Humidifier
As you know, pink molds like to live in areas that have a high moisture content. And the area where you have set up the humidifier fits that description.
So, to prevent pink molds from growing around the humidifiers, you should disinfect the area regularly.
In addition to that, consider changing the location of the humidifier.
That will not only lower the chances of mold growing around the humidifier but also allow the device to spread humidity efficiently around the room.
Do Not Entirely Block off the Sunlight
Sunlight is highly effective in combatting pink molds. The thing is, this type of mold likes to live in areas that are dark.
So, bringing light into the equation will lower the mold’s chances of thriving. And that will eventually reduce the chances of it spreading throughout the area.
Make Sure to Clean Up the Spills
Humidifiers tend to leak and spill some water around the area where you set them up. And leaving these spills will make the are more likely to get attacked by pink molds.
So, instead of leaving the device on its own, monitor it. See if there is any water forming around the area. If so, clean the stagnant water as soon as possible.
What to Put in Your Humidifier to Prevent Mold?
Many would suggest putting vinegar inside the humidifier to prevent mold.
However, when you run the device with vinegar inside it, you can face a lot of health complications.
Breathing problems and irritation in your lungs, throat, and nose are some of them.
That is why you should only use regular vinegar to clean the humidifier.
Instead of white vinegar, you can add apple cider vinegar to the tank. That will help to prevent the growth of pink mold inside and around the humidifier.
How to Get Rid of Pink Mold in Your Humidifier?
If you notice pink mold in the humidifier, you need to clean the device well. And for the cleaning process, follow one of these methods –
Use Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is one of the cheapest antibacterial cleaning ingredients available in the market.
It is well known for having high overall mold-killing efficiency alongside bacterias.
Just add a few drops of hydrogen peroxide to the tank and add water to it.
Leave the reservoir like that for a while and then drain it.
Afterward, give the inside a good rinse to make sure no droplets of hydrogen peroxide are inside the tank.
Clean the Tank With Bleach-Mixed Water
Like hydrogen peroxide, bleach will work flawlessly in handling pink mold problems.
And the process is pretty much the same as well. Just add some bleach-mixed water to the tank and leave it for a while.
Then, rinse the inside properly before using the humidifier again.
Use Vinegar to Clean the Humidifier
Vinegar is well-known for having antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.
In other words, it can effectively solve the pink mold problem.
So, if you do not have bleach or hydrogen peroxide around, you can use it to clean the tank and the body of the humidifier.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What causes pink residue in humidifiers?
The pink residue on the humidifiers is generally for ‘Aureobasidium pullulans.’ It is generally a harmless mold. However, prolonged exposure to mold is not good for your health. That said, the other bacteria that cause pink residue is ‘Serratia marcescens.’
2. Can pink mold in the humidifier make you sick?
You can get sick from the pink mold if exposed to it for an extended time. The first symptom that you will face is respiratory problems. Afterward, urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal problems, and heart problems will follow up.
3. What kills mold in humidifiers?
Cleaning the humidifier with hydrogen peroxide will kill the mold inside it. Other than hydrogen peroxide, you can use vinegar and bleach-mixed water.
Final Words
Compared to other types of molds, pink molds do not have a high overall threat.
And they can eventually make you face many health complications. For that reason, you should know how to prevent pink mold in humidifier.
Also, do not skimp on cleaning the humidifiers frequently. That can help you solve most of the problems related to these devices.
Last Updated on August 23, 2023
