How to Deep Clean Your Dehumidifier to Maintain Air Quality

APP Expert / Wednesday October 19, 2022


Blond young woman deep cleaning a dehumidifier to maintain air quality

During hot and muggy months, it’s a good idea to run your dehumidifier frequently. 

Yet if you’re using your appliance often to reduce humidity levels and prevent mold, mildew, and dust, it’s important to keep it nice and clean to improve air quality.

To help you out, we’ve put together an expert guide on deep cleaning your dehumidifier and maintaining it in good working condition. 

No matter the repair, we’ve got a range of genuine dehumidifier parts on AppliancePartsPros.com. Shop with us today!

Why Cleaning Your Dehumidifier is Critical

Dehumidifiers are excellent for managing humidity levels in your home and alleviating allergy symptoms indoors. 

Over time, however, you’ll notice that your dehumidifier gets dirty and may even become covered in slime or mold. That’s because dehumidifiers pick up all sorts of substances like as mold, mildew, dust, pollen and bacteria, and a damp environment from the moisture inside the dehumidifier only promotes more bacteria growth if it isn’t kept clean. 

Ultimately, running a dirty dehumidifier can be harmful, as it may release this grime into the air. Besides the “yuck factor,” it’s critical to clean your dehumidifier with regularity in order to:

  • Keep up great air quality
  • Reduce mold growth
  • Reduce asthma and allergy symptoms
  • Enhance your appliance’s performance and energy efficiency
  • Prolong your dehumidifier’s lifespan

For these reasons, you’ll want to perform regular cleaning on your dehumidifier. Throughout this guide, we’ll teach you exactly how to do this. 

How Often Should a Dehumidifier Be Cleaned?

The recommended cleaning frequency for your dehumidifier will depend on how often you use it and your appliance model. As a general rule of thumb, you should clean it every 3-4 weeks when using it daily. If you’re only using the appliance occasionally, every 2-3 months should be fine.

Your dehumidifier may also come with an indicator light that tells you when the appliance needs to be cleaned, so check your user’s manual to see if that’s the case. In your manual, you may also find key instructions for taking part and/or cleaning your dehumidifier. 

How Many Years Do Dehumidifiers Last?

Typically, dehumidifiers can last between 5-10 years. That said, you can maximize the lifespan of your dehumidifier by cleaning and maintaining it regularly. Keep in mind that when your dehumidifier runs dirty, it can clog and slow down your machine’s performance.

What You’ll Need to Clean Your Dehumidifier

Time: 30 minutes or less

Materials:

  • Rubber gloves
  • Mask
  • Cleaning materials such as cloths and scrub brushes
  • Soap, vinegar, bleach, and/or cleaning tablets
  • A vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment
  • Water

Steps for Deep Cleaning Your Dehumidifier

Now that you’ve gathered the materials, let’s get started with the cleaning process.

1. Put on Safety Mask and Gloves

Before you start scrubbing, stay safe by putting on a clean mask and rubber gloves. This is especially important if you suffer from allergies or are otherwise immunocompromised, as the cleaning process may cause dust and dirt to circulate. 

2. Unplug and Prepare Your Dehumidifier

Next, unplug your dehumidifier and take apart the main areas so that you can easily reach them. The exact steps will depend on your model, so check your user’s manual. 

From here, you should choose the right spot to clean it. Ideally, you can do this outside, in your laundry room sink, or in another spacious area away from your main living areas. If you scatter dust and debris in the process of cleaning your dehumidifier, you don’t want it to dirty your living spaces.

3. Start by Wiping Down the Exterior

Take a cloth and wet it with warm water and soap. Now go ahead and wipe down the full exterior of the dehumidifier. Be sure to get the cracks in between the different panels. 

4. Empty and Clean the Catch Bucket

Next, empty the catch bucket where water collects and scrub it using a brush. You can use soap and water or another cleaning agent such as bleach or vinegar. 

Note: Do not mix bleach and vinegar, or any other cleaning solutions, as this can create harmful fumes.

If there’s a lot of grime build-up, let the bucket soak before scrubbing it down. Vinegar is acidic, so it works especially well for this. This way you can loosen any dirt and then easily clean it away with a brush. 

Pro tip: Some catch buckets come with their own small filter. If this is the case for your model, be sure to find and rinse out this filter. Once it’s dry, you can return it to the bucket.

5. Clean or Replace the Air Filter

Most importantly, you’ll need to clean or replace the air filter for your dehumidifier. Some models have replaceable filters, so you should buy a fresh one in this case. Your user’s manual should detail how often to replace your filter.  

However, if your dehumidifier filter is permanent, you should clean it thoroughly. Simply soak it in water and liquid soap. Then you can gently scrub off any remaining grime. 

Pro tip: Never place the filter in a dishwasher as this could damage it. 

6. Wipe Down Coils, Exhaust Grilles and Fan Blades

Take a cloth and wipe down other parts of your dehumidifier, such as the coils, exhaust grilles, and fan blades. 

For the coils, check to make sure they’re not frosted. If so, you should thaw them out before cleaning them. For spotless coils, you can spray them with vinegar and then wipe them. Just be sure to do this gently, as you don’t want to damage the coils. 

For the exhaust grilles and fan blades, a vacuum with a brush attachment is usually the most effective. Use it to suck away any dust and dirt in and around these parts.

7. Let It Air Dry Before Putting It Back Together

Finally, make sure all the parts of your dehumidifier are nice and dry before you replace them. Once they’re ready, you can put the appliance back together. 

Ready to get your dehumidifier in tip-top shape? Browse for replacement dehumidifier parts on AppliancePartsPros.com.

What Cleaners to Use on Your Dehumidifier

You’ve got options for cleaning your dehumidifier. While warm water and soap will do just fine, you can also use vinegar or bleach for more intense grime build-up. Usually, you should avoid using a commercial cleaner on your dehumidifier, as it may be too strong and cause an unwanted chemical reaction.

Safety tip: Remember that you should only use water and liquid soap on your dehumidifier filter – and never other cleaning agents. 

Can You Run Vinegar Through a Dehumidifier?

While vinegar is a good choice for cleaning a dehumidifier, you should never run it through the appliance while it’s on. Instead, unplug your dehumidifier and soak the parts in vinegar and water for up to an hour. (Your mixture can be equal 1-to-1 quantities of vinegar and water.) Finally, you can scrub off any excess grime with a brush. 

Can I Put Bleach in My Dehumidifier?

Yes, you can clean your dehumidifier with bleach and water. Use about ½ cup of bleach per gallon of water. You can let the catch bucket and other parts sit in bleach, or simply scrub it using your bleach mixture. 

Do Dehumidifier Cleaning Tablets Work?

Depending on your dehumidifier model, you may also be able to buy cleaning tablets for your specific appliance. Cleaning tablets work well, but they’re more expensive than just using soap, vinegar or bleach. Typically, these tablets are run through the dehumidifier while it’s on, but check the package for recommendations and instructions.

Pro Tips for Cleaning Your Dehumidifier

Cleaning your dehumidifier can be tricky, which is why we’ve gathered some pro tips to safely get your appliance spic-and-span.

  • Never pour water directly over the dehumidifier or submerge any electrical components. Not only is this unsafe, but it can also damage the appliance. 
  • Let especially dirty parts soak for up to an hour. If needed, let the catch bucket or other parts sit in soap, vinegar, or bleach. This will loosen up the grime, so you can easily wipe it down.
  • Empty the catch bucket on a regular basis. Standing water is the perfect environment for mold and other bacteria to grow. Prevent grime build-up by emptying the bucket regularly. 
  • If you’re placing the dehumidifier in storage for the season, remove the filter and empty the catch bucket first. Otherwise, mold and bacteria are likely to grow on these parts. 

Maintain Your Dehumidifier with AppliancePartsPros.com

Congratulations, you now have a super clean dehumidifier! While cleaning is a vital part of maintenance, you may need to perform other tasks to keep your appliance in good working order. 

For example, you may have to put in a new filter, thaw out frozen coils, or even replace a broken overflow switch, humidistat, or fan motor. Remember that you can get any dehumidifier parts that you require on AppliancePartsPros.com. Prolong your appliance’s lifespan by staying on top of dehumidifier maintenance!

Dehumidifier Cleaning FAQs

Do Dehumidifiers Have Filters That Need to Be Cleaned?

Yes, dehumidifier filters should be cleaned or replaced on a regular basis, depending on whether your model’s filter is permanent or not. Cleaning is best every 3-4 weeks, while replaceable filters should be changed once every season. You can find the recommended timing for your model in your user manual.

What Happens If You Don’t Clean a Dehumidifier Filter?

It’s essential to clean your dehumidifier filter or it will become overwhelmed by dust, mold, and bacteria. Instead of purifying the air, a dirty filter will release these substances. That’s why you should regularly check your filter for grime and clean it with soap and water.

How Do I Know If My Dehumidifier Filter Is Bad?

When in doubt, you can check your dehumidifier manually to see if it’s dirty or needs replacing. In addition, it’s a good idea to keep track of when you clean or replace your filter, so you can be sure to keep it in good order. Overall, you should change out replaceable filters before every season and clean permanent ones every 3-4 weeks when you’re using it frequently.

Why Does My Dehumidifier Smell Musty?

A musty smell is a sure sign that your dehumidifier needs to be cleaned. Mustiness typically comes from dirt, mold, or bacteria that builds up in your appliance. Check out our dehumidifier deep cleaning guide above for step-by-step instructions. 

How Do I Prevent Black Mold in My Dehumidifier?

Black mold can cause respiratory and allergy symptoms in certain people, which is why it’s essential to keep your dehumidifier clean in order to prevent it. Be sure to deep clean your humidifier every 3-4 weeks during high season to ensure there isn’t any build-up of mold, bacteria or other substances.

What Are Signs of Mold Exposure?

According to the CDC, household mold is rarely toxic. However, it can cause respiratory and allergy symptoms in some people. If you’re exposed to mold, you may notice the following symptoms: 

  • Stuffy nose
  • Coughing
  • Wheezing
  • Itchy eyes, nose and/or throat
  • Dry skin

For those with asthma or other allergies, mold exposure may also cause more intense reactions, such as shortness of breath or chest tightness. If you’re having trouble breathing due to mold exposure, you should seek emergency medical care.

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