Dehumidifiers are specially designed to extract excess humidity from your environment. However, if not well maintained, they can develop a musty smell that will probably spread throughout your living space.
The best way to keep the musty smell at bay is by regularly cleaning your appliance.
What You Require
For maximum effectiveness in your cleanup, you may require a few tools and equipment:
- Essential cleaning tools such as rugs, towels, and soft brushes.
- Household cleaning agents such as soap and bleach. Instead, you can also use vinegar mix with baking soda.
- Dry-wet vacuum cleaner, particularly one with an attached hose to loosen the dirt and remove grime from your appliance’s interior.
Safety Measures
It’s imperative to take proper precautions to avoid getting harmed while cleaning your dehumidifier.
Wear Protective Gear (PPE)
Make use of rubber gloves to protect your hands from grime, dust, and chemical cleaners. A mask is also essential, especially for those sensitive or allergic to dust. Your mask will also protect you from other airborne pollutants such as detergent fumes.
- SWITCH OFF AND UNPLUG
Before you begin, ensure to turn your unit off and unplug it from the power source. This will guarantee complete safety while wiping both the exterior and interior parts of the appliance.
Clean the Grilles and the Unit’s Exterior
A dehumidifier’s exterior is unlikely to cause a musty odor. However, failure to clean the grilles properly will quickly cause the accumulation of mold and bacteria, leading to a stale smell. Besides, debris accumulation in the grilles will hinder proper airflow and potentially cause a disturbing odor.
- Clean the unit’s exterior with a mild detergent and warm water.
- Also, remove any debris that might have accumulated on the inlet and outlet grilles with a wire brush or a small vacuum attachment.
Wash the Tank
Also known as the reservoir, the tank is where your dehumidifier stores all of the harvested water. Ensure to empty and clean the water bucket frequently, ideally within three weeks. Failure to clean the reservoir regularly triggers the accumulation of mold, and bacteria, both of which are common culprits for a musty odor.
- To sanitize and clean the tank, you first need to empty it completely.
- Fill the bucket quarter way with fresh, lukewarm water and add one squirt of dish soap.
- Use a soft brush to scrub the tank and rinse thoroughly – remember to get all the corners.
- Avoid using bleach to clean the reservoir unless the manual of your precise model and brand states that it’s safe to use a bleaching agent.
Clean the Air Filter
Air filters clean the air and play a vital role in protecting the interior parts of a dehumidifier. To prevent the accumulation of mildew and bacteria and the resulting musty smell, you should clean the air filter once or twice a month, depending on how often you use your unit.
- Refer to your user manual if unsure of the filter location. In most cases, the filter is situated at the back of the unit, making it easy for you to slide remove it
- After acquiring the filter, inspect it to determine if there’s a need for replacement. Generally, dehumidifiers filters are washable and reusable, but they require replacing at some point.
- To clean the air filter, gently remove it from the appliance and use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to remove the dust
- Subsequently, scrub the filter gently using a sponge soaked in warm, soapy water
- Rinse the air filter under a faucet and leave it to dry before reinstalling it back into the unit
Clean the Drain Hose
Over time, algae and sludge will build up in the drain hose, causing a musty smell in your dehumidifier and ultimately in your indoor environment. You may use a solution of water and vinegar to clean the drain pipe. Pour the solution slowly into the drain hose while the unit is unplugged from the power source.
Proper Storage is key
You might not always require using a dehumidifier, for instance, in the winter. During this storage time, you need to perform a few preventive maintenance chores to avoid experiencing a musty smell the next time you use the unit.
- Ensure to store your unit correctly. Improper storage can cause unhealthy biological growth on the inside of the appliance, which in turn causes an unpleasant smell.
- Avoid storing your unit with water still in the reservoir. To properly keep the appliance, switch it off and wait for at least 24 hours before emptying the tank.
- Protect the internal components of your dehumidifier from rust and mold by storing the machine away from dust and moisture.
- Ideally, before winter rolls in, buy a dehumidifier cover. The cover comes with a drawstring hem located at the bottom, which prevents bugs and dust from creeping into your appliance.
The Bottom line
Dehumidifiers will often acquire a musty smell if the bucket, grilles, drain pipe, and air filters are not cleaned properly. If you’re looking to eliminate that mildewy smell from your dehumidifier, you will want to clean the unit’s interior and exterior, as discussed above.
When storing your dehumidifier, allow it to dry and use a cover to keep moist air, bugs, and dust out. In essence, cleaning your dehumidifier regularly and storing it properly are the first and most crucial steps at keeping the dreaded musty smell at bay.