How to Clean a Humidifier?
Tayyabah Zahoor
October 23, 2025
Menu
Humidifiers are great little helpers when the air gets dry—they keep your home more comfortable and even make breathing easier. But here’s a thought that crosses many people’s minds: what if I added a splash of perfume to the tank so the mist smells nice too?
It does sound tempting, right? A soft, fragrant mist filling the room with your favorite scent. But before you try it, there’s something you should know: putting perfume in a humidifier isn’t safe. In fact, it can damage the machine and even affect your health.
In this article, we’ll walk through why perfume and humidifiers don’t mix, what really happens if you use them together, and better ways to keep your air smelling fresh.
Let’s explore why, what happens if you do, and safe alternatives you can try instead.
Perfume is made for your skin, not for humidifiers. Here’s why it’s unsafe:
If you want your room to smell fresh while using a humidifier, try these safe options:
✔ Always use clean distilled water in your humidifier.
✔ If you want both moisture + fragrance, get a humidifier with aroma function.
✔ Clean your humidifier daily to prevent mold and bacteria.
✔ Read the manual before adding anything other than water.
Adding perfume to a humidifier may sound like a good way to freshen the air, but it’s actually harmful for both your health and your device. If you want a good smell, use essential oils in a compatible humidifier or a separate diffuser.
No. Even a few drops can harm the humidifier and affect your health.
No. These products also contain chemicals unsafe for inhaling and harmful for your machine.
Use a separate diffuser or buy a dual-function humidifier with an aroma tray.
Not every model supports oils. Adding them to a basic humidifier can still cause damage.
Empty the tank, wash it thoroughly with mild soap and warm water, then refill with clean water.
Tayyabah Zahoor is an expert writer with a Bachelor's degree in Physics. She specializes in creating content for affiliate websites, particularly about air purifiers. Using her scientific knowledge, she compares different air purifiers by analyzing their features and effectiveness. This helps her provide clear and helpful information to consumers looking for the best options.