Can I Put Hydrogen Peroxide In My Humidifier?
Humidifiers are supposed to spray distilled water to increase the humidity in the room. But people’s curiosity has led them to use other substances besides water for various purposes. One such substance is hydrogen peroxide.
Hydrogen peroxide – H2O2 – is a chemical compound formed by combining two hydrogen atoms (H) and two oxygen atoms. It’s known for its effectiveness as an antiseptic, antiviral, and antibacterial chemical compound. But can you put hydrogen peroxide in a humidifier? That’s what we’re going to find out today!
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Contents
Can You Put Hydrogen Peroxide In A Humidifier?
Yes, you can put hydrogen peroxide in a humidifier. When you use hydrogen peroxide in a humidifier, the air in your home can stay relatively clean compared to the air outside. Also, this antibacterial chemical compound prevents any fungal and bacterial growth in the humidifier’s reservoir.
Using hydrogen peroxide in humidifiers can also prove effective for people with respiratory conditions. It helps clear stuffy noses and other mild bacterial infections. Whether you’re cleaning your humidifier or your stuffy nose, putting the right amount of hydrogen peroxide in your humidifier can be a good idea.
Why Would You Want To Put Hydrogen Peroxide In Your Humidifier?
The benefits of hydrogen peroxide in humidifiers are practically countless. There’s hardly anything hydrogen peroxide can’t do, from preventing bacteria buildup in your humidifier to keeping your home germ-free at a low cost. There’s hardly anything hydrogen peroxide can’t do. We decided to highlight a few benefits of using H2O2 in humidifiers.
Use Hydrogen Peroxide To Clean The Humidifier
Humidifiers may be the best friends of people suffering from sinusitis, asthma, or dry nos. Still, a dirty humidifier can be a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi that eventually make people sicker instead of healthy. That’s why keeping your humidifier clean is a must. When it comes to humidifier cleaning, hydrogen peroxide works wonders.
3% hydrogen peroxide is very effective in cleaning agent and can be used as an alternative to vinegar to clean your humidifier. You just need to add ¼ cup of H2O2 to a gallon of water and use it to clean your humidifier by rinsing the water tank thoroughly.
Using Hydrogen Peroxide In Humidifier For Asthma
Although it’s challenging to treat, hydrogen peroxide in humidifiers can be used to treat asthma and some other respiratory diseases. It’s commonly known that hydrogen peroxide contains two oxygen atoms.
When hydrogen peroxide is used in a humidifier, the humidifier releases a hydrogen peroxide-containing mist, and this oxygen-rich mist makes it easier for asthma patients to breathe the air.
However, be careful to use hydrogen peroxide only in moderation. If you use hydrogen peroxide in excessive amounts, living tissue can be seriously damaged.
Using Hydrogen Peroxide In Humidifier For Cough
Hydrogen peroxide has been shown to be effective in relieving cough when used in a humidifier and in the right amount. It’s crucial not to exceed the right hydrogen peroxide concentration, as incorrect use can lead to tissue damage.
Also, you shouldn’t inhale hydrogen peroxide directly through a nebulizer or by any other means. Only if you use the right amount and use a humidifier can hydrogen peroxide be used to treat a cough.
Using Hydrogen Peroxide In Humidifier For Pneumonia
The leading cause of pneumonia is various bacteria that attack the lungs. In some cases, viruses also cause pneumonia. Hydrogen peroxide possesses many antiviral and antibacterial properties.
By using hydrogen peroxide in a humidifier, people breathe in the antiviral and antibacterial properties of H2O2, making them less susceptible to pneumonia.
Hydrogen Peroxide in Humidifier For Plants
H2O2 can also be very useful for plants. Using hydrogen peroxide mist in a humidifier promotes the growth of plant roots. It also prevents bacteria and fungi from attacking the plant.
Shopping for a New Humidifier?
If you are shopping for a new humidifier, here are 3 popular models you should consider – ultrasonic cool mist humidifier from AquaOasis, classic warm mist humidifier from Vicks, and feature-rich warm and cool mist humidifier with smart features from Levoit.
AquaOasis™ Cool Mist Quiet Ultrasonic HumidifierCHECK PRICEVicks Warm Mist Humidifier for Small to Medium Size RoomCHECK PRICELEVOIT LV600S Large Warm and Cool Mist Ultrasonic HumidifierCHECK PRICE
How Much Hydrogen Peroxide Can I Put In My Humidifier
Hydrogen peroxide comes in different concentrations. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Find out what best suits your needs before buying your hydrogen peroxide solution from the store.
1% Hydrogen Peroxide
There are several uses for this substance. Most commonly, it’s used for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces in the home. 1% hydrogen peroxide is a very impressive cleaning agent because of its antibacterial properties.
It kills all bacteria and germs, giving you the peace of mind of having a clean and germ-free home. To make a 1% hydrogen peroxide solution, you need to take ¼ cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide to ½ cup of water.
The substance is very aggressive to the skin and can cause irritation and burning when touched with bare hands. Therefore, always make sure that you cover your hands well before touching the solution.
3% Hydrogen Peroxide
This is perhaps the most common and widely used form of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) solution. Mixed with water, it’s very effective at cleaning germs. The 3% solution has a good reputation as a house cleaning and disinfecting agent.
However, it also has a good reputation as an antiseptic. So for minor cuts and scratches, the 3% solution works like a miracle.
35% Hydrogen Peroxide
35% hydrogen peroxide, also known as “food grade” hydrogen peroxide, is a very strong concentration of hydrogen peroxide. Because of this, it’s somewhat less popular than the other forms of hydrogen peroxide. It’s used in the same way as other concentrated H2O2 solutions.
However, using the 35% solution is tricky because it needs to be diluted to a 3% solution before use so that it doesn’t cause burns and damage to living tissue. To cut it to a 3% concentration, you need to add ¼ cup of hydrogen peroxide to a gallon of water.
If you add more than the above amount, you risk burning your hand.
Which Type of Peroxide is Better for a Humidifier – Pharmacy-Grade or Food-Grade?
There’s no clear answer as to whether pharmacy-grade (3% solution) or food-grade (35% solution) hydrogen peroxide is better. As mentioned earlier, the 3% solution is an excellent disinfectant and has promising healing properties.
It’s also very suitable for use in humidifiers. Therefore, this subtle variant of hydrogen peroxide can undoubtedly be used in humidifiers without any problems.
On the other hand, using the 35% solution requires more preparation than the 3% solution. It must be diluted to a 3% solution. If the strong solution comes into contact with bare skin, it can cause a severe burning sensation and have serious consequences.
For this reason, the 3% hydrogen peroxide solution is the best choice. Because even the 35% solution must be diluted to 3% before it can be used in a humidifier.
Conclusion
Whether cleaning the house or getting rid of a bad cough, hydrogen peroxide is an everyday necessity. This tricky chemical compound is needed in our daily lives for various purposes. Using hydrogen peroxide in a humidifier is very comforting because you don’t have to look for other alternatives.
So far, we’ve used hydrogen peroxide for house cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces, but its use can reach unimaginable proportions. If we use this substance over a humidifier, we can even disinfect the house’s air.