How to Clean & Descale a Levoit Humidifier

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Plus, how often to clean your Levoit and more maintenance tips

Co-authored by James Sears and Amy Bobinger, BA

Last Updated: June 23, 2025 Fact Checked

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Basic Cleaning

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Descaling

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How Often to Clean

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Replacing Aroma & Absorption Pads

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Best Water to Use

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Using Essential Oils

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Video

Levoit makes high-end humidifiers—but any humidifier can get funky without regular cleaning, fancy ones included. Luckily, cleaning your Levoit humidifier is pretty easy. We’ll show you everything you need to know about basic cleaning and descaling—plus we have a simple maintenance schedule you can follow to keep your Levoit humidifier running its best.

Levoit Humidifier Cleaning: Quick Steps

Unplug and disassemble the humidifier.
Scrub any easily removable deposits with a soft brush or cloth.
Rinse all of the parts (except the outside of the base) with lukewarm water.
Leave vinegar in the tank for 15-20 minutes to descale (optional).
If descaling, scrub away loosened deposits and rinse with lukewarm water.
Let all components dry fully before reassembling the humidifier.

Section 1 of 6:

Cleaning a Levoit Humidifier

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1
Unplug and disassemble the humidifier to clean all of the parts. Be sure to let the humidifier cool down first if you’ve been using the warm mist setting. Then, follow the instructions for your model to remove all of the parts. For instance, you might need to:^{[1]
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- Remove the water tank cover and the water tank from the base. Carefully pour out any water from the tank or base.^{[2]
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- Remove components like the mist tube, water outlet valve, water filter and sponge, float, noise silencer, absorption pad, and aroma pad.
- Remove the top of the humidifier and pull out the wick filter frame and support frame if you have an evaporative model.^{[3]
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Use a soft brush to clean the base chamber and parts. If you notice any grime or buildup inside the base chamber, carefully scrub it away using the included cleaning brush. Also clean the inside of the tank and any parts that look especially dirty. If you don’t have the brush, use another soft cleaning brush or a soft cloth.^{[4]
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- Do not use coarse scrubbers or detergents to clean the humidifier parts.
- Don’t put the parts of your humidifier in a dishwasher for cleaning—wash them by hand.^{[5]
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Rinse all of the parts except the outside of the base. Use room-temperature tap water to rinse the disassembled parts, tank, and tank cover. Also, carefully run water inside the base.^{[6]
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- Be careful not to get water on the outside or underside of the base, or in the air outlet or aroma box.
- Do not submerge the base in water—just carefully rinse the inside.
All of the components need to be completely dry before you reassemble the humidifier. It may be a good idea to let the components air dry for a few minutes after you dry them with the cloth to make sure any residual moisture can evaporate.^{[7]
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Reassemble the humidifier. Carefully replace every component, working in reverse order from how you took it apart. This process will vary slightly depending on which type of Levoit humidifier you have.^{[8]
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- After the humidifier is assembled, add water if you plan to continue using the humidifier, or store it in a cool, dry place if you won’t be using it for a while.

Section 2 of 6:

Descaling a Levoit Humidifier

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1
Follow your model’s instructions for disassembling for descaling. Different models may require you to remove different parts for this process. For instance, if you have the Levoit OasisMist Smart Humidifier, the owner’s manual instructs you to remove the mist channel for descaling.^{[9]
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Research source} If you have the Levoit Smart Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier, the owner’s manual recommends leaving the mist channel in place.^{[10]
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- If you have an evaporative model, remove the wick filter frame and support frame from the tank.^{[11]
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Add 3 cups (710 mL) of vinegar to the tank and let it sit for 20 minutes. During that time, the vinegar will slowly drip out of the tank into the base chamber. The vinegar will help break up any scale—also called mineral buildup—that’s accumulated in the tank or base chamber, as well as from any components left in the base chamber, like the float.^{[12]
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- Use distilled white vinegar—no flavored vinegars like apple cider or balsamic.
- After the vinegar has had time to soak, carefully empty the tank and base chamber.^{[13]
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Soak detachable components in vinegar for 15-20 minutes. Remove the float, water filter, mist channel, aroma box, and noise silencer. Put them in a container filled with distilled white vinegar.^{[14]
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- Do this after you soak the tank. The float needs to be in the base chamber during that part of the descaling process.
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Gently scrub away any residue with a soft cloth or cleaning brush. The included cleaning brush is convenient for getting into the nooks and crannies of small parts or the base chamber. However, you can also use a soft cloth to clean—it may be easier for larger sections like the inside of the tank.^{[15]
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- This will get rid of any scale residue that was loosened in the vinegar soak.
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Rinse everything you soaked, then dry it thoroughly. Rinse each part of the humidifier under clean running water until the smell of vinegar is gone. Just be careful not to get any water on the outside or underside of the base chamber.^{[16]
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- When you’re finished, dry each part with a soft cloth. If you soaked any filters or sponges, let them air dry completely before you reassemble the humidifier.

Section 3 of 6:

How often should I clean my Levoit humidifier?

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1
Daily: Wipe the nozzles on your humidifier and change the water. Every day (or at least every other day), clean inside the nozzle at the top of your humidifier where the mist comes out. This will help prevent buildup that will block the mist from coming out, decreasing the effectiveness of your humidifier and potentially damaging it.^{[17]
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- Changing the water in your humidifier every day will help prevent bacterial growth.^{[18]
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Every 3 days: Disassemble and clean the humidifier. Grime can quickly build up in your humidifier if you wait too long between cleanings. Levoit and the EPA recommend cleaning your humidifier every third day to help remove scale and film.^{[19]
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United States Environmental Protection Agency
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- Also, empty and clean the humidifier if you’re planning to store it or leave it unused for a week or more. Let it dry thoroughly before storing.
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Weekly or as needed: Descale the humidifier. Scale occurs when minerals in water build up on the surfaces inside your humidifier. That scale may contribute to bacterial or fungal growth in the humidifier. Inhaling contaminated mist can lead to breathing problems or even lung infections. There’s also a potential for those minerals to enter the humidifier mist, which is potentially dangerous.^{[20]
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Consumer Products Safety Commission
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- Distilled or demineralized water will help slow the buildup of scale inside your humidifier, but descaling should still be done routinely.

Section 4 of 6:

How often should I replace the aroma pad or absorption pad?

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Replace the aroma pad and absorption pads as needed. Each time you clean your humidifier, rinse the aroma pad and absorption pad. If either pad feels stiff after it’s been washed and dried, it’s time to replace it.^{[21]
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- Extra pads are included with your humidifier, but you can order both aroma pads and absorption pads online if you run out. Just be sure to choose pads that are compatible with your humidifier model.

Section 5 of 6:

What kind of water should I use in my Levoit humidifier?

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Only use purified or distilled water in your Levoit humidifier. Tap water contains minerals that can leave a white dust on your surfaces. The mineral buildup, or scale, can also contribute to bacterial growth, and over time, it may damage your humidifier.^{[22]
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Mayo Clinic
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- Levoit recommends against using water treatments in the humidifier.
- Do not run vinegar through your humidifier for cleaning. Use the above processes to safely clean and descale your humidifier.

Section 6 of 6:

Can I use essential oils with my humidifier?

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If your model has an aroma pad, you can put a few drops of an essential oil on that. The scent will then infuse the mist coming from your humidifier. But do not add essential oils to your water tank—putting the oils directly into the water could damage your humidifier.^{[23]
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