Cleaning a plastic part | Poal: Say what you want.

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I figured I'd ask. I have these two humidifiers that have a directional cap that I can not disassemble. Mold grows in there and I want to clean it. It there something I can dip this in? Vinegar and water looks like it kills it but I want the red and black stains off on the inside. Leaving it in 409 didn't do it. Any suggestions? Taking cue tips to clean is tedious and not getting everything. it is a PureGuardian H1510 Humidifier, the top cap.

*** Solution - - Sitting in Bleach for an hour worked. Cleared out the red bacteria and black mold. Still smooth plastic. Thanks everyone.

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Non-chlorinated brakeclean. Isopropyl. Compressed air.

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alcohol didn't do it. Lemon juice no.

Brake Cleaner? I'll try that.

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Chlorinated brakeclean can make some plastics brittle so be careful. Bleach?

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I have one of them in a mix of half Bleach and water.

I've learned that I put at least 5 drops of iodine in the water when its running and I really don't have to clean it that often. Though my wife started to fill them.

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Try Food grade Hydrogen peroxide. I use 12%. The food grade stuff is missing the stableizers and I think it's safe on plastic. I use it to clean mine.

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I'll try that if the bleach doesn't work. I have regular hydrogen peroxide.

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Gasoline, and then soap+water, or ethanol?

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Gasoline? really?

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Yes, it cleans off all sorts of shit really well.

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Why not?

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Clorox depending on how bad, vary the strength diluted with water I use q tips to get into cracks

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I changed my mind. Read online reviews and try to find some humidifiers that don't create mold. That shit is bad for you and the fact that you have to clean it out now means it's going to happen again and you'll soon be breathing ionized mold again in the near future. Consumer reports (on archive or google cache) might discuss this.

There's a $25 one that Vicks brand makes that is cheap and easy and if it ever gets funky you can treat it like a disposable glove and throw it away and buy another one knowing the family is safe. I don't think you even have to maintain it. Just have to add a little salt to the water. Follow directions. Should last a year.

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This one got left so mold was from sitting with water not use. Generally it is easy to clean. I put iodine in the water tank and all I get is calcium build up. No mold or red bacteria.

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Bleach

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trying that now though don't know how long it should sit in it? 1 hour? day?

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If you have a pipe cleaner or a qtip just 2 minutes. Bleach kills instantly but it can't get under layers if, for example, mold is caked on itself.

If you can't get to the problem areas you can try speeding up the process by disturbing the liquid in an attempt to shake off the outer mold which would lift off revealing underneath.

I wouldn't worry about the plastic being damaged by the bleach. The plastic will be fine even if you leave it for hours and hours.

Bleach, after all, is contained in plastic so just leave it on there for whatever your patience level is.