Is it safe to put bleach in the water you're going to use in a humidifier?

Question

I use a humidifier constantly during the winter months, and the tap water we have around here is awful, scaling up the filter. I had the bright idea of saving the water that was created by our dehumidifer this summer in the humidifier over the winter; free and clean. However, I'm worried about things growing in it during the 3 months or so before I start to use it. Would it be safe to put a little bleach in it, or would the small amount I use (2 tsps per gallon) be harmful to breathe?

Answer 1

Short answer is no. The main component of bleach is chlorine. You don't want to breath that stuff in as it can lead to severe bronchial and throat discomfort. Not to mention that it is toxic to ingest. It would be a very good idea to clean the humidifier with bleach first, just make sure that there is no bleach in it when the machine is in use.

Answer 2

I think your suggestion is brilliant on both counts.
But that could be a lot of water to store, you may need bottles.
I would suggest even less than 2 tsps/gallon though.
Most of it should evaporate before you use the water.
So this is no more harmful than putting bleach in your washer.

Answer 3

There is already chlorine in our tap water system. If you use chlorine in your humidifier use only a couple of drops per gallon. This should not be harmful.

Answer 4

ewww, ah no, I wouldn't. If your water isn't good try using a filter and use that.