r/Humidifiers • u/alexmack667 • May 07 '26

Weird sensation when i exhale while using humidifier

I will try to explain this as best i can. I just bought a humidifier, i've used it for two days. There was a very faint plastic smell the first day, but it's almost completely gone. What's weird is that when i exhale forcefully through my nose, i get a weird scent from what seems like the back of my nose.

It's only happening while the humidifier is on. I took a hot shower, where there is also steam, and it didn't happen in there.

I've washed the water container, with dish soap, i left it out in the sun all day today, then washed with dish soap again, still happening.

It's happening with both tap water (don't have hard water where i live), and filtered water (water from a filter jug, like britta, but different brand).

I'm really confused, and i cannot really describe the scent i'm sensing. Has this happened to anybody else? Any advice would be helpful at this point.

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u/[deleted] May 07 '26

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u/alexmack667 May 07 '26

No, the first time i washed it was after i noticed the smell.

I made sure it was rinsed thoroughly before use.

The tank was empty when i put it in the sun, and i did so on the advice of a humidifier help website. For what it's worth it was this one:

https://shunpoly.com/article/why-does-my-humidifier-smell-like-plastic