Product review (5 stars): Fantastic deal
The wick based humidifiers, noise notwithstanding, are far superior to their ultrasonic counterparts due to the effectiveness and precision in controlling true relative humidity. I use vinegar, a cup to enough water to immerse the filter in a bucket not much wider than the filter diameter. The vinegar does away with the brown mineral deposits, and makes it as good and efficient as when new. Never let the water in the tank run out, and these filters, with weekly vinegar treatment, will last up to two months each. When the plastic housing begins to wear out, it is also about time you changed the filter. Folks who gave this product a low rating based on extraneous factors to do with the noise of the main unit should know better. These reviews are about the filter and not the main unit! Also, despite the antimocrobial properties, some mold formation is inevitable in humid environments, so I clean the main unit every few months with basic G, a shaklee product that destroys any mildew or mold residual in the unit, this includes the grille and the fan components.