Dehumidifiers- cleaning, care, etc.

[Guest guest]

Reading about you all cleaning your a/c lead me to opening up my

dehumidifiers, what parts I can get to, so far just the back. I WAS

just cleaning out the tub that held the water or putting vinegar in

it. I also was vaccuming out the back grate. That has been the

extent to it. So do you all open your dehumidifiers up completely

too? I took the back off the one that runs the most and it is all

iced over. Care manual says that will happen if temperature is

below 65 in area but basement hasn't been down that low. I keep

house about 76-77 and basement air is only slightly cooler than

upstairs. Is this a common problem? Perhaps it wasn't even

working. Care manual says condensor may turn off and fan still

blow, so perhaps wasn't even dehumidifying any more.

Anyway, as for care, it says to vaccuum out front fins and says not

to do anymore than that. Does anyone have a stand alone

dehumidifier and clean it more than vacuuming it. It is a Whirlpool

and fins are upright.

Incidentally I said coils for my central dehumidifier were not fins

but on closer inspection they are fins. I just hadn't looked at

them that closely before.

I've had the dehumidifiers were about 7 years and never cleaned it

except for the vacuuming although I don't think I have opened it up

and vacuumed inside as manual says, just vacummed grate from

outside. How can I tell if dehumidifier is creating mold issue

here? Should I put a mold plates where it exhausts to test. I'm

sure there will be SOME mold, because there is in the air.

....or should I just clean it per care book instructions and feel

safe?

Any tips would be helpful. Thanks!