Vicks Humidifier Cartridge Question

I have one of those cool mist ones with the cartridge in the bottom. It said to soak the cartridge first then use it. The water I soaked it in tunred like a pee yellow and it was leaking that color from the cartridge. Then I put the humidifier on for about 20 min on the lowest setting and it turned the whoel room into this dusty, almost sweet smelling, fog. This just doesn't seem right, but I was wondering if this was how these ones with the cartridge work? Thanks!

Re: Vicks Humidifier Cartridge Question

mine does that too. Except it doesn't smell sweet for me. It smells like vinegar but that could be because it said to use vinegar to wash it out. The entire room gets covered in this film. For the first few months I was convinced it was dust and couldn't understand what the heck was going on. But then realized it was from the hunidifier.