However, upkeep is a bit arduous as you must replace the wick or filter regularly to prevent bacteria growth in the device. These humidifiers are used primarily in the winter heating season when humidity levels are low—dry winter air is what causes frequent static electricity discharge. If you’ve noticed lots of white specks on furniture or other surfaces around your humidifier, it’s probably white dust. White dust is the result of minerals like calcium and magnesium in the water going through the humidifier and into the air as a mist. Only ultrasonic and impeller humidifiers release these types of minerals. While it’s rare, white dust from a humidifier can be an issue if you have allergies, asthma, or other lung and sinus conditions. With a little routine maintenance, you can avoid white dust whenever you use your humidifier.
Song recommends this humidifier partly because of its large storage capacity, which means fewer refills are needed. “The Levoit 6L large-capacity humidifier is great for a quiet and continuous runtime that can be used throughout the day,” she notes. The humidifier also includes a built-in app that makes it easy to monitor and adjust based on your needs. Dry skin season is officially here, and while you may have your multi-step routine already lined up, you’ll also want to add in one of the best humidifiers. To narrow down your search, we’ve gathered some of the best humidifiers worth shopping here, to help keep your hair and skin supremely hydrated. Distilled water is largely free of minerals and other materials that may leave deposits in the humidifier and release particles into the air.
That can then result in dry skin, an irritated nose and throat, itchy eyes, or chapped lips. Dried-out mucous membranes in your nose can even lead to nosebleeds.
The SPT SU-9210 Digital Evaporative Humidifier was our runner-up pick for many years, thanks to its reliably quiet evaporative performance. We still think it’s a choice—if you can find it in stock somewhere, that is.
Tim has also written guides to air purifiers, water filtration systems, and more. Since 2019, the guide has been shepherded by staff writer Thom Dunn, whose other work includes guides to space heaters, portable air conditioners, and window air conditioners. The Levoit LV600S is powerful, quiet, and easy to clean, and it offers Wi-Fi connectivity and warm-mist capabilities. Plus, it’s the rare ultrasonic model that won’t over-humidify your room. They can help someone dealing with congestion, dry skin, and sinus discomfort and also help with things that affect our day-to-day lives, like static electricity.
Dreo HM311S Smart Humidifier
Read more about best humidifiers here.
How Does a Humidifier Work?
We try to recommend humidifiers that are easy to clean, but some humidifier tanks are awkward and frustrating to deal with. No matter where your water comes from, it will still have some microbes that will eventually develop into a biofilm. So if you plan to turn your humidifier off for a day, don’t just leave the water sitting in there. Pour it out, let the tank dry out for 30 to 60 minutes, and then refill it when you’re ready to use the humidifier again. Humidifiers can be a great help in the winter or in dry environments. Hopefully after reading this article, you have a better understanding of how humidifiers work, the different types, and what to look for when shopping for a humidifier.
This style of humidifier provides air flow through the rotating evaporator pad, which in turn adds humidity to the air. But our trained testers find that some models are much better than others at pumping out moisture at the volume manufacturers claim. Others are quieter, more energy efficient, and more convenient to use and clean. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times.
Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier
Humidifiers only benefit your allergies as long as they’re maintained and cleaned regularly. Choose a humidifier that you’ll be able to clean often enough to preserve the benefits for your allergies. Dust mites and mold, two common allergens, can’t thrive in lower humidity. But higher humidity is far more comfortable for the tissues of the throat and nasal passages. Humidifiers are devices that release steam or water vapor into the air to increase humidity. It can play a role in both the development and treatment of allergies.
These can be extra effective in giving your hair the love it needs, especially if it just went through the stress of fresh highlights or another chemical treatment. When choosing one, make sure to check whether you need a separate hygrometer.
