If you don’t have a humidifier, don’t be surprised if you want to buy one by the end of this post. I had no idea how great these things are for year round use! (She says, turning on her humidifier.)
I’m going to share some reasons you should use a humidifier, but first… if you have a cold, you should try our Hot Toddy recipe or this Instant Pot Chicken Soup. You’ll love them both.
Amazing Benefits of the Humidifier
Dry air, understandably, causes moisture to evaporate. Humidifiers put moisture back in dry air. They are incredible machines and range in prices so that they are affordable for any budget. Here are some of the wonderful things a humidifier does for you and your family when you fill it up and turn it on. You can find out favorite Humidifiers HERE.
Kills Flu Virus
Raising humidity near 50% kills flu virus roaming around in the indoor air you breathe.
One researcher reported, “A review of past peer-reviewed studies conducted over the last 70 years also showed that homes kept at 40-60% relative humidity-the optimal range, are likely to have fewer flu viruses lingering in the air and on surfaces like sink faucets, door handles, and countertops compared to lower relative humidity levels.”
Turns out the regular flu virus can survive in the environment for at least 24 hours. In more humid environments, the virus survival time is markedly decreased. (source)
This 2009 study discovered that after 23 hours 100 percent of the viruses were dead in humid air as opposed to dry environment where only 40% of the viruses were removed in the same period of time.
Ease Symptoms of Cold & Flu
Whether you have a runny nose, sinus congestion, hacking cough or a sore throat, turning on a humidifier will offer quick relief.
It helps to make a cough more productive so that you can get out the bad stuff.
Quiets Snoring
Yes, this only works if the snoring is caused by dry nose and throat. But, if I were sleeping next to a snorer, I’d try it immediately. Can’t hurt, right?
Helps Ease Dry Skin
Itchy, dry skin is no match for a humidifier. In fact, regular use of a humidifier will help make your skin much softer. Lotions can’t even compete.
Lower Utility Bill
For every degree you lower your thermostat in winter, you save about 4% on your heating bill. Since warm air holds moisture, the humidifier will make you feel warmer and allow you to turn the heat down.
Fewer Electric Shocks from Static Electricity
Dry air causes that awful “touch something and get shocked” thing. Don’t you hate that? A humidifier can remedy the problem.
Sleep Better
The sound of the machine in conjunction with a gentle, cool mist will definitely improve your quality of sleep. You’ll wake up in the morning without a scratchy throat, and everything from your skin to your dry nose will feel better.
Reduce (or Eliminate) Nose Bleeds
Nose bleeds that are caused by dry air are a thing of the past when you use a humidifier, especially at night.
Properly Care for a Humidifier
First, be sure to use distilled water. Minerals in regular tap water aren’t good for the machine.
Second, never leave the water sitting in the humidifier. Empty it after every use and then fill it back up again when you need it next. This includes dumping the water each morning after having used it at night.
Finally, clean your humidifier every 3 days. Otherwise, bacteria and mildew will grow and when you use it, it will simply spray what that bad stuff everywhere. No one should be breathing in mildew and bacteria because the humidifier isn’t clean.
Mix one part bleach to nine parts water to soak the tank and parts. It will help prevent mold from growing.
And don’t forget to change the filter as per the manufacturer’s instructions!
Do you use a humidifier?
What are the benefits that you love? Which kind do you own? If I’ve missed some great benefits of using a humidifier, I hope you’ll tell me!
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15 comments on “8 Amazing Things a Humidifier Can Do For Your Family”
We love our humidifiers! We have one in all of our kid’s rooms to help with all the cold and allergy symptoms that pop up around us.
Is a vaporizer also good….and will work just the same to get rid of the bacteria /flu cold ?
You don’t say anything about heat vs cool humidifier. A health care provider told me the heated ones make bacteria. Cool ones do not.
My doctor told me to run a warm mist humidifier every night to eliminate sinus infections and it’s been a miracle! I haven’t had one in several years.Â
I use a whole house humidifier. I use only the cool humidifier. I read the warm can increase germs. I love not having dry skin and a dry nose which does help me sleep better. My family stays healthier! No static in my laundry or hair. BUT you must clean the machine and change filters as instructed or it will be more harm than good. I love my humidifier & have been using it every winter for several years now.
It helps my dry eye syndrome.Â
Using less fabric softener in the laundry.
I use warm mist humidifier since our home has a whole
House humidifier.  I like the warm mist better then the cool mist.  I feel it helps much better.  The moment my kids or my husband and I start getting cold symptoms- on goes the humidifier and bam there goes the cold.  Or if they already are into one (say we are on vacation and come home with a cold) then it’s typically gone within a few days.Â
Yes I do use a “personal ” size humidifier made by Hunter. It has no filter, but simply use a bottle of distilled or purified water that you’d normally drink. It’s emptied every night and you use another bottle next time. I love it for all the benefits you describe in the article.
Here on the WET Coast we use a DEHUMIDIFIER as we have too much moisture!!
We’ve been using Sol-u-mel and a few drops of Melaleuca Oil (Melaleuca Co. products) in our whole house humidifier for years. Melaleuca Oil kills bacteria, virus and molds and keeps the humidified air clean!!!
Because I have a furnace in the attic, I could not have a central humidifier installed due to concerns over a broken water feed damaging the house. I had a steam generator humidifier installed in the garage and it is amazing. The system maintains constant humidity by providing humidity even when no heat is called for… the humidifier turns the fan on low speed and humidifies the air… there s a steam pipe that goes up to the attic and into the output side of the air handler… it does use electricity to heat the water which showed up on bill, but its worth it… I had a free standing whole house humidifier before the steam unit and it was far from efficient… I had to carry 10 to 12 gallons to the unit each day and filling the containers and treating the water was a pain. Plus the humidity around the unit was ok, but many rooms were not serviced… I recommend some type of whole house unit… My steam generator is made by Aprilaire.Â
Is this a cool mist or warm mist humidifier?
I’m wondering the same?
I never knew that raising the humidity in the home can kill up to fifty percent of flu viruses that are in the air. My kid’s school year is starting up again soon and I would hate for them to catch the flu. It might be a good idea to get a couple of humidifiers for my home.