But do they really deserve to be seasonal staples?
If your humidity falls below this range, you have dry air.
Dry air is more common during the fall and winter when the weather outside is colder.
If your home isn’t well insulated, turning on your heater can further strip moisture from the air.
Running a humidifier at home can help bring humidity levels back to this sweet spot.
They improve skin hydration during winter
Another annoying side effect of dry air isskin irritation.
A dry environment can damage theskin moisture barrierand lead to itchiness, redness, and a less-than-glowy appearance.
However, it won’t necessarily improve your overall sleep quality.
They can help out your houseplants
Share your home with green friends?
They might appreciate being set up near a humidifier.
Manypopular houseplantsfromfernstoficus plantscome from tropical environments that rarely get as dry as our homes do.
Giving these plants some extra humidity can keep their leaves looking more vibrant year-round.
But air that is too moist can be.
This is due to their potential to increase humiditytoo much,encouraging dust mites and mold.
Humidifiers can also cause problems if they’re not properly maintained.
If not properly cleaned, damp humidifiers can become breeding grounds formold and toxic spores.
Filling your humidifier with unfiltered water can also introducechemicals you don’t necessarily want in your air.
The directed moisture is helpful with breaking up mucus and can make it feel easier to breathe."
That said, it’s still important to keep steam vaporizers clean and dry in order toprevent mold growth.
They can also keep your skin moist during cold, dry months.
Beyond being helpful for some humans,they’re good for certain tropical houseplants, too.
What are the negatives of a humidifier?
Humidifiers can do more harm than good in some cases.
Humidifiers themselves can also develop mold if not properly cared for.
Here are sometips for keeping them clean and dry between uses.
Is it good to sleep with a humidifier?
If you often wake up with a scratchy throat, lubricating your air with a humidifier may help.
There’s no evidence to show that sleeping with a humidifierenhances sleep quality, though.
However, they can also make indoor airtoohumid, which can set the stage for mold and dust mites.
Suspect that you’ve gone overboard on the humidity?
Here are somesigns you could use a dehumidifierat home.
