Category: Humidifiers

Plant Humidifier – When, Where, and How (My Experience)

I enjoy plants. I get a real jolt out of seeing plants and flowers that I have potted and kept up with the watering, thriving and growing, big and luscious.

I also have a couple of excellent areas where I put my plants that they seem to grow like crazy in.

One being the window sill in the kitchen,

  and  the other one being a bathtub (it’s a ridiculously small bathtub, I don’t know what the builders of the house were thinking when they put it in)

that sits underneath a skylight in the bathroom.

Both of those areas work well for growing because of their easy access to water and direct sunlight for 4 or 5 hours a day. Not to mention the amount of humidity in those rooms.

But I also have a room where even though it gets a lot of sunlight, it is very dry and a pain to carry water in there  to take care of the plants.

I know that makes me sound lazy, but there is a big difference in taking care of plants when you have easy access to water. Take it from me.

My Plant Humidifier Experience

Recently I decided to go the humidifier route, with the plants in that room.

After all, it only makes sense.

When you compare that room to the other rooms where we keep plants, there’s an obvious difference.

The plants in the bathroom and in the kitchen both get a lot of humidity.

  Bathrooms are naturally humid because of the showers going on and kitchens also get their share of humidity from the kitchen sink.

So putting a humidifier in the other plant room to keep moisture in the air seemed like the perfect ideal.

Are humidifiers good for plantsSo what did I learn from it?

 

Are humidifiers good for plants?

 

  Putting a humidifier with my plants works pretty well. Does it transform that area into a greenhouse? Not exactly. But it does make a difference.

The plants seem to be a little greener from just having a little humidity settling on them.

They have that vibe of being happy and healthy, the way they’re reaching for the sky..

I told you I like growing plants.

Do plants need a cool or warm mist humidifier?

 

 

I originally used a vaporizer because we just happen to have one in the closet.

And it made sense that tropical plants probably like hot humidity because of their natural habitat and what.

It also seemed like a good idea because the water in the vaporizer was being boiled which means less chance of mold and bacteria growing in it.

Both of those assumptions were true.

But nevertheless, I decided to take out the vaporizer and put a cool mist humidifier in there instead ,because the vaporizer was making the room feel too swampy.

Did I see a difference in the plants by swapping out the vaporizer with the humidifier?

No I didn’t. I’m guessing humidity is humidity no matter what the temperature is.

when should i use a humidifier for my plantsWhen should I use a humidifier for my plants?

 

Some of the other particulars like when and how, I just Googled them.

In Particular, I needed to know when to use it and where to put it.

I needed to know when the actual humidity in the house warranted using a humidifier and I needed to know when, as in what time of the day to use it.

What I found out about “when to use it” made perfect sense when I heard it.

The ideal is to run the humidifier in the morning before the sun shines directly on the plants.

That probably all depends on which room you’re putting them in and what time the Sun shines into that room.

The Sun hits my room in the afternoon, so running the humidifier in the morning is better for me.

The main reason and why it makes so much sense is that if you are running your humidifier at the same time that the Sun is directly hitting your plants,

The condensation that the humidifier creates can have a magnifying glass effect which can cause the sun to burn your plants.

The same reason why they say not to water your grass in the afternoon sun.

Told you it would make sense when you heard it.

As far as the humidity level in the house, it turns out that plants are very similar to humans in the level of humidity that they find most beneficial.

  Though some tropical plants need more humidity, most plants thrive best when the humidity in the house is between 40 and 60%.  Other plants like succulents prefer desert conditions so a humidifier is pretty useless for growing cactus.

How do you know what your humidity is?

A little device called a hygrometer. It’s also called a humidity gauge or a humidity meter.

As a standalone device, they’re pretty cheap. Around the $20 mark.

But you can also buy a humidifier that has a humidity meter built in. And a humidistat to control when the humidifier comes on and turns off according to the relative humidity of the room at any time.

A much more convenient option.

Where do you place a plant humidifier?

The other thing I needed to know was where to put the humidifier in relation to the plants.

The answer I found when I Googled this didn’t make as much sense to me.

It’s  because I would think that plants would love the feeling of having condensation on them.

Since, especially when you’re talking about tropical plants, they are used to having the rain pour down on them.

But the experts say that putting the humidifier too close to your plants can cause them to become limp and mushy.

This probably warrants experimenting.

I think I’m going to have to feel this one out a little longer, because with the amount of sunlight coming into that room, I haven’t noticed any mushiness in my plants.

Plant Humidifier Drawbacks

The main drawback is the maintenance required for the humidifier itself.

Not only is keeping it filled with water a drag, it also has to be cleaned weekly to avoid mold and bacteria growing in it.

So if you are shopping for a humidifier, I suggest you find one that has a big tank that doesn’t require refilling as often,

And find something that is easy to clean. Dishwasher friendly.

plant humidifierRecap

A humidifier for your plants is a great idea.

What better way to simulate the natural habitat of a tropical plant than to add moisture into the air with a humidifier?

Just remember that humidifiers require  some work. They have to be refilled and cleaned fairly often.

And there are some rules about when and where you want to put it. Like when to use it and where to put it.

And if you are shopping for a plant humidifier,

 

A few tips you might want to consider are:

  1. Find one that’s easy to clean.
  2. Find one that is big enough to run a long time without having to refill it.
  3. Get one with a humidity meter( hygrometer) so you can make sure you’re running when you need it and not when you don’t.
  4. And remember you can always go the vaporizer route to minimize  the cleaning.

Better yet, get a humidifier that can function as a cool mist humidifier or a warm mist (vaporizer).

Can a Humidifier Make you Sick? (A Better Question is When?)

Is there any truth to the idea that using a humidifier can make you sick? Why exactly do you think that could be?

Think about it…

The humidifier falls into a category of appliances and machines that use water and have a basin to fill with water.

Other machines like evaporative coolers,  air washers, and dehumidifiers all fall in the same category.

The one thing that each of these devices or machines have in common is the chance of getting contaminated when not maintained adequately.

More to the point, the water in them has a chance of getting contaminated when it is left standing.

Bacteria and mold can begin to take root and get a foothold in as little as 48 hours in standing water.

Can a humidifier make you sick?

humidifier mold sickness



A humidifier can make you sick when it is not maintained correctly.

A dirty humidifier with contaminated water can become a literal germ distributor when it is operated.

Diseases like Legionnaires are directly connected to breathing in the mist from bacteria contaminated water.

Pontiac Fever is a lesser version of the disease that occurs the exact same way.

Most people agree that a humidifier is not as likely to get bad enough to spread Legionnaires disease.

But it is a strong enough threat that the Israeli Ministry of Health issued a warning about the incorrect use of domestic humidifiers and their connection to Legionnaires.

The bottom line is that humidifiers
must be emptied once a day and cleaned thoroughly once a week.

And that yes, there is a chance of a humidifier making you sick if it is not cared for adequately.

And if you already have a predisposition to mold allergies, the chance of getting sick from an unmaintained humidifier can be that much worse.

So if you are in the market for a humidifier, it would be well worth it to search for one that is easy to clean and is dishwasher safe.

Many brands of humidifiers are starting to use features like ultraviolet light and carry additives that help keep mold and bacteria from growing or at least nearly as fast.

Over Humidifying

Another way that humidifiers can affect your health adversely is using one when the humidity is already high.

Air that is thick with heavy humidity can be harder to breathe.

And it’s very hard to breathe if you already suffer from a condition like asthma.

High humidity also promotes dust mite and mold growth.

Both of which fall into a category of airborne allergens that can cause symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes, coughing, and fatigue.

Mold can also take root in your house, hiding in dark spaces where it can grow out of control and cause a great deal of damage in a very short time.

Maintaining a relative humidity between 40 and 60 percent is the key. And if the humidity is already above that range,

Running a humidifier will only make it more humid and exasperate the problem.

A dehumidifier or simply running the central heat and air would be a better solution to help reduce the humidity and thin the air.

Humidifier Pros Though Bro

healthy relative humidity

But with all the talk of how a humidifier can be dangerous when not properly kept,

It makes you forget how beneficial a humidifier actually is, when it is properly used and maintained.

And how important maintaining the proper relative humidity is to your health.

Humidity is a subject that most people don’t consider to be related to anything other than a bad hair day or a muggy uncomfortable afternoon.

But humidity has much more to do with staying healthy then you may have thought.

Like I previously mentioned, keeping the relative humidity at the optimal point is the key.

An actual quote in the National Library of Medicine states “the majority of adverse health effects caused by relative humidity would be minimized by maintaining indoor levels between 40 and 60%.

That’s a pretty big statement.

Another study concluded that “rodents and environments with 10 to 20% relative humidity succumb to influenza virus infection or rapidly than those housed in 50% relative humidity”

This leads to the conclusion that relative humidity is much more important to maintaining your health than previously thought.

Wouldn’t you say?

Benefits of Optimal Humidity

Some of the benefits of using a humidifier when the air is too dry include:

  • Reducing flu and viral transmission

Studies show that a proper relative humidity keeps viral droplets from being able to travel as far during cold and flu season.

  • Repairing Dry skin

Dehydrated skin equals dry skin.  When there is not enough mouth in the air , the air itself becomes an absorber, pulling the moisture out of your skin.

Dry skin is also at the heart of acne. A lack of moisture in the air also exacerbates psoriasis.

Increasing the moisture in the air with a humidifier can help improve and heal dry, damaged skin.

  • Managing Dust

Dust is made up of a huge list everything you can think of including dead skin and the exoskeletons of insects. As well as pollen and mold spores.

Running a humidifier helps add weight to the dust particles floating through the air. This keeps dust from being able to enter your airways and cause any number of allergic symptoms.

And for asthma sufferers, it can be the difference in breathing or not and triggering an attack.

Recap

There is no question that a moldy humidifier can make you sick.

There are conditions including Legionnaires and Pontiac Fever that are  caught by breathing in humidity droplets that are tainted with mold.

It is obviously very important to keep your humidifier clean as well as any other devices or machines that you have in your home that require adding or emptying water like in the case of a dehumidifier.

But don’t let the maintenance involved in using a humidifier keep you from doing so.

The benefits of keeping the relative humidity between 40 and 60 percent are as important to your health as eating, drinking, and sleeping well and enough.

Your skincare is absolutely dependent and maintaining the proper humidity as well. This includes treating Acne and helping to relieve psoriasis.

How to Get Rid of Dust in the Air? – A Moist Ideal

Living in dusty conditions can have a number of adverse health effects including dry skin and breathing problems.

Common household dusting will never go away. But living with the amount of dust in the air can be minimized.

  Sometimes that may mean filtering out the dust before it has a chance to land.

And sometimes that may mean adding weight to the dust so that it lands quickly and doesn’t remain in the ambient or direct air that you are breathing.

Sometimes it means using an air compressor or leaf blower and blowing it to the wind.

In most cases it’s probably a little of All the above.

How to get rid of dust in the air?

Humidity

Humidity is a big factor when it comes to dust in your home.

That’s right.

Humidity is not the first thing you think of when you are trying to figure out a way to keep the dust in the air down.

But dry air facilitates dust including all the germs and bacteria that the dust floating through the air is carrying.

So much so, that the National Library of Medicine at PubMed has stated that:

“the majority of adverse health effects caused by relative humidity would be minimized by maintaining indoor levels between 40 and 60%”.

How does that correlate to the amount of dust in the air and minimizing it?

  Because when the air is dryer, dust  floats easily because it has nothing to  weigh it down.

When the relative humidity is kept between 40 and 60%, there is enough moisture to adhere to the floating dust particles,

including viruses attached in the dust,

to weigh down the dust particles so that it becomes too heavy to float and fall out of the ambient air (the air that you breathe).

Dry Skin

 

Dry air not only creates an easy path for germs and allergens to travel, it also creates an atmosphere for dry skin.

The lack of moisture in the air actually creates a vacuum that pulls moisture from anywhere it can get it.

And one of those places just happens to be your skin.

The dust particles that land on your face are doing the exact same thing. Absorbing the moisture out of your skin and leaving you dried out and itchy.

So as funny as it may seem, the relative humidity is the first thing you want to check when your air quality is too dusty.

How can you know if the moisture level of your air is maintaining the optimal point? How do you check your relative humidity to make sure that it is on point?

A Hygrometer

A Hygrometer is a device that measures the humidity much the same way a thermometer measures the temperature.

And once you’ve found that the moisture level in your air has dipped below the point needed using a hygrometer,

You will need a way to correct the problem.

Humidifier

A Humidifier is the machine that adds moisture to the air if you find that the relative humidity in your room space has lowered to the point that dust and dry air have become a problem.

Humidifiers are not a new ideal and have been around for a long time.

But as the knowledge of maintaining the proper humidity level has so much to do with staying healthy and maintaining healthy skin,

Humidifiers have become sophisticated devices that come complete with a hygrometer/humidistat function to measure and maintain your relative humidity.

They also come with much larger basins and many options to help them stay germ free longer.

Air purifiers

  Of course, humidity or lack thereof is not the only reason your air may be dirty.

If for instance you live on a dirt road that is subject to dust being kicked up continually,

It is as simple as your environment.

An air purifier along with standard sweeping and vacuuming is going to do more to eliminate dust from your air at that point.

Most air purifiers work like a vacuum that pulls air through a series of filters that capture dust as well as other airborne particulates like pollen and mold spores.

Standard HEPA air purifiers are capable of filtering dust particles as small as .003 ppm. Any many air purifier manufacturers are selling purifiers with filters that are able to capture particles as small as .001 ppm

That’s pretty small.

Other air purifiers employ electronic technologies like negative ions and ultraviolet light.

Ionizers or negative ion generators use polarity to clump dust particles together so that they become too heavy to float and fall out of the air you breathe.

Similar to the effect that a humidifier has on the air as moisture helps clump and weigh down thus particles too.

Only with an ionizer, there is no moisture involved, only the production and release of ions.

It’s important though to realize that  ionizers actually make your surfaces extra Dusty.

And some surfaces like TV screens and computer monitors will attract the magnetized dust particles faster than other surfaces.

That’s an important distinction to make when you’re looking for a way to get dust out of your air.

  Because though the air that you are breathing will be cleaner with the use of an ionizer, the amount of dusting you do will probably increase.

Vacuuming

A great deal of dust in the air comes in the form of simple walking. Walking has a way of causing a whirlwind of dust to re-enter the airstream.

Frequent vacuuming can help keep dust out of the air more so than you may believe.

Other types of dust that come from machinery like sanders and table saws need to be vacuumed as it is produced in order to keep the level of dust from becoming a major ordeal.

Using compressed air to push the dust out of the air can work as long as there is a place for it to go. Like say a garage with a large door that the dust could be blown out of.

But dust that comes from construction like sanding wood or using a table saw will most always be better vacuumed with a shop VAC as it is being produced rather than blown with an air compressor.

The amount of dust created during a wood project can be pretty hard to displace by just blowing it.

Recap

Getting rid of dust in the air can be as simple as adding humidity back into the air with a humidifier.

Dusty air, a great deal of the time is due to a drop in the relative humidity.

By adding moisture back to the air with the humidifier, the dust in the air will absorb moisture and become too heavy to float and fall out of the air you breathe.

Other types of dusty air are environmental and can come from things like living next to a dirt road or a wind storm blowing through.

This type of dust can be rectified by using an air purifier that pulls air through a series of filters as a means of cleaning the air.

Other types of air purifiers like ionizers, though will clear the ambient air that you breathe, they will also leave your surfaces dustier. And create more of an opportunity to kick the dust back into the air.

And other types of Dusty air that are created using machinery are most always best resolved by attaching a shop VAC to the machinery that you are using to capture the dust as it is being created.

Do Humidifiers Clean the Air? (You May Be Surprised)

Do Humidifiers Clean the Air?

A humidifier is not the same thing as an air purifier and doesn’t have a way to filter air.

But a humidifier can be a type of air purifier when the air is too dry.

Maintaining the proper relative humidity in a room has an air purification effect on the air.
  This is because humidity droplets are heavier than the dust particles , including viruses and bacteria.

  So when the humidity binds itself to the dust in the air, the dust becomes too heavy to float and falls out of the ambient air that you breathe.

  Very similar to the way an ionic air purifier works.

  Except in the case of the air purifier it is ions that are binding to dust and causing it to fall.

Humidifier for Plants

 

Another way that humidifiers help clean the air is by keeping your air purifying plants healthy.

If you haven’t seen it, there’s a popular list of plants that NASA was conducted research on and determined natural air purifiers.

A humidifier is one of the best ways to keep your plant life thriving in your home.

Adding some of the plants like spider plant and rubber plant that NASA has determined are air purifying plants to your home is an excellent way of utilizing a humidifier in an air purification mode.

Dry air can cause a variety of issues including interrupting respiratory function and causing skin and acne problems.

When the Air does not have enough moisture, it allows dust to float and travel freely making it into your pores and also absorbing the moisture out of your skin and your nasal cavities.

Using a humidifier to keep the relative humidity in your home at 40 to 60% will alleviate most dry air symptoms.

  But on the flip side…  over-humidifying the air can have the opposite effect.

  Air that is too humid can explode the dust mite population exponentially in your home. It will also promote mold growth which in turn will unleash mold spores into your Air.

When the humidity gets above 60%, running a  humidifier we’ll make the air quality worse.

For instance, Basements are notorious for being extra humid. Running a humidifier in a basement would be the opposite of what you need to do.

A dehumidifier is a more useful device at that point. Refrigerated air conditioners double as dehumidifiers and some even have “dry mode” settings that allow you to bring the humidity level down in your home without bringing the actual temperature down.

Many basements require industrial vents to pull the moisture out of the area.

Monitoring and keeping your relative humidity between 40 and 60% is the key .

You can purchase humidifiers and dehumidifiers that have a hygrometer or a humidistat built in to ensure that you are adding or taking away the right amount of humidity to stay healthy.

Both humidifiers and dehumidifiers come equipped with smart apps that you can get notifications from as well as monitor your relative humidity remotely at any time.

Though a humidifier can be a huge factor and do a great deal to help manage the air quality when conditions are dry,

A humidifier is not a replacement for an air purifier because indoor air pollution does not rely solely on the air being dry or extra humid.

And air purifiers are useful all year long whereas humidifiers usually gets stored away during the warmer and hot months.

But an air purifier will do nothing to add or take away moisture from your air.

And unfortunately there is not an appliance that can humidify, dehumidify, and filter the air. At least nothing available that can do a great job at any of the three.

Recap

A humidifier can help clean the air when conditions are dry.

Without the adequate moisture in the air, airborne particles, including germs, bacteria, and viruses, can float much easier and travel much further.

A humidifier will add moisture droplets to the air that will bind with the dust particles and cause them to be too heavy to float. The result will be cleaner and fresher air.

But a humidifier can actually make the air quality worse when the humidity is on the high side.

Higher levels of humidity promote mold growth and feed dust mite populations.

Reducing the humidity with a dehumidifier or refrigerator air conditioner will help keep the air quality good during times and seasons of heavy humidity.

But neither a humidifier or a dehumidifier is a replacement for an air purifier.

Air purifiers work 24/7 all year long to keep your air clean. Whereas humidifiers and dehumidifiers are both seasonal devices that are stored away when not in use.

Do Humidifiers Increase Oxygen? (No and Yes)

Do Humidifiers Increase Oxygen?

A humidifier is not an oxygen machine or an oxygen concentrator and it should not be mistaken for one.

A humidifier is an appliance that adds moisture or humidity to the air. And humidity actually displaces oxygen.

But a humidifier can increase oxygen indirectly in a couple of ways.

1.  Humidity is a natural air purifier that weighs down particles like pollen and airborne bacteria as well as viruses.

Adding moisture to the air with a humidifier can make these particles too heavy to float thereby increasing the natural oxygen available.

The National Library of Medicine has stated that “the majority of adverse health effects caused by relative humidity would be minimized by maintaining indoor levels between 40 and 60%.

By keeping the relative humidity at the recommended level, you naturally increase the oxygen by using the natural capacity of humidity to purify the already existing oxygen.

Plant humidifier

Using a humidifier as a tool to help keep your oxygen creating plants healthy.

Using a humidifier for plants is not a new idea. Plants need the right humidity to thrive and stay healthy just as much as people do.

The same dried out air in the house that causes your skin to crack and your nose to feel brittle will also have an adverse effect on your plants.

Plants need that 40 to 60% relative humidity to thrive as much as people do.

If you haven’t heard about it, there is a list of plants that NASA has conducted an in-depth study on and has declared them to be all natural air purifiers.

Some of the plants included in the list are Aloe Vera, Rubber Plant, and Mother-in-law’s tongue.

plant humidifierAnd a number of the plants, including the ones I mentioned above happened to be some of the best oxygen producing plants that exist.

Do you see where I’m going here?

The combination of the right plants with the right moisture in the air can make an amazing air purification system and a high oxygen producing environment.

So what’s the answer to the original question?

“A humidifier can help increase oxygen when it is used as a tool to help purify your air and to keep your all natural air purifying and oxygen releasing plants moist and healthy in your home.’

How do you know how much humidity to add to aid your plants?

The ideal is to mimic the natural environment and climate where the plant grows the best.

In other words, cactus is going to need less humidity because of its natural desert surroundings and Rubber tree is going to need much more because of its natural tropical habitat.

Doing the research for your plants is key.

Knowing the humidity level in your home is also key.

If you do not know what your humidity is already, you do not have a starting point.

A hygrometer is an inexpensive thermometer type device that measures humidity.

But a better option is to own a  humidifier that has a hygrometer/ humidistat already built in.

Most Humidifiers are usually known to be pretty cheap devices you find in the drugstore or Walmart.

But these days humidifiers are smart machines that can either work as cool mist or vaporizers and include features like essential oil compartments and bacteria resistant materials.

Recap

Do humidifiers increase oxygen?

A humidifier is not the same thing as an oxygen concentrator.

Human beings cannot breathe underwater and it is also true that when the humidity is very heavy, it can be harder to breathe because of the thickness of the air.

High levels of humidity are also known to be a lot more likely to be full of mold spores and dust mites. Dust mite populations are actually exploding with high humidity.

So just blasting humidity into a room with a humidifier is not an answer to increasing the oxygen or creating an environment where you can breathe better.

But maintaining the proper relative humidity in the house is a great way to reduce the amount of airborne germs and allergens as well as hydrate your nasal cavities and your skin.

Humidifiers are also an excellent way to keep your plants lush and thriving.

And if you want to take it a step further you can include plants that are listed in NASA’s top Air purifying and oxygen releasing plants.

Humidifiers can help increase the oxygen in a room but they do so indirectly.

Benefits of a Humidifier While Sleeping (next to snoring train)

So how much of our lives do we spend sleeping, do they say? Like 26 years or something, and another 7 years just trying to get to sleep. That’s insane.

We all know the feeling I’m not getting a good night sleep and trying to be at our best the next day or sometimes days.

Not getting the adequate amount of sleep presents a whole host of problems.

Some very severe like memory loss, heart disease, and low sex drive.

There is no doubt that sleep is a very important part of everyone’s lives.

But did you know that humidity can have an effect on how well you sleep?

It’s a fact.

Air that is too dry can cause your breathing to be impaired because of dust and germs that easily float when there’s not enough moisture in the air to weigh them down.

When you’re trying to sleep, breathing in these impurities can cause snoring, coughing, and exasperated sleep apnea.

Dry air also can cause your skin to become dehydrated leading to flaky itchy skin, and acne. 

As well as cause your nasal passages along with your throat, to become raw leading the nosebleeds and a dry sore throat.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, air that is too humid can be filled with mold spores and dust mites, also making it hard to breathe deep while you are trying to get a good night’s rest.

Excessive humidity can also be harder to breathe which can impair your slumber, and be a nightmare for people with asthma and sleep apnea.

But fortunately, there is a device that can help you remedy any problems you are having sleeping because of poor low humidity.

The device?

The humidifier.

Yep. The Humidifier.

The benefits of sleeping with a humidifier nearby are many.

Restful sleep when you’re congested and your nasal passages are swollen and brittle, hydrated skin when you’re dried out,

and Air that is cleaner to breathe because of the capacity of moisture in the air to ” weigh down” dust and particulates inhibiting their ability to float.

Sounds wonderful and it is. Humidity is much more a part of being healthy and getting proper sleep than most people including myself ever thought of or gave it credit for.

How do you know if you need a humidifier?

How do you know when you need to use a humidifier?

There are certain times of the year, namely the cold winter months when the air becomes naturally too dry.

Then to combat the cold, we turn on the heater, which dries the air out further.

During this time of year, it’s a no-brainer. You need a humidifier.

hygrometerBut even with that information, knowing when to use a humidifier is still guesswork unless you have a way of measuring the humidity.

Aha… The point!

Measuring the humidity level of the air in your home is the only way you can be sure you need to fire up the humidifier.

How do you do that?

A hygrometer. A hygrometer is to humidity what a thermometer is to temperature.

A simple device that measures the relative humidity.

You can buy them fairly cheap and monitor the humidity at your leisure.

But, Humidifiers these days come with everything you need to measure your humidity, dial in the humidity level you want, and let the machine do the work.

You can buy a humidifier with a built-in hygrometer and a humidistat to set the humidifier at whatever humidity you want. 

You can purchase humidifiers that have all the smart capabilities that allow you to control your humidifier via your phone, or check the relative humidity in your home, or schedule the humidifier to come on at a certain time.

All at your fingertips and all easily programmed to take commands by voice.

With what is known about humidity these days and it’s capacity to hinder viruses, hydrate skin and help keep acne under control, as well as act as a natural air purifier,

Combined with the amazing selection of humidifiers available that can do it all,

I think its time we took humidifiers more seriously and looked at them as an investment other than a cheap plastic drugstore item.

Humidifiers are also starting to make big jumps in the way they are cleaned.

You can now purchase humidifiers that have ultraviolet lights to target and kill bacteria inside of the water before it becomes part of the air,

There are also humidifiers that are made out of antimicrobial plastic that keeps bacteria and fungus from being able to grow on the actual materials that the humidifier is made out of,

And there are also additives you can buy to put in the humidifier to keep mold and bacteria from becoming an issue.

And don’t forget, smart humidifiers will also alert you when it’s time to clean your humidifying device.

Recap

Sleeping with the humidifier when the air is dry has many benefits.

1. Keeping your skin hydrated,

2.Weighing down and keeping dust and particulates out of the air so that they are not breathed in,

3.Easing the pain of swollen and dried nasal passages are all benefits to sleeping with a humidifier on.

But as wonderful is all that is, humidifiers are not needed all year long.

In order to get the best result out of a humidifier, you need to know exactly when to run it.

And in order to do that, you first need to measure the humidity before you get started.

A hygrometer is a simple tool to measure the relative humidity.

Fairly inexpensive, the hygrometer will let you know whether you even need to turn the humidifier on or not.

Fortunately these days, it’s not hard to find a humidifier that has a hygrometer built in as well as a humidistat to dial in the humidity level that you desire.

Like everything else in the modern world, humidifiers can be purchased to work with your Wi-Fi and be controlled using an app to schedule and monitor your relative humidity level.

If you’re living on the opposite side of the spectrum and you’re average humidity is too high, a dehumidifier may be the ticket. 

Humidifier Benefits For Skin (a beauty elixir?)

Humidifiers have traditionally been a congestion and dry nose device and something that may not come to mind immediately when you’re thinking about moisturizing your skin.

But lately, humidifiers are as likely to be found in the beauty section as much as they are in the seasonal cold and flu section.

Why is that?

It comes down to the science and a level of understanding of how the relative humidity at any given time can be at the root of dry skin.

Though it is well known that not all skin types are the same and some people have naturally oily skin and some people not so much.

But regardless of skin type, dry skin as it is related to humidity, is basically dehydrated skin.

Dry skin = dehydrated skin.

Hadley King, MD states “dry conditions can cause small cracks on the epidermis that expose nerve endings and the deeper layers of skin to the outside world”
“Increasing moisture levels helps to maintain hydration. When skin is properly hydrated it naturally combats common winter skin concerns.”

Does the humidifier help with dry skin?

One of the easiest ways to help combat dry skin as well as being one of the best all natural moisturizers is a humidifier.

Humidifiers have a single purpose. To restore humidity back to the air.

According to PubMed, the relative humidity must be maintained between 40 and 60% to minimize adverse health effects including dry skin.

Humidifier benefits for skin

 

 

Keeping the humidity in your home at an optimal level with the use of a humidifier can benefit you and be an integral part of your skin care routine by Supplementing the moisture in your skin when the cold has dried you out and the heater is drying you up.

A humidifier also benefits the skin by keeping dust levels down. When the air is dry, dust floats easily, which in turn contacts your skin much easier, drying it out that much more.

Air that has the right humidity, moistens dust and keeps it from floating.

The relative humidity also keeps allergens and viruses from being able to travel as far. When the air contains the right relative humidity, viruses and allergens, as well as other airborne bacteria, becomes too heavy to float and fall through the surface much faster.

Steam humidifiers can also help open up your pores for deep cleaning.

Facial steam humidifiers hydrate your face and allow you to remove a deeper level of dirt and bacteria from your skin

What’s the best humidifier for skin?

Humidifiers can come equipped with all types of features that were once not heard of in the humidification arena.

But the feature you should be sure to include in the purchase of a humidifier is undoubtedly a hygrometer or hydrostat as it’s also called.

A hydrostat is like a thermometer for humidity. It tells you exactly how humid the air is and allows you to set it dial in the relative humidity level that you want it to be.

Without a hydrostat/hygrometer you have no way of knowing how much humidity you need or even if you need it at all.

Another feature that you should look into when purchasing a humidifier is the capacity to run as either a warm mist humidifier or a cool mist humidifier.

Both have their advantages.
For instance a cool mist humidifier may offer more relief for a dry throat and dry nasal passages. They are also infamously endorsed as a better option for cold symptoms or congestion and sore throats by Mayo Clinic.

Cool mist is also recommended for children because it doesn’t offer any risk of getting burned and when you’re sleeping with the humidifier running for relief during the night, steam is not something you’re looking for.

But on the other hand, steam humidifiers have other benefits like helping you be able to exfoliate your skin and well with different additives like eucalyptus that can help you better also.

So if you can purchase a humidifier that can operate as both a cool mist and a steam humidifier, that’s the direction to take.

Another thing you should keep in mind when purchasing a humidifier is that they require regular cleanings to keep them from becoming a point of origin for bacteria and mold.

There are many humidifier brands these days that make the process of keeping the humidifier clean much easier and less frequent.

Humidifiers like the Dyson AM10 use ultraviolet light to target bacteria and mold inside of a humidifier basin, while other humidifiers like the Taotronics use antimicrobial plastic in their construction to keep mode from being able to grow inside of the unit.

There are also different types of additives like Guardian Aquasticks you can put directly into the humidifier basin to keep mold and bacteria from becoming an issue as fast.

Wrap up

Humidifier Benefits for Skin

Dry skin and skin care maintenance may not be something you immediately associate with humidity and humidifiers, but the truth is the two actually go hand in hand.

Skin moisturizing should always start with making sure your air humidity is between 40 to 60%. If the relative humidity is below 40%, then your skin can become dehydrated very quickly.

Thankfully, there is an easy solution for dry air. The good ol humidifier.

Only humidifiers these days come with features like hydrostats that allow you to dial in the exact humidity you need.

Not only that, you can purchase humidifiers that can run up to 60 hours without refilling.

Other features like self cleaning technologies and combination hot and cold mist make humidifiers a must have for maintaining healthy skin.

Is a Humidifier a Cure for Asthma? (click bait alert)

The humidifier is not a cure for asthma.

But maintaining proper humidity levels in your home is very important to living with, and living well when you have asthma.

As stated in a research article listed by the National Library of Medicine, “the majority of adverse health effects caused by relative humidity would be minimized by maintaining indoor levels between 40 and 60%.”

The article goes on to say that mite populations reach their maximum size when the relative humidity is at 80%. And that most species of fungi cannot grow unless the relative humidity exceeds 60%.

Conversely, as pointed out in this article” droplets and aerosols tend to stay afloat longer and travel farther and air with lower relative humidity. Virus containing aerosols, in particular, can penetrate more deeply into the lungs to increase the possibility of transmission”

“In addition, research shows viruses have the potential to live longer on surfaces in cold environments.”

The point is that the relative humidity in your home should be maintained at a level between 40 and 60% regardless.

And depending on the season and, or the climate you live in, you may very well need a humidifier. And, or a dehumidifier.

But whether you’re in a cold or hot situation right now,

The first thing you need to know is what the humidity level is in your house.

And for that you will need a hygrometer.

Hygrometers measure the humidity and show you exactly what the relative humidity in your home is.

  Or if you are already in the market for a humidifier then the first feature you’ll want to be sure to include is a built-in hygrometer.

Because how will you ever know how much humidity you need to add to make your air healthier and easier to breathe if you don’t have a way to measure it.

After you have measured the humidity and found that yes, the humidity level in your home has dropped below or risen above the health and comfortability point, then it’s time to think about a humidifier.

Humidifiers come in different types and have a different range of levels of what they are capable of achieving.

And like everything else they come with the cheap version and there are also Cadillac versions.

  Fortunately there are versions of humidifiers that are built for persons with asthma directly in mind.

Humidifier for Asthma

What types of features should you rank higher than others when you are in the market for a humidifier for asthma?

1.  Humidistat

The humidistat will tell you what your humidity is in your home and allow you to set your humidifier to the desired humidity level you want.

Just like a thermostat that you dial in on a heater or air conditioner, a humidistat lets you dial in exactly the percentage of humidity you want in your room.

2. Secondly, you want to choose a humidifier that is germ-free.

“Germ-free” is a term used loosely here,  because there is no such thing as a humidifier that doesn’t have the potential to produce mold and bacteria if it is allowed to go unmaintained.

But there are a few technologies available that can lower the risk of a humidifier becoming contaminated, and also lower the frequency that the humidifier needs cleaned.

A few options are:

a. Ultraviolet light

Ultraviolet light inside of a humidifier works the same way as putting a UV light in a fish tank or keeping one and a sterilizing container for combs and scissors works.

A UV lamp targeted directly upon the water in your humidifier will kill 99% of the germs and bacteria in the basin.

b.  Antimicrobial plastic

Antimicrobial plastic is one of the coolest advancements to come along in humidifiers. It is a type of plastic that is actually resistant to fungi and mold.

It is also a great way to reduce the chance of a humidifier becoming a problem instead of a help.

c. Antibacterial additives

You can also purchase bacteria destroying additives that can be added straight to the basin of your humidifier.
Some humidifiers come with antibacterial drop in products included.

3.  Combination cool mist and warm mist

Another option that you should think about including in your humidifier purchase is the capacity of the humidifier to run as either a cool mist or a warm mist humidifier.

Having the option to either use a humidifier as a warm or cool mist is a huge advancement in humidifier technologies also.

4.  Larger tank size.

Humidifiers come with different tank sizes. The tank size is what determines how long you will be able to use the humidifier without refilling.

You can get humidifiers with tank sizes that last up to 60 or even more hours.

5.  Whole house humidifier

A whole house humidifier, also commonly referred to as a furnace humidifier, connects directly into your duct work.

These units have a great advantage over portable units because they can produce the right relative humidity throughout your home via your already installed HVAC.

Another great advantage is the fact that there is no basin to refill with water.

They do however pose the risk of mold growth in walls and require the proper maintenance. They also have yearly replacement parts.

Summary

If you’re an asthmatic, maintaining the proper relative humidity is more important to you.

Excessively low and high humidity has consequences for everyone, but when you’re struggling with asthma, the difference in being in a room with the proper relative humidity between 40 and 60% can mean the difference in breathing or not breathing.

Humidifiers have come pretty far with advancements. There are humidifiers available these days that monitor and keep the relative humidity in your room at the optimal spot.

There are also humidifiers that have built-in cleaning methods such as ultraviolet light and antimicrobial plastics that keep the risk of mold and asthma triggering bacteria at Bay.

Humidifiers also come with many more options such as being able to use them in either cool mode or vapor mode and they also are sold large enough to be able to use them several days without refilling.

The best option however may be placing a whole house furnace humidifier that can keep the relative humidity in your entire home at the right level at all times.

Should You Use a Humidifier for Acne?- You May Be Surprised

Humidity for Acne?

Low humidity and acne are not 2 topics that you may think have much to do with each other.

Or if you are like me, you would probably guess that humidity, especially high humidity, would result in having a worst case of acne or pimple breakout.

As it turns out, both are true. But not for the same reasons.

Dry air affects your skin one way and humid air affects your skin another way.

Dry conditions can cause small cracks on the epidermis that expose nerve endings in the deeper layers of skin to the outside world. The result? Itching, flaking, and more sensitivity to products and the environment. says Hadley King MD

The damage caused by dry skin also allows the bacteria that causes acne to be very deep into the skin.

Dry skin can also release a counter balancing reaction in your skin that creates an overabundance of oil to maintain hydration.

This all adds up to fertile ground for acne to flourish.

It’s a common story to hear of someone who lives in a dry cold climate expressing their amazement at how their complexion clears up when they go on a vacation somewhere humid.

Being in an environment where the relative humidity is 40 to 60% has a way of repairing dry skin.

But unfortunately not all of us live in an area where the humidity is that easy to come by.

Or, Will we be traveling to a vacation island anytime soon.

And it does not help any that during the dry cold season, the heater is running non stop drying out the air.

And in the summer, the AC is dehumidifying to counter the heat.

And don’t forget the fan blowing on you constantly.

So how do you offset the lack of humidity and create a hydrated space for your skin to repair itself and give you the moisture you need for a great complexion?

One of the best ways you can combat dry skin and acne caused by dry skin is keeping a humidifier running in your home and next to your bed while you sleep.

A warm mist humidifier or steam humidifier will restore the humidity level in your room to an optimal level and also open up your pores, which will help remove the bacteria and oils that are at the root of acne breakouts.

Also Humidifiers, unbeknownst to many people, are actually great air purifiers all on their own.

Why is that? 

When the air is dry, dust and bacteria are free to flow throughout the airstream. But when you add moisture to the picture, the airborne particulates become too heavy to float and fall to the surface.

A great multifunction warm mist / cold mist humidifier with a built in hygrometer we suggest is the Levoit LV600HH.  Check the price out here.

You’re probably thinking, That’s all good in the winter but …

What about humidity pimples?

Doesn’t high humidity cause acne?
Actually the opposite is true, humidity actually keeps your skin hydrated and healthier.

But humidity also causes sweat. And when you sweat, your body produces extra oils and expunges toxins and salt, which all come to the surface of your skin.

In which the most common thing to do is to take your already sweaty shirt and wipe your face with it, basically wiping the dirt and oil right into your pores.

Another thing to remember is that dry skin is not solely a winter cold season problem.

There are many reasons your skin may be dry.

For instance, swimming in a pool with chlorine will dry your skin out and swimming is typically thought to be more of a summer activity.

Soaps and detergents also have drying agents in their ingredients.

Being in a dusty room is also a sure way to dehydrate your skin.

The bottom line is your skin it’s meant to have a level of moisture in it and whether the climate is the cause or whether there’s an environmental problem, you have to find a way to keep your skin moist regardless.

Humidifiers have one job and that is to add moisture to the air with the goal of maintaining a relative humidity from 40 to 60%.

Humidifiers are actually the best all natural skin moisturizer you can own.

Humidifier vs diffuser for acne

Diffusers are a type of humidifier that  disperse aromatherapy essential oils into the air along with humidity.

And though it is true that there are essential oils that are responsible for removing bacteria in the air,

Many essential oils can be a skin irritant. So it is not recommended to use a diffuser as a steam humidifier to open up your pores.

It’s also important to remember that dogs and cats are particularly sensitive to essential oils that contain menthol.

Other types of appliances that add moisture to the air include facial hydrators, evaporative coolers, and air washers.

Facial hydrators are a type of steam humidifier that are meant to be used to clean and moisturize your face. Strictly a beauty product.

Evaporative coolers are air conditioners that blow air over water too cool a room. They also go by the term “swamp cooler” because of the level of humidity that they can add to a room.

Air washers are a type of air purifier that use water to filter air.

Humidifier for acne?

Believe it or not, the good old humidifier may be the best all-natural skin moisturizer you can buy.

Keeping the relative humidity at a healthy level in your home or room is one of the easiest and best ways to combat dry skin and ward off outbreaks.

And whether you’re suffering from dry skin because of the climate you’re in or if there’s an environmental issue like harsh soaps or chlorine you’re dealing with,

The simple solution of increasing the humidity may be what the doctor ordered.

Humidifier vs. Air Purifier (Is it As Obvious As it Seems?)

Humidifier vs. Air Purifier

What’s the difference between a humidifier and an air purifier?

The answer should be pretty obvious you would think.
And on the surface it is.

An air purifier purifies the air and an air humidifier adds humidity to the air.

And when you’re trying to decide whether you need to run an air purifier or to run a humidifier,

The answer to that should seem pretty obvious too.

Do you want to filter the air or do you want to add moisture to the air?

But here is where it gets a little more interesting.

Dry air and humidity have a direct link to the transmission of viruses and allergies in the air.

Two things that you would normally consider to fall in the air purifier category.

Check out the Air Innovations MH 505A on Amazon Here

According to an article in science daily, professor Michael Ward states “when the humidity is lower, the air is dryer and it makes the aerosol smaller”

He also added,  “the aerosols are smaller than droplets. When you sneeze and cough those smaller infectious aerosols can stay suspended in the air for longer.

That increases the exposure for other people. When the air is humid and the aerosols are larger and heavier they fall and hit surfaces quicker.”

Cooler air can cause the humidity to drop as much as 20%. Which makes it much easier for airborne particles to travel.

Secondly, the extra dry air can cause the body’s own natural humidifying and air purification functions, called Cilia, not to function optimally and have a harder time expelling viral particulates as well as it would in normal humidity.

An experiment cited by medicalnewstoday.com shows that rodents placed in an environment with 10% relative humidity “succumbed to influenza virus infection more rapidly than those housed in 50% relative humidity.”

The study also showed that dry air caused the immune response in the mice to be less efficient.

So what does it mean?

The capacity of a humidifier to be able to reduce the spread of viral particles seems to have an edge in the cold dry months compared to an air purifier.

But don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.

A good air purifier, especially one that uses an h13 HEPA filter, can reduce the number of allergens and viruses in the air significantly. Regardless of the relative humidity.

Other types of air purifiers that use plasma wave or bipolar technologies can also significantly lower the amount of virus particulates in the air.

Furthermore, air purifiers are useful everyday of the year whereas humidifiers are only useful when the relative humidity drops.

But when the temperature is cooler and dry air becomes an issue, an air purifier will do zero to add any humidity back to the air.

See the Levoit Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier Here

So is one better than the other?

Should you purchase a humidifier and not bother with the air purifier?

This is a situation where there is no either or.

Humidifiers clearly have an edge when it comes to restoring the relative humidity back to 40 to 60% in the cold months when the air is extra dry.

And viruses need dry air to transport easily.

But extra humidity is definitely not welcomed all year long where there’s not a time of the year when you don’t need clean air to breathe.

And that’s where an air purifier comes in.

So the only good answer is to own both a humidifier and an air purifier.

Am I saying you should purchase a combination air purifier and humidifier?

That’s not what I’m saying at all.

There are a lot of combination appliances that make a lot of sense.

But combining an air purifier and a humidifier is not exactly the best ideal.

Let me explain why I think this.

Humidifier air purifier combos use water to clean the air. These types of units are called air washers and revitalizers.

These machines are not able to clean the air without adding humidity.

And though they may be a great idea in the winter, the dry season only lasts so long.

You have to remember that the humid season is coming, and adding more humidity to the already excessive humid condition is not going to be the best ideal.

You’re going to want a device like a dehumidifier to reduce the humidity at that point.

Combining an air purifier and a humidifier may seem like a great idea on the surface, but the truth is it’s really only useful for about the same amount of time as you will use a humidifier.

You should think about purchasing an air purifier as a standalone appliance that doesn’t try to combine any other function other than to clean the air.

It’s the only scenario that really works.

Air purifier vs humidifier.

Air purifiers and humidifiers seem like two totally different machines on the surface.

One cleans the air and one adds moisture to the air. Case closed right?

But there are studies that prove that viruses and allergies transfer much easier and faster in dry air.

Studies also show that cold and flu symptoms can be reduced as much as 50% by simply adding humidity back into the air through the use of a humidifier.

It’s during these cold dry times that humidifiers actually become a better air purifier than an air purifier itself.

And as “case closed” is that might sound, even though humidifiers may have an edge during that small part of the year, they are not very useful in other seasons.

Air purifiers are useful all year long and don’t depend on the relative humidity being one way or the other.

What’s the conclusion?

Households should employ both air purifiers and humidifiers.

Both work to make your home a much healthier breathing space and are not exclusive of one another.

Finally, even though it may sound like I’m suggesting a air purifier and humidifier combo,

Those machines are more humidifier than air purifier and you can only get about the same amount of use from them as you do a humidifier.

The best solution is to own a good humidifier and own a separate air purifier.