Humidifiers Archives - Page 14 of 14 -

Are Himalayan Salt Lamps a Hoax?

Himalayan salt lamps have gathered in popularity over the last few years.

And the truth is they are a pretty sharp-looking novelty item that can add to the ambience of a shaded room nicely.
But having a pinkish, orange and red lamp it’s not really enough to cause the kind of stir they have.
It’s unlikely so many people would be purchasing and hunting these things down if it were just for the look of them.

So why are Himalayan salt lamps so popular?

It’s the health benefits that are associated with using a salt lamp.

There are a number of claims being made about how Himalayan salt lamp can improve your health.

The claims include reducing allergies, lowering asthma triggers, and filtering germs and bacteria out of the air.

The two main health functions that Himalayan salt lamps supposedly perform are:

1.Produce Negative Ions
2.They are Hygroscopic

Himalayan salt lamp hoax?

“Himalayan salt lamps do not create any measurable amount of negative ions but they are conclusively hygroscopic because salt is known to pull moisture out of the air.
Are they a Hoax? 50/50.”

Now I am a skeptic. and certain things like salt lamps just lend themselves to skepticism.

But if you were to show me a study that proves Himalayan salt lamps could actually improve air quality, we can leave it at that.

But unfortunately there is not a single study that can be produced.

But like everything else to do with Himalayan salt lamps, I’ll try to make an educated guess.

One of the biggest claims about Himalayan salt lamps is that they create negative ions.

My first question here is: “Have you ever seen the dust left behind by a negative ion generator?”

Negative ion generators are famous we’re leaving a blanket of dust on the walls and surfaces around around the machine.

It’s so popular they have a phrase that describes it. “Great Wall syndrome” is the effect of negatively charged ions combining with positively charged ions, and either falling to the surface or clinging to the walls.

This is not a effect you get with a Himalayan salt lamp.

Secondly, it’s not just negative ions that affect the mood or atmosphere in an area, it’s the sheer volume of them that makes the difference.

The fresh outdoor feeling you get from a thunderstorm rolling through is caused by an explosion of negative ions created by lightning ,and rain washing contaminants out of the air.

There is also a distinctive smell left behind by a thunderstorm. The smell is ozone.

Negative ionizers also create ozone and it is one of the reasons they come under fire as an air cleaning method.

“But Himalayan salt lamps, if they create negative ions at all, do not manufacture enough ions to leave behind any dust, much less create enough that would be considered the volume to change the atmosphere in a room, and they leave no noticeable smell of ozone behind whatsoever.”

Verdict: Every action has a counter reaction and Himalayan salt lamps don’t have any of the side effects of a negative ionizer simply because they do not ionize air.
( Butt least they don’t generate high levels of ozone as a by-product. That’s healthy!)

They Are Hygroscopic

On this point, I’m not quite as skeptical.

It is known that humidity droplets can actually be microscopic containers that carry air pollutants like bacteria and viruses and help them travel further through a room.

Humidity is also a natural food source for mold spores and dust mites which are known household allergens.

And we all know how miserable humidity can be in certain climates and times of the year.

Consider this:

Himalayan salt lamps are known to attract moisture.

And most concerns about pink Himalayan salt lamps are about the device leaking or melting.

In truth Himalayan salt lamps neither leak or melt.

The water the gatherers on and around a salt lamp is humidity pulled out of the air by the salt.

Seeing is believing.

Unlike the ionic air purifier claims that people make about Himalayan salt lamps which offer no proof either by leaving behind dust or the residual smell of ozone that negative ions create,

A Himalayan salt lamp leaving behind a puddle of water is a very noticeable side effect that can be construed as the salt pulling moisture from the air.

And it is also a fact that sodium chloride(salt) can be used as a dehumidifier and is often stored in the basement to help reduce the natural humidity typically found in the basement.

So on this point, I would have to concede,

“It is possible that a pink Himalayan salt lamp can help purify the air by absorbing potentially harmful humidity droplets from the air.”

Though it is possible, keeping a Himalayan salt lamp will not reduce the humidity in your home nearly as well as turning the air conditioner on or running a dehumidifier.

And as a ionizer, forget it.

Are Himalayan salt lamps safe for cats?

The allure that salt lamps have for cats to lick them, potentially makes them a health hazard for felines and dogs if the lamp is placed where they can get to them.

The potential problem with keeping salt lamps around your animals is that salt can be very addicting for an animal to lick. And they will probably lick the salt till they’re sick or even worst case scenario, to the point of death.

That fact alone is enough to go with the fake version of Himalayan salt lamp in my house.

Why is my salt lamp leaking water?

Another issue that I rarely see people bringing up when it comes to Himalayan salt lamps is the maintenance involved to keep them.

I for one did not realize that you had to keep wiping them off or they would create a puddle underneath them.

It is actually suggested that you place a plastic bag over the salt lamp when it’s not in use so that it will not continue to pull moisture from the air and become sad.

(Yes, the moisture that gathers on the outside of the salt lamp is called crying. And they can get very sad if not attended to. Don’t be so insensitive.)

And the fact that they are so heavy and brittle is not something I anticipated.

Though they are very pretty and obviously add a nice ambience to the room.

I’m still glad I never bought a Himalayan salt lamp as a Christmas gift for someone without knowing how much attention they would need to give it.

On a positive note, if you happen to own a cow, Himalayan salt lamps make an excellent salt lick, chuck full of iron and minerals.
You may be sitting on a delicious glass of milk and didn’t even know it.

Also: Does a Humidifier Help With Dust?

How to Use a Vaporizer for a Cold

One of the things I remember about going to my grandmother’s house when I was a kid was that she always had a mysterious pot of water simmering on the stove.

Sometimes it smelled like clove, other times it smelled more like chest rub.

Now I know, all these years later, that she kept that pot of water on the stove to add moisture to the air. And the scents we’re actually real cloves and eucalyptus leaves.

Essentially she had her own “do it yourself” vaporizer and diffuser combo”.

How to Use a Vaporizer for a Cold..

“To use a vaporizer for a cold, add a chest decongestant like Vicks or eucalyptus oil into the provided tray.
The decongestant combined with steam should open the airways nicely.”

These days, humidifiers and vaporizers are so cheap, it makes more sense to purchase one and put it in the room where you need it, rather than to keep a pot of water simmering on the stove.

Though I would thankfully trade in all humidifiers I’ve ever owned to revisit those days.

What my grandmother knew, was that if you keep steam in the air and add eucalyptus to the mix, you can help ease the symptoms of a cold.

That’s exactly what a modern vaporizer can do.

Think about how taking a hot steamy shower opens up your airways when you have a cold.

That is basically how a vaporizer functions to help reduce cold symptoms.

A vaporizer is essentially a steam machine.

And most of them come with a tray that allows you to add eucalyptus or other types of essential oils that are good for breathing.

Difference between humidifier and vaporizer

A vaporizer and a humidifier do the same thing,which is to add moisture to the air, the difference is the method they used to achieve that end.

A vaporizer boils water and add steams

to the air to moisturize it.

A humidifier moisturizers the air by misting.

Cost- Humidifiers are a little more expensive across the board. They also or recommended for use with distilled water only, which is also an added expense.

A vaporizer also has the advantage of reaching a boiling point that reduces the ability for mold and bacteria to grow in the machine.

Otherwise it’s a matter of preference whether you prefer the feeling of steam or the feeling of a cool mist.

Vaporizer vs. Humidifier for cold

Though a vaporizer adds the provided benefit of helping loosen up mucus with steam, many people prefer a cool mist humidifier.

That’s especially true when you’re dealing with a cold in a warm season.

It’s not exactly comfortable to have hot steam blowing when the temperature is already warm.

A cool mist humidifier provides a slight breeze which can be very comforting when you’re sick.

And having a vaporizer running, which gets to very high temperatures, around children or babies it’s not something most people will do.

Vaporizer vs. Humidifier for bronchitis

When congestion really has you down, chances are your cold has turned into bronchitis.

Both a vaporizer and a humidifier will add moisture to the air that will help loosen up the congestion in your chest.

The biggest difference is that a vaporizer puts out warm air and a cool mist humidifier puts out cool air.

Mayo clinic suggest that a cool mist humidifier maybe better for easing the symptoms of a chest cold AKA bronchitis.

Vaporizer pros

The vaporizer has the advantage of being less likely to introduce mold and other organisms that can only exasperate bronchitis.

Vaporizers are essential oil friendly.

It’s the combination of steam and aromatherapy that gives the vaporizer a slight advantage.

One of the biggest drawbacks of using a vaporizer is the swampy feeling of combined humidity and heat.

Humidifier pros

Cool mist humidifiers can also work with aromatherapy additives and do not pose a risk of spilling boiling water.

A cool mist humidifier also has the advantage of blowing a slight breeze as it’s working.

Cool air is easier to breathe in hot air.

And one of the main reasons better humidifier is needed in the winter is that the furnace is drying out the air.

Cons

The cons of using a humidifier is that they must be kept clean or they can become a air pollution problem.

A dirty humidifier can spit out mold and bacteria as well as other organisms.

Vaporizer vs. Warm mist humidifier

A warm mist humidifier is another name for a vaporizer. Both a warm mist humidifier and a vaporizer boil water to create steam.

Most vaporizers are sold as a combination warm mist humidifier with a separate tray to add essential oil extracts or pre packaged chest rub pads.

A generic humidifier usually does not offer the aromatherapy additive option.

So if you intend to add essential oils like eucalyptus or oregano for instance, be sure that you choose a humidifier that is made to do so.

The mistake that many people make is thinking that you can add oil straight to the water in a cool mist humidifier.

But doing so will eventually clog your humidifier filter and make it useless.

If you already own a cool mist humidifier that does not have a aromatherapy extract tray,

Then it is worthwhile to purchase a separate diffuser for your essential oils.

Vaporizer vs. Humidifier for cough

The distinct advantage that a vaporizer has for a cough is that it creates steam and is essential oil ready.

The combination of steam and and essential oil like eucalyptus can help break up mucus in clear your airways which may help you breathe easier.

Another distinct advantage of a vaporizer for a cough is that it boils water to create steam which kills bacteria and mold that can easily take root in a humidifier. Boiling also takes the need of using distilled water out of the picture.

The biggest downside of a vaporizer is that it can leave in room feeling muggy.
And though the steam maybe a excellent way to open up your sinuses, sleeping in a steamy room is not the most comfortable.

Another downside. Vaporizers reach high temperatures because they boil water. Not suitable for use where children have access.

The humidifier for a cough adds moisture to the air by emitting a very fine cool mist.

And when you have a cough, a cool mist may make it easier to sleep than a warm steamy room that a vaporizer can give you.

Though they lack the ability of being able to add essential oil straight to the water, many cool mist come equipped with a essential oil tray to be able to take advantage of the healing effects of aromatherapy also.

The biggest drawback of a humidifier over a vaporizer is that mold and bacteria and other organisms can take root much quicker in the machine, making it is essential to keep it cleaned and maintained daily.

Another drawback is it should only be used with distilled water. Which can be an added expense.

Humidifier vs Dehumidifier

Did you know that the humidity in your home not only can affect the structure of your house, It can interfere with your health to?

Humidity or lack of humidity can have adverse effects on your health it may lead you to begin a search for a humidifier or a dehumidifier.

Humidifier vs dehumidifier

A humidifier is a device that adds moisture to the air, a dehumidifier is a device that subtracts moisture from the air.

What should humidity be in the house?

Without knowing the humidity level in your house, it’s impossible to know whether you need a humidifier for a dehumidifier or either?

The humidity leveling the house that is generally the most comfortable for everyone is 40 to 60%. This study by 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%. “ A hygrometer is needed to to let you know what the humidity is in your house.

Humidity levels may need to be tweaked throughout the year to keep a level of comfort in the home.

What should humidity be in house in winter?

in the winter you’re shooting for more like 40 to 60% humidity because the air usually much drier in the winter. And with the addition of the furnace running, the air inside of the house can get very dry.

What should humidity be in house in summer?

Humidity in the summer should be kept around 30 to 45%. There are many times when the heat that you are feeling in the summer is humidity. By maintaining a lower humidity, you can achieve comfort and reduce the need for a continuously running AC.

What do you do when the humidity is affecting your overall health? How do you know whether you should add or reduce the humidity

Here is a few tips

Humidifier or dehumidifier for allergies?

Allergies are many times seasonal. And depending on the season, you’re probably able to narrow down whether you need to moisten or dry out the air.
In the winter, a humidifier is usually better when you’re suffering from allergy symptoms.
But in the summer months, humidity can actually help allergens travel further. So you probably need a dehumidifier.

Humidifier or dehumidifier for sinus problems

A humidifier is best for sinus problems when the air is dry. The reason is that the particles that are in the air that can aggravate the sinus cavities will be weighted down with the use of a humidifier which will keep them from floating and entering your nose and mouth. The added moisture will also help relieve the irritation and pain that dry air can do to your sinuses.

Humidifier or dehumidifier for stuffy nose.

A stuffy nose is usually caused by the air being extra dry. When you have a stuffy, stopped up nose, a cool mist humidifier is a great way to reduce the stuffiness and get a better night’s sleep.

Humidifier or dehumidifier for eczema

Dry air can exasperate skin problems, especially eczema. A humidifier is generally the “go to” device for eczema sufferers because it will add moisture to the air and ease the pain associated with eczema.
Humidity can also have an adverse effect on the skin when the moisture in the air is full of mold spores and bacteria.
It’s important that the humidifier be kept clean or if you’re living in a house with a dirty HVAC, that the vents or not distributing mold and dust mites throughout your house.

Consider adding an air purifier to your arsenal. A mold air purifier will help keep bacteria out of the when the humidity is high too.

Keeping the air clean is as important as adding or reducing humidity.

Humidifier or dehumidifier for mold

Moisture is one of the essential ingredients for mold to grow. Anytime the humidity in the home is high, you have chance of mold taking root somewhere.

A dehumidifier will pull moisture out of the air and help starve and mold that is already forming.

But dehumidifiers themselves must be maintained or else they can become a source for mold and spores.

Humidifier or dehumidifier for baby

Babies can be susceptible to bacteria in the air. A humidifier can help clear the congestion in a baby’s chest. But you should also consider pairing it with an air purifier to ensure that bacteria and mold are introduced to a baby’s room through adding humidity to the air.

Keeping the humidifier clean and filled with distilled water is a must when it comes to babies.

During the hot, muggy months of the year, a dehumidifier can make the air easier to breathe. And the baby you can suffer from the uncomfortable effects of high humidity just like everyone else.

Humidifier or dehumidifier for snoring

Snoring is usually related the air being hot and dry.
A humidifier will add moisture to the air that can help soothe the larynx
And help you breathe a little easier while sleeping.
Some people refer to turn the heat up and dress less in the winter.
This is a recipe for snoring.
Cool air is easier to breathe. Consider turning the heat down and adding more covers or wearing pajamas with a cool mist humidifier running.

Humidifier or dehumidifier for cough

A dry cough can be helped with the use of a humidifier. When conditions are dry, a humidifier can aid in hoping to loosen up mucus and phlegm.
Humidifiers often come with compartments that allow essential oils like eucalyptus and oregano to be dispersed into the air and help you recover from a cough faster and add a soothing agent to the air make it easier to breathe.

Humidifier or dehumidifier for nosebleeds

Nosebleeds are a symptom of dry air.

Even now you can find many homes that still have the furnace under the floor with the heat coming out through a grill.

To avoid the furnace making the air too dry and the kids getting dry bloody noses, a pot of water is placed on the grill so that the water will evaporate and moisten the air. Clove or eucalyptus might be added to add an extra layer of soothing.
A humidifier does the same thing.
When you are getting a nosebleed from the climate, you will want to pick a humidifier over a dehumidifier.

Does a Humidifier Help with Coughing?

We’ve all known the misery of a nagging cold and cough. Trying to get a good night’s rest when you are coughing can be very difficult and sleep medications can leave you feeling unrested and groggy.

Does a humidifier help with coughing?

One of the best ways to get relief from cough and cold symptoms is running a humidifier near your bed.

What does a humidifier do for a cough?

Humidifiers can help a dry cough by adding moisture to the air that helps loosen phlegm in the lungs.

Also many humidifiers come equipped with compartments to add essential oils like eucalyptus that dispersed in the air can sooth your lungs and reduce coughing.

Vaporizer vs. Humidifier for cough?

The best Humidifier for a cough is a combination vaporizer diffuser and cool mist humidifier.

Diffusers can disperse cough reducing essential oils like peppermint and rosemary but they do not add the humidity to the air needed to to help with dryness that is helping aggravate the cough.
On the flip side, a humidifier alone will only add moisture to the air.

Though there is a lot of different opinions on whether you can add the essential oils straight to the water on a humidifier,
It is best to look for one that has a compartment built into it so that you do not have any issues with clogging the machine up with oils

Warm or cool mist humidifier for cough?

Though both a warm mist humidifier and a cool mist humidifier basically achieve the same result of adding humidity to the air,
Cool mist humidifiers tend to add a level of comfort when you’re trying to sleep than you cant get from a warm mist humidifier.
Don’t forget that humidifiers also add a blanket of white noise to the room that can be soothing when your down with a cold and cough.

Best essential oils for coughs

Many humidifiers come ready made to add oils that can help soothe a cough and add additional aid to loosen up mucus.

Eucalyptus for cough

Eucalyptus oil is a very popular is a night time relief product. Many of the salves that you buy to rub on your chest contain eucalyptus.

Oregano oil for cough

Oregano has become popular as a supplement because it contains

Carvacrol
Thymol
Rosmarinic acid

Carvacrol is a natural antibiotic that helps fight bacteria. Thymol is a natural fungicide.

Using oregano oil for a cough and cold is an excellent way to fight off a bug.

Peppermint for cough

Peppermint contains menthol. Menthol is an ingredient in most cough drops.
Using peppermint oil for a cough in your humidifier is a great way to add to your relief suffering from a cold and cough

Rosemary for cough

Rosemary contains Cineole. A study in the US national library of medicine concluded that ” Cineole actively and significantly reduces a cough frequency after 4 days”

Frankincense for cough

Frankincense is an ancient remedy for all sorts of inflammation and diseases in the body. For a cough it can used as a steam inhalation, bath, or massage
It is also used for:

heart disease
Asthma
Skin irritation
Inflammatory bowel disease
Cancer
Prostate cancer
Brain tumor
Diabetes
Antimicrobial effects
Memory
Fertility

Thyme oil for cough

Like oregano oil, thyme oil contains an abundance of carvacrol. A antimicrobial that can aid in the reduction of bacteria.

Can a humidifier make a cough worse?

A humidifier is a simple machine that adds water to the air. If you feel like the humidifier is making you cough, the odds are that it has not been maintained and cleaned properly.

A dirty humidifier not only can grow mold and other organisms, it’s job is to disperse mist into the air. If the humidifier is dirty, the mist is a delivery system for bacteria that can make you cough.

There are actual medical names for this phenomenon. “Humidifier Sickness” , humidifier fever, and “Humidifier lung.

Humidifier sickness symptoms

The US national library of medicine
states that humidifier fever is an influenza like illness with pyrexia (fever) and malaise as the main symptoms.

Other dirty humidifier symptoms include:

Coughing
Chest tightness
Dyspnoea
Weight loss
Chills
Lung inflammation
Shortness of breath
Body aches
Asthma triggers

Humidifier fever treatment

The number one treatment to reduce mold in humidifier symptoms is to clean the humidifier thoroughly and often.

Water you can become stagnant and a breeding ground for mold and bacteria in as little as two days.

And those people who pre-existing conditions like asthma and allergies, also copd, should take extra precautions to ensure that their humidifier is clean by using white vinegar to disinfect the machine before using it again.

Once the source of the bacteria and mold in the air is removed, then the symptoms related to the dirty humidifier should subdue.

Recap

One of the best things you can do to reduce a cough is to run a humidifier.

Humidifiers add moisture to the air that can help reduce soften and reduce phlegm and mucus.

When the air is dry, having a cough can be that much more annoying and painful.

Also many humidifiers come ready-made to add essential oils that can help ease and reduce a cough much faster.

For instance, Rosemary oil when vaporized can reduce the life of a cough down do only 4 days when it is utilized.

Many other essential oils like eucalyptus, peppermint, and tea tree oil have natural soothing qualities the can make having a cough much more bearable.

But for every good review of a humidifier, there needs to be a Stern warning that a humidifier needs to be cleaned and maintained more thoroughly than your average appliance.

A humidifier that is allowed to hold standing water can become a health hazard in as little as two days.

Running a humidifier that has mold and bacteria growing inside of it can make the humidifier a delivery system spreading the bacteria through the air.

It is such a common problem that there is actual medical names attached to it.

Humidifier sickness, humidifier lung, and humidifier fever or all references to
Illness that occurs from not maintaining a humidifier adequately.

Do You Put Water in a Humidifier?

There are so many appliances that deal with Air Quality available on the market. Some clean air, Some add moisture, Some reduce moisture.
Humidifiers are one of them that can get confusing. What do they do? How do you use a humidifier?

For instance,

Do you put water in a humidifier?

Yes. Humidifiers come with a detachable tank that you fill with water.

The purpose of a humidifier is to add moisture to air that is too dry.

When the humidifier is filled with water and turned on, it disperses water droplets into the air, either by misting or vaporizing it.

Humidifiers are usually considered a winter appliance. That’s because
dry air is typically more problematic in the winter months. Dry chapped lips, crusty or bloody noses, dry coughing, are all symptoms that you can experience when the air is too dry.

Dry air can have an effect on the amount of dust in your home also.
Dust can also cause you to have issues with your respiratory system as well as dry out your skin.
Dust can also affect things like laptops and other electronics.

Adding a humidifier during the low humidity season
to your home or office can help you reduce the amount of dust in the air.

Providing extra moisture to the air can make the dust wet enough that it will clump together and fall to the surface.
Adding moisture to the air with a humidifier can also give dust an adhesive quality that will keep it from kicking back into the air as long as the humidity stays at a good level.

Do you put hot or cold water in a humidifier?

Cool or Room temperature water are are best . No need to mess with hot or scalding water. A warm mist air purifier will heat the water on its own. Also very cold water doesn’t create mist very well.

What kind of water do you put in a humidifier?

Filtered or distilled water is better because it has less sediment that can get into your air or clog up your humidifier filter.
Tap water is okay if the water is not known to be extra hard. The Vicks V5100 cool mist humidifier owner’s manual calls for tap water.

Both will add humidity to the air equally. But cool mist humidifiers are generally known to ease allergy and sinus symptoms better.

There are advantages to both.

Warm vapor humidifiers typically have some type of tray or compartment to add Vicks or eucalyptus oil.

Breathing warm vapor with Vicks added to the mix can open up your airways nicely.

But without adding some type of enhancement like Vicks, warm vapor tends to cause your nasal passages to swell which could make it harder to breathe.

Warm mist air purifiers also heat water to a boiling point. So they can be quite dangerous if knocked over.

Should a humidifier run all night?

A Humidifier is a great way help you sleep when you have sinus issues that can dry out your nose and throat.

It is safe to leave it running all night as long as the humidity level in your home calls for it.

Is it safe to leave a humidifier running when it is out of water?

The water in the humidifier does nothing to help it cool down the humidifier itself, so there is no danger of overheating if it runs out of water.

Cool mist humidifiers can be quite loud and have a calming effect comparable to listening to rain loops or white noise.

The sound from a cool mist humidifier can be a sleep aid as much as the cool mist emitting from the humidifier.

The only real danger to leaving a humidifier running all night is if your humidity level is already high enough.

Can you over humidify a room?

Too much humidity can exasperate breathing problems as much as low humidity.

One of the reasons that is true is that heavy humidity levels facilitates the growth of dust mites.

One of the most common household allergens is dust mites. Dust mites actually get there nourishment from the humidity in the air.

How long should I run a humidifier?

The ideal humidity in the home is 30-50%. If you were humidifier has a built-in automatic shut off, setting it at 40% RH is a good number.

If your humidifier does not have a automatically shut off when the target humidity is reached, then you will need a hygrometer to measure the humidity and manually turn off you were humidifiers when the desired humidity is reached.

A hygrometer is a inexpensive item that looks a lot like a thermometer but instead of measuring the temperature in a room, it measures the humidity.

One thing to remember when purchasing a humidifier is they must be kept clean. Failure to do so will create an environment for mold to grow inside of your humidifier and the Humidifier filter.
As you can imagine water recirculating through a contaminated filter kind of goes against the point of purchasing a humidifier in the first place.

Summary

A humidifier is a great way to add moisture back into the air when you are suffering or dealing with the effects of dry air.

If you are not familiar with a humidifier or the way one works, it is actually a very simple machine then anyone can figure out very quickly.

Operating a humidifier basically comes down to filling the removable tank with water, plugging it in and turning it on.

But there are some more specifics that will help you get the best out of using a humidifier and help you decide which type of humidifier is best for you.

You might choose a cool mist air purifier if your primary reason for operating a humidifier is for health reasons related to dry air such as dry or cracked lips, nose bleeds, dry cough, etc.

Cool mist humidifiers run a little louder than warm mist humidifiers but the sound combined with the humidity actually make a great white noise machine to help you sleep.

Warm mist humidifiers are less loud.
They also create a small heater effect there can help heat up a room.

Warm mist humidifiers also usually come with a compartment to add Vicks or some other type of essential oil to help you breathe.

The main concern with warm mist humidifiers is that they do heat water to a boiling point to create steam and if they are knocked over there is a chance of someone getting burned.

And remember that humidifiers must always be kept clean to avoid mold growth inside of the humidifier and the Humidifier filter.

Does a Humidifier Help with Dust?

Dust is a fact of life and one that finding a effectual way of dealing with it is not always the easiest thing to do. Humidity is something you may not associate with the amount of dust in your house. But it can play a huge part.

Does a humidifier help with dust?

Yes. By using a humidifier to add moisture to the air you can significantly reduce dust.
When the air is damp, airborne dust particles will absorb the humidity and get too heavy to float.

Humidity will also will also give the dust and adhesion effect that will keep it from stirring up into the ambient air.

What does Humidity have to do with dust? Is it a help or is it a hindrance?

The answer is both. Low humidity has its issues and high humidity has its issues when it comes to controlling dust.

Low humidity and dry air can make your surfaces, as well as your air, extra dusty where as high humidity can help feed dust mites and facilitate the growth of mold. Both of which are common household allergens.

Dust has the ability to create havoc anywhere.
It can have an negative effect on your:

1.Respiratory System – Dust is made up of multiple components that are considered allergens
2. Skin – dust can clog skin pores which makes acne spread easier as well as dry out your skin and your lips.
3. Household electronics like laptops – laptops and computers tend to get very hot when dust settles on the components located inside. Not only does it make you where electronics get hot, we can make things like switches and volume knobs staticky.
4. Plants- if your plants are covered in dust, you can affect photosynthesis and cause your plants to be malnourished for lack of sunlight.
5. Etc.

Honestly just about anything you can think of can be affected by being inundated with dust.

And the anatomy of dust can be just downright gross.

Some of the many components of dust include insect waste and decomposing insects. As well as shed skin and pet dander. Along with bacteria and pollen and every other microscopic particle, is there any wonder that dust could induce allergies and mess with your respiratory system?

Do humidifiers help purify air?

Yes. Humidifiers can add moisture to the air that will purify the air by causing the dust floating in the air to clump together and become too heavy to stay airborne.

Adding humidity to a dry room can actually have a washing effect on the air.

But though humidifiers can temporarily freshen your air by dampening the dust and preventing it from floating, they will do nothing to completely remove the dust.

To get rid of the dust you are going to need an air purifier.

The majority of air purifiers pull air through a series of filters including a HEPA and a carbon filter.

HEPA filters are able to capture particles as small as .03 microns which would include particulates like pollen and pet dander.
Other pollutants like off-gassing and odors are adsorbed by a carbon filter.

Does an air purifier help with humidity?

Unfortunately no. Air purifiers do not do anything to add or subtract moisture from the air.

Seems a little unfair that a humidifier can have a cleaning effect on the air but an air purifier you can do nothing to humidify a room. But there are air purifier/ humidifier hybrids like Air Washers that can be purchased that can potentially kill two birds with one stone.

But there are issues with having too much humidity that make that type of device useless in the hot humid months.

Can you use an air purifier and humidifier together?

Yes. The use of an air purifier can only compliment the use of a humidifier and leave the air that much more pure and easy to breathe.

But there is one caveat. If the air is too humid, condensate can cover the filters and make them less effective.

Carbon filters do not mix with humidity and are basically useless when the humidity is too high.

Though humidifiers are usually only pulled out in the winter months when the air is dry, an air purifier is needed every day of the year.

Low humidity is not the only tissue that creates problems with dust. Or more specifically, dust mites.

Dust mites sounds scary because they sound like they might actually bite you. But the truth is dust mites do not bite and what makes them dangerous is that they are so minuscule that they are easily breathed in where they can cause nasty allergy symptoms.

How they relate to humidity is that they actually get their nourishment from humidity. So when the humidity is high, dust mite populations skyrocket.

2. Dehumidifier

Controlling humidity during the hot muggy months is not about using a humidifier to add moisture back into the room, it is about reducing the amount of humidity in your home by the use of a dehumidifier.

High humidity has the ability to hold higher levels of indoor air pollutants than low humidity.

And because the problems like dust mites and mold spores that thrive and high humidity, the indoor air quality can be much worse when the humidity is higher indoors.

A dehumidifier can help reduce the level of humidity in your home and help put a stop to the exponential growth of mold and dust mites that happens in moisture.

Summary

Humidity can help reduce dust by simply making the dust wet and unable to float. It also causes the dust to have an adhesive quality that keeps it from moving around.

a humidifier is a device that you can use in your home that will help you control dust by adding moisture to your air the same way that moisture is added when humidity levels go up outside.

But even though humidifier will help keep the dust population out of the air, it will not purify the air or keep it safe from the allergens that travel in dust.

To completely remove dust allergens, you will need an air purifier.
Most air purifiers simply pull dust through a filter where it is captured.
They can do nothing to add or take away moisture from the air.

So even though a humidifier might help with dust control, a air purifier won’t help with adding humidity to the air.

But that’s assuming that your air is too dry.

What happens when you have the opposite problem? High humidity?

Dust is also a problem in high humidity because dust mites flourish in high humidity and dust mites are one of the most persistent household allergens that creepy and make your air quality unbreathable.

When the air is over humidified, a dehumidifier is a device that can reduce the amount of humidity in your air and give you a welcomed relief from dust mite and mold spore allergies.

Just remember that the collected water in the dehumidifier has the aforementioned allergens residing in the pool with it. So don’t drink it. And don’t let your pets drink it. But it’s probably safe to water the grass or flowers with it.

A Humidifier vs An Air Purifier For Your Baby?

As a mother or a father, it goes without saying you want the best for your baby.

You may not realize it but the air you breathe in your home is as crucial to their health as any lotion or product that you rub on your baby’s skin.

If you’re thinking of buying an air purifier or a humidifier for your baby’s room you need to know the difference between the two.

What functions differ one from the other.

You may find that you need both depending on the season.

The main purpose of a humidifier is to add moisture to the air.

Humidity is definitely not something you want all year long.

But in the winter months when you’re stuck indoors and the heater is going 24/7, the indoor air can become extra dry and that can mean a whole lot of heartache for your baby and for yourself taking care of your baby.

Dryer air is particularly hard on a baby because it causes the mucous membranes in the nose, eyes and throat to dry out.

This can add up to it being a lot harder for your little one to stay asleep.

The primary type of humidifiers are evaporative, the mist, and the ultrasonic.

They all work pretty much the same, turn water into mist and distribute it through the air.

They’re generally no replacement parts on these types of machines. The only maintenance is to keep them clean and do not let mold grow in them.

An air purifier, as distinguished from a humidifier is an appliance that purifies the air.

Most air purifiers feature a HEPA filter that is capable a filtering out indoor air pollutants up to 97 percent.

Most people do not realize that the same heating and air units that distribute warm air in the winter and cool air in the summer, also distribute mold and bacteria.

So along with the dryer air that comes from having the heater going indoors, there is also the component of the heater blowing around bacteria and germs, adding to the problem of not resting and feeling fussy.

An air purifier versus a humidifier for a baby may outweigh the need of a humidifier but the truth is, especially during the winter months both working in concert is the best plan.

Unlike humidifiers, air purifiers do require replacement parts. Typically the filter.

Another point to consider is that air purifiers and humidifiers are a little noisy. There are companies that spin the sound the units make as a blanket a white noise to help your baby sleep.

So as long as you do your due diligence and find one that is not overly noisy, that may be a good thing.

Babies and children can have a hard time and be especially susceptible to irritants and triggers that come with airborne allergens and bacteria. Combining these pollutants with dry air can make your babies and yourself miserable.

Do yourself a favor and acquire an air purifier and a humidifier to keep in your home and help give your baby a healthy airspace and better chances for long nights of sleep and good restful naps.