I started writing WIRED magazine’s humidifier review summary held in New York City during the second longest drought in history. In November, a rattling radiator blasted a more than 100-year-old Brooklyn apartment with heat. Humidity was hovering at 32%, according to indoor air quality monitors. Like my skin, my nose was dry as well. I needed to water my houseplants more than usual. More than 200 firefighters were called to a wildfire in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. This alone can be said to be dry.
Indoor dryness isn’t just chapped lips and dry noses. Indoor humidity may slow the spread of COVID-19, according to recommendations from the Harvard School of Public Health. The ideal indoor humidity should be between 40% and 60%. Research suggests that warmer temperatures and higher ambient humidity also reduce the spread of influenza. There are so many things you can do with this little humidifier.
Still, the most common abandoned home appliance left on the corner of my neighborhood is a humble humidifier. They’re often left with a Paddington Bear-esque label that says, “Still usable!” I also see them being thrown away in trash cans. And I, too, am guilty of throwing away multiple humidifiers. I give up when I can’t seem to remove the brown film at the bottom of the tank. At first, with good intentions, I fill it with distilled water as recommended, but eventually end up switching to tap water. I perked up and gave my last humidifier a good clean with water and citric acid I bought at a spice store. Still, minerals in the water are a problem. If you have hard water, your humidifier may produce a white dust film. This is why many models recommend distilled water or come with a filter. And I don’t want to use a humidifier, so I’ve been living through a dry, hot winter.
All of the humidifiers in this review were tested in my 100+ year old apartment with the heat on. I was looking for an easy-to-use humidifier that could fill a medium-sized room with ideal humidity. I didn’t want to carry a jug of distilled water up the stairs. I also wanted something that was easy to maintain. I was looking for a more committed and sustainable relationship with my humidifier. Maybe you want that too.
Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get the best-in-class reports you can’t ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive content only for subscribers. Subscribe now.
