Air care is becoming a big deal in many households across North America, with the global industry expected to see a market growth of five percent by 2028. Just like we care for our skin and hair, we need to care for the air in our homes—and our favorite way to do this is with a humidifier. From beauty benefits such as glowing skin and shiny hair to health benefits like relieved congestion and boosted immunity, a humidifier is a must-have for any home.
What is a humidifier?
A humidifier is a device that alters the hydration levels in your air. Oftentimes the air in our homes lacks moisture, which can dry out our skin, hair, throat, and eyes. Humidifiers work to change this by bringing the air to an optimal hydration level.
What does a humidifier do?
Humidifiers increase the moisture in your air, creating its optimal hydration level—which is important for your health. With a humidifier, you can experience beauty benefits such as dewy, glowing skin, moisturized lips, and silky, frizz-free hair. By relieving stuffy noses and dry throats, a humidifier can also improve your quality of sleep. Perfect for flu season, a humidifier also boosts your body’s natural immunity and can help alleviate allergy symptoms. It can also benefit your indoor plants by helping them retain water.
If you’re thinking about investing in a humidifier, here are a few things to help you with that decision.
How does a humidifier work?
A humidifier has a water basin that turns water into vapor, and this vapor then hydrates the air. Various humidifiers interact with the water differently; for instance, ultrasonic humidifiers use vibrations to turn the water into a fine mist. The way humidifiers work may affect certain features, like whether they’re silent, can work throughout the night, and if they’re weather-specific—for example, warm mist humidifiers are usually only suitable for cold climates. Cool mist humidifiers are often preferable, especially if you have a baby or young children; this is because they do not use any heat and are considered safer.
What kind of humidifiers are there?
There are many different types of humidifiers on the market; some of the most popular ones are cool mist, evaporative, and ultrasonic. Cool mist humidifiers increase the humidity in the air without increasing the temperature, and do not use any heat in the process. Ultrasonic humidifiers use vibrations to release moisture into the air. Evaporative humidifiers use a fan to circulate the moisture, so they do usually produce a noise—making them less appealing for children and sensitive sleepers.
What should I consider before investing in a humidifier?
With so many humidifiers out there, you should think about all the features that are important to you. A good place to start is with the desired usage. Since they provide so many benefits, you may want to get a humidifier you can use all year long, day and night. The next thing to think about is the size: we recommend looking for a humidifier that will fit on your bedside table for ease of use. Will the whole family be using it? Then you might need a cool mist humidifier that is baby-safe. Will you be using the humidifier while you sleep? Then we recommend one that is whisper quiet and has a light-free night mode setting.