Humidifiers are appliances that help to restore the moisture content of your indoor air.
They work by forcing moisture, usually in the form of a fine mist, into the room or space you place them in. There are different types of humidifiers, all of which have advantages and disadvantages.
But did you know that you can actually make your own humidifying system from common household items?
You might want a temporary solution or quick fix or don’t have the budget to invest in a whole-house humidifier.
But before you try to make a homemade humidifier, you should first test the moisture level in your home:
How Do You Know When Your Indoor Air is Dry?
There are ways to determine whether your indoor air is too dry, too moist, or comfortable. If your indoor air is too dry, you might notice it automatically without even conducting any tests.
If someone accidentally ramped up the AC, or if the thermostat hasn’t been adjusted to cater for changes in season or humidity levels, you will almost immediately notice a subtle tightening of your skin, particularly in your face and hands.
If you take good care of your skin and have a regular skincare regime that includes moisturizing but still notice that your hands are starting to appear cracked and dry, it is highly likely that your indoor air is too dry.
Additionally, if family members who never get ill suddenly come down with the cold or flu, this could be due to poor indoor air quality. Dry air can negatively impact immune systems and cause mild forms of illness in people who are usually fit as a fiddle.
Moreover, if you have a skin disorder such as eczema or psoriasis and notice it flaring up, the dry air could be blamed. Finally, if you have asthma and wonder why it seems to be causing you more discomfort than usual, chances are your indoor air is dry.
Another sign that your home’s air is too dry is if there is a lot of static electricity and you keep getting mini electric shocks walking from room to room.
If you prefer a more accurate method of testing the air in your home, all you have to do is go to the local drugstore and purchase what’s known as a hygrometer or indoor humidity monitor. You place this device in the room you want to test and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
There is no way of knowing whether your home has a safe moisture level without knowing the ideal range, of course. The ideal range is between 30 and 50 percent, and 45 percent is ideal.
Aim for slightly more humidity in the summer and slightly less in the winter (because more will be trapped indoors in the winter), so 50 percent in the summer and 40 in the winter are good percentages to aim for.
Benefits of Having a Humidifier in Your House
There are many reasons why having a humidifier in your house is beneficial. Humidity levels above 40 percent can actually deactivate some forms of virus particles, meaning you get sick less often as there are fewer contaminants in the air.
A chesty cough can be remedied by simply adding more moisture to the air, as a dry cough is frustrating and painful. Trapped phlegm can be released from the throat by making the air moister, thereby soothing the cough.
If you have a partner or other family member who snores, it can really interrupt your own sleeping pattern and reduce sleep quality for all involved.
Snoring occurs when airways to the nose are partially blocked, so increasing the airways’ moisture content relaxes the airways, resulting in a more peaceful night’s sleep for everyone.
Dry skin and hair are common issues that arise when a home’s indoor environment is too dry, so it makes sense that humidifying the air results in healthier and more supple skin and hair.
This will simultaneously improve your physical appearance and boost your general health because both the skin and hair defend the body in various manners from infection and disease.
If your defense mechanisms are healthy, you are more likely to enjoy consistent good health. This is particularly true for your skin, as it has a semi-permeable membrane that prevents harmful contaminants from being absorbed into your body.
People with Asthma and people prone to allergies will also benefit from the use of a humidifier. Dry air tends to clog up sinuses or airways, which decreases the quality and quantity of air we breathe.
As a result, people with asthma or allergies are at a greater risk of an asthma attack or allergic reaction. Keeping the indoor environment moist, on the other hand, will help alleviate these symptoms.
12 Ways to Make a DIY Humidifier to Humidify a Room
Now that you’ve gained some insight into the importance of good quality indoor air and discovered some of the benefits of using a humidifier, let’s find out how to add more moisture to the air in our homes.
Here are twelve ways to humidify a room without a humidifier.
1. Add Indoor Plants
It’s quite amusing to think about, but did you know that plants sweat just like humans?
However, their sweat is just composed of water, so you don’t need to be worrying about a smelly home! When you water your indoor plants regularly and spray them with water on occasion, the chemical reaction that occurs ensures that they release water right back into your home.
2. Make Your Own Sponge Humidifier
It sounds complicated, but you can actually make your own sponge humidifier.
All you need is a sponge and some water. Immerse the sponge in water, let it soak up as much as possible, and then put it in an open bowl or plastic bag and let nature do its work.
Sponges are designed to absorb large amounts of water for long periods, so they’re a great way of releasing moisture into the air consistently throughout the day.
3. A Simple Glass of Water
In school, we learned that water needs to boil to evaporate into the air.
This is true, but some water can still be released into the air without boiling.
On a sunny day, for example, a simple glass of water left sitting will release some of the water into the air. This a hustle free method to humidify a room without a humidifier.
4. Boil Water on the Stove
You don’t need to set aside time every day boiling water to keep your home’s moisture content stable.
All you have to do is what you normally do: cook dinner.
When you’re boiling water, pasta, rice, or potatoes, the chemical reaction known as evaporation releases moisture back into the air. Just make sure to leave the lid off, so it’s not all absorbed into the food!
You can make your house smell nice by adding essential oils into the boiling water.
The result? You’ll be increasing the humidity level as you add moisture to the air without a humidifier.
5. Air Dry Clothes and Dishes Indoors
The same evaporation principle occurs when you choose to dry your clothes naturally indoors or leave the dishes to dry.
You leave these items to do their natural magic of drying, and your home will have an increased humidity level.
6. Leave the Bathroom Door Open While and After Showering
Most of us shower using warm or hot water, and lots of it gets trapped inside the shower door or the bathroom itself.
If you have a room adjacent to the bathroom that seems uncomfortably dry, try to leave the bathroom door open the next time you’re showering.
This might not be feasible if you live with housemates, of course. But you can leave the bathroom door open when you’re home alone and you’ll definitely notice the difference in the moisture levels.
7. Spray Water on Curtains
Curtains hang right by the window and benefit from the natural rays of the sun.
It makes sense that they become warm during the day, so spraying a mist of water on them will work wonders for the air quality in your home.
8. Invest in an Indoor Fountain
An indoor fountain is a slightly more expensive option than other options, but it doesn’t have to be an elaborate one. You can get all sorts of fountains, including a mini portable fountain that will fit pretty much any space.
You let the fountain run as it normally does and the condensation of some of the water will inevitably increase the moisture in the air around it.
9. Leave Bathtub Water to Cool Instead of Draining
Thank goodness for evaporation. Here we have another example of how evaporation can improve your home’s humidity levels. If you run a hot bath, leave the water to cool once you’re done.
Ensure you leave the bathroom door while this is happening so that water can evaporate into the air and permeate throughout the home.
10. Put Bowls of Water on a Register
Putting bowls of water near window seals allows the outdoor environment to influence the indoor one.
The area near window seals is most likely to allow in the most sunlight, so placing a bowl of water here causes the water to be released into the room. This will, in turn, add moisture thus increasing the humidity level in your home.
11. Drink Tea Instead of Coffee
Changing your drink of choice can actually impact the air quality in your home.
If you’re a coffee drinker, for example, you likely have a coffee pot. When you need more coffee, you pour it from the pot. Drinking tea, however, involves boiling a kettle every time you want a refill. Thus, every time you get some tea, you’re increasing the moisture in the air around you.
12. Repurpose Candle Warmers
Finally, if you have a candle warmer that’s just been sitting around gathering dust, you can actually use it as a DIY humidifier.
All you have to do is place a vessel filled with water on it (preferably one that fits snugly), and allow the warmer to gently warm the water. This will cause some of the water to humidify the environment around it.
Read also: How close should humidifier be to baby
Here are some DIY Homemade Humidifier Videos
Homemade humidifier DIY using cheap ultrasonic mist maker/fogger
DIY Terrarium Humidifier
Combine Your Heater And Humidifier During Winter
As the brutal winter months set in, many homeowners worry about changing filters to ensure their HVAC systems work perfectly. One vital aspect most folks forget is the combined use of both humidifiers and space heaters for homes.
To make your home warm and comfortable during winter, your heater humidifier and electric heater should work together.
Last Words
These DIY humidifier ideas will ensure you will never have to suffer the unbearable consequences of an indoor environment that is too dry.
Dry air can cause a wide variety of minor health issues and exasperate more serious ones like asthma.
If you are committed to living a healthy life and ensuring your loved ones’ health, you will benefit greatly from implementing some of these DIY humidifier ideas.
However, don’t overdo it: make sure you monitor the moisture levels, as too much moisture is also bad for entirely different reasons.
In case you find yourself struggling with excess moisture after making a homemade humidifier, you can simply reverse the problem with a DIY dehumidifier or simply get a dehumidifier/humidifier combo to serve you all season.
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