Unfortunately, looks aren’t everything, especially since it has one of the worst humidistats and slowest fans of any machine we’ve ever tested. Scrub away any buildup, using a weak acidic substance and a bottle brush. When rinsing out your humidifier, you may notice the chalky white buildup of limescale. Go at it with a sponge, brush, or cloth, along with a weak acidic substance (like distilled vinegar or citric acid) and a little elbow grease. If the limescale still won’t budge, try soaking it in a mixture of water and your weak acidic cleaner.

This type of humidifier requires less maintenance and stays cleaner than drum-style humidifiers; it is not prone to mold and mildew growth. We aren’t too strict on selecting a type of humidifier—evaporative or ultrasonic, cool mist or warm mist—having found they all have their perks, and they all have their flaws. Similarly, we don’t have much of a preference for digital or analog controls, as long as you can easily figure out how to make it do its basic tasks.

Read more about best humidifiers here.

Midsized Humidifier

This way, the water evaporates naturally and the humidifier spreads it through the room. When humidity levels are lower than this range, you might be met with physical issues like dry skin, static shocks, or sinus infections, while in your home you may notice cracking wood or chipped paint. When humidity levels are higher than this range, it may trigger health concerns like asthma or restless sleep, and you might notice an increase of mold growth in your home. One of the best ways to regulate humidity levels is by investing in a humidifier. Humidifiers add moisture to the air in your home to reach optimal humidity levels, which in turn can improve the overall air quality inside.

The most common kind, called pseudomonas aeruginosa, can lead to lung infections like pneumonia, per the CDC. People with Legionnaire’s disease may experience a cough, shortness of breath, fever, muscle aches and headaches that may require antibiotics (or even more intensive hospital care). Most households can benefit from using a humidifier, but there are a few signs to look out for that may indicate it’s time to invest in a system to optimize humidity and comfort in your home. Humidifiers may not actually cover the amount of space they say they do, so buy a humidifier that is slightly larger than what you think you’ll need. Dirty humidifiers can lead to health problems, especially for those who already have asthma or allergies. Caroline is a writer and editor with almost a decade of experience. From 2015 to 2019, she held various editorial positions at Good Housekeeping, including as health editor, covering nutrition, fitness, wellness, and other lifestyle news.

Not all humidifiers release moisture into the air in the same way. Keep reading to learn about the different types of humidifiers, and how to safely use them, including around children.

This is one of those self-regulating humidifiers we mentioned earlier. The relative humidity plays a large role in determining our comfort level. If the relative humidity is 100 percent, it means that water will not evaporate; the air is already saturated with moisture. Only run your humidifier when you need it, not all of the time, to keep humidity levels down. The Paradox of Florida’s Humidity Despite Florida’s humid climate, indoor air can become surprisingly dry, especially in air-conditioned environments. This dryness can lead to various health issues, including respiratory problems and skin irritation. But when you can’t commit to cleaning your humidifier regularly, the potential costs to your health outweigh the benefits.

Wipe or scrub the tank and tray with vinegar or citric acid

It also uses significantly less energy, thanks to its DC motor. On its standard setting, the EVDC300 uses about 8 to 9 watts of energy—roughly one-third as much as our other picks. And yet it also has a separate Energy Smart Mode, which uses as little as 1 watt of energy. You could run this humidifier 24 hours a day for a full year, and it would barely cost you a dollar (based on average US electricity costs in October 2023). We also test subjective factors, like setup and installation, as well as overall user experience, including onboard controls, remote controls, and smart-home controls. Plus we did a lot of cleaning—like, a lot of cleaning—and took notes on that, too.

Then use that solution to scrub all of the parts, including those hard-to-reach corners of the basin. If your humidifier is really gross, you can try soaking those parts in the same solution for 20 to 30 minutes. We’re also interested in checking out two new family-friendly models from Safety 1st. The Wi-Fi–enabled Safety 1st Connected Smart Humidifier has kid-focused smart-home controls as well as a night-light. And the Stay Clean Humidifier offers a simplified tank design and an LED-based antimicrobial light to help cut down on cleaning. The Venta LW25 is the most low-maintenance humidifier we’ve tested.

In the long run, this supports overall hair health, which means your shine will return and your blowouts will last that much longer. While evaporative portable humidifiers only work in one room, they’re a great option for people with children or pets because they don’t rely on heat to add moisture to the room.