5 Best Humidifiers for Every Need Everyday Health MenuNewslettersSearch Healthy Home The 5 Best Humidifiers for Every Need These humidifiers can help improve the comfort of your home, especially during the cold, dry months. By Caitlin McCormackReviewed: April 16, 2018Fact-CheckedA humidifier can help improve dry skin and ease symptoms of allergies.ThinkstockAll products and services featured here are chosen for their potential to inspire and enable your wellness. Everyday Health may earn an affiliate commission on items you purchase. Dry air in the home is a common culprit behind many uncomfortable conditions, including itchy skin and chapped lips, plus it can make respiratory conditions like asthma even worse, or increase susceptibility to catching cold and flu. Reintroducing moisture into your home by using a humidifier — especially during the winter season — is one way to increase your comfort, and can help prevent dry skin, coughs and congestion, and even reduce static electricity. Just be careful not to introduce too much moisture into the home, or you risk promoting the growth of mold, bacteria, and dust mites. Humidifier Options and FeaturesWarm or cool mist Humidifiers are available in either warm or cool mist, with some units capable of both. Warm mist humidifiers boil water before distributing the steam, whereas cool mist humidifiers use evaporative, ultrasonic, or impeller technology to create and distribute moisture.Size Small humidifiers are ideal for rooms up to 300 square feet in size, medium units will handle rooms 300 to 500 square feet, large units 500-1000 square feet, and extra large units are suited for rooms larger than 1000 square feet.Easy to clean You should be draining, rinsing, and drying the unit every day. On a weekly basis, remove visible residue with vinegar before disinfecting the unit with a bleach solution according to the manufacturer's instructions. Rinse thoroughly to remove any residue. Regular cleaning of your humidifier is essential to avoid introducing additional germs and bacteria into the air.Integrated humidistat A humidfier with an integrated humidistat lets you set the relative humidity level and turns the unit off when it is reached. This helps prevent adding too much moisture into the air, and saves on operating costs.Filters Some humidifiers include washable filters, but there are many without filters or with filters that are inexpensive to replace. Keep in mind that filter replacement will add to your regular operating costs over the life of the humidifier. Just how much does a humidifier cost? You can find units priced anywhere from about $25 up to $200 or more, depending on size and available features. Check out our five picks for the best humidifiers. Best Overall Humidifier Honeywell HCM-350 Not only is this humidifier easy to set up, fill, and clean, it’s also quiet and leak-proof while being energy efficient. It is available in a choice of black or white to suit any home’s decor, and features an integrated carry handle for quick fills and placement. The antimicrobial filter inhibits up to 99.99 percent of mold growth on the filter and is easy to replace. Available from Walmart starting at $59 Best Humidifier for Large Rooms Sunpentown SU-4010 Dual Mist Humidifier with ION Exchange Filter This humidifier is a real workhorse, and can easily add moisture to rooms 400 square feet and larger. Split nozzles let you direct humidity to all corners of the room, and the ion-exchange water filter helps prevent bacterial growth. It offers both warm and cool mist options for use in all seasons, and features an integrated automatic shutoff. Available from Walmart starting at $87 Best Budget-Friendly Humidifier TaoTronics Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier Available in a choice of colors and at an affordable price point, this cool mist humidifier is super quiet, making it ideal for use in bedrooms. Each water tank fill provides up to 10 hours of use, and it boasts an easy-to-clean design. Available from Amazon starting at $35 Best Humidifier for Portable Use VAVA Cool Mist Humidifier This humidifier has a sleek and stylish look in a space-saving design that can be placed nearly anywhere you need a little extra moisture in the air. Perfect for use around the home or while traveling, it features an easy-to-use knob control and automatic shutoff. Available from Amazon starting at $27 Best Humidifier for Adding of Essential Oils Levoit Warm and Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier This humidifier has a big tank that allows for approximately 20 to 36 hours of consistent use in a room of 280 square feet in size. It features ultrasonic warm and cool mist settings at three different levels to meet your needs in all seasons. The fragrance box on the side lets you quickly and easily add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to relax and unwind. There is an integrated humidity sensor which shows the humidity level on the screen directly, and comes with a two-year warranty. Available from Walmart starting at $90 NEWSLETTERS Sign up for our Healthy Living Newsletter SubscribeBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The Latest in Healthy Home 7 Parts of the Home You' re Probably Not Spring-Cleaning — But Should Be From windowsills to water filters, these things in your home tend to harbor dust, mold, and germs that may hamper respiratory health. 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