Humidifier- No Annoying Cleaning
November 5, 2023 6:22 AM Subscribe
Due to the winter air and a radiator heated apartment (and workplace, believe it or not), I need to find a solution to the dry air issue. Obviously, I need to buy a humidifier, but I need help!
Hi- I'm starting to actually get nosebleeds from the (ancient radiator-heated) dried out air in my NYC apartment (and workplace). I need to buy a humidifier. However, I am a terrible combination of both paranoid and lazy- so I need one I don't have to worry about cleaning. Any suggestions? Thank you. Yes, I know about putting water on/near the radiator. Thank you.
I also read the Wirecutter article about humidifiers, but they all seem to require intense cleaning. I'm hoping there's some 2023 magic solution to help me with this issue. Thanks again.
Hi- I'm starting to actually get nosebleeds from the (ancient radiator-heated) dried out air in my NYC apartment (and workplace). I need to buy a humidifier. However, I am a terrible combination of both paranoid and lazy- so I need one I don't have to worry about cleaning. Any suggestions? Thank you. Yes, I know about putting water on/near the radiator. Thank you.
I also read the Wirecutter article about humidifiers, but they all seem to require intense cleaning. I'm hoping there's some 2023 magic solution to help me with this issue. Thanks again.
Best answer: Get some rectangular ceramic planters, add water. refill.
It says right in the post that the OP knows about this already, geez.
There are some humidifiers that are listed on Amazon as being "low clean" or "no clean" - these tend to be kind of small, but that may not be a bad thing (you can get a couple and have them in different rooms). For work you may want to look into the tiny "personal" humidifiers, where to clean them you just drop a tablespoon of vinegar into the reservoir along with the water or something.
For the bedroom, another alternative is to go with a vaporizer instead. These tend to be cheaper and much easier to clean - I have one myself because of similar issues, and it cost me only $20 and works perfectly. The only thing I've ever needed to clean off it is some mineral deposits from hard water - I just give it a rinse first and wipe out the inside with a paper towel when I'm filling it up at the sink, and maybe once in a blue moon I'll add a splash of vinegar to the reservoir as well.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:55 AM on November 5, 2023 [4 favorites]
It says right in the post that the OP knows about this already, geez.
There are some humidifiers that are listed on Amazon as being "low clean" or "no clean" - these tend to be kind of small, but that may not be a bad thing (you can get a couple and have them in different rooms). For work you may want to look into the tiny "personal" humidifiers, where to clean them you just drop a tablespoon of vinegar into the reservoir along with the water or something.
For the bedroom, another alternative is to go with a vaporizer instead. These tend to be cheaper and much easier to clean - I have one myself because of similar issues, and it cost me only $20 and works perfectly. The only thing I've ever needed to clean off it is some mineral deposits from hard water - I just give it a rinse first and wipe out the inside with a paper towel when I'm filling it up at the sink, and maybe once in a blue moon I'll add a splash of vinegar to the reservoir as well.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:55 AM on November 5, 2023 [4 favorites]
We address this issue by hanging our freshly-washed laundry indoors to dry. (Obviously this is less feasible if you use a laundromat.)
posted by heatherlogan at 6:56 AM on November 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by heatherlogan at 6:56 AM on November 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
EC, ceramic planters (the unsealed terra cotta kind) perspire, adding a lot of surface area for evaporation, which is different than just putting out water (no idea how big the difference really is).
I also go the laundry route, though that's only good when you actually have laundry and probably less acceptable at the workplace.
posted by trig at 7:00 AM on November 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
I also go the laundry route, though that's only good when you actually have laundry and probably less acceptable at the workplace.
posted by trig at 7:00 AM on November 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
Yeah, using an electric/gas dryer in winter when one needs a humidifier is -- no bueno. I mean, finishing stuff in the dryer so it's not too wrinkles kind of makes sense, but otherwise - such a waste!
Also: I love this drying rack.
You asked about humidifiers, though. You probably know about products like EZ-CAL that make it low effort (I use it with a hot steam humidifier.
posted by amtho at 7:04 AM on November 5, 2023
Also: I love this drying rack.
You asked about humidifiers, though. You probably know about products like EZ-CAL that make it low effort (I use it with a hot steam humidifier.
posted by amtho at 7:04 AM on November 5, 2023
I will be watching this thread avidly because I have the same problem. Lazy but also paranoid, nose bleeds in the winter, obviously a humidifier is needed. But I’ve gone through three in recent winters and every single one gets so gross.
Last year I got as close as I think might be possible unless someone has a better answer here. I bought the InvisiPure Luna top fill humidifier. It still gets gross and needs to be cleaned, but there are definite upsides to its design, as a lazy dehydrated person. The top filling means that I am never moving it throughout the season - I bring the water to it in a pitcher, and that’s just a lot less fussy than other models I’ve had. The big thing though is that the top that comes off to refill it makes an opening that I can fit my whole arm into and get my fingers into every crevice. No filling with diluted vinegar and swishing - I can actually get a scrub brush in there and remove biofilm manually. The whole unit is definitely designed with ease of cleaning in mind. Unfortunately it doesn’t have the biggest capacity so if your space is big you will need to refill multiple times a day. Mine is okay for just my smallish bedroom, refilling once in the evening. But it’s reasonably priced so you could get multiples and keep them on low.
House plants do seem to help air quality. I myself have a cat who eats anything green and leafy with great violence, but my friend has a green thumb and a millennial’s love of house plants and her living room feels quite jungly in winter. There are a lot of automated indoor gardening devices these days, and I wonder if they might help contribute to the humidity, or cause you to increase it through plant care. Just throwing ideas out there.
posted by Mizu at 7:06 AM on November 5, 2023
Last year I got as close as I think might be possible unless someone has a better answer here. I bought the InvisiPure Luna top fill humidifier. It still gets gross and needs to be cleaned, but there are definite upsides to its design, as a lazy dehydrated person. The top filling means that I am never moving it throughout the season - I bring the water to it in a pitcher, and that’s just a lot less fussy than other models I’ve had. The big thing though is that the top that comes off to refill it makes an opening that I can fit my whole arm into and get my fingers into every crevice. No filling with diluted vinegar and swishing - I can actually get a scrub brush in there and remove biofilm manually. The whole unit is definitely designed with ease of cleaning in mind. Unfortunately it doesn’t have the biggest capacity so if your space is big you will need to refill multiple times a day. Mine is okay for just my smallish bedroom, refilling once in the evening. But it’s reasonably priced so you could get multiples and keep them on low.
House plants do seem to help air quality. I myself have a cat who eats anything green and leafy with great violence, but my friend has a green thumb and a millennial’s love of house plants and her living room feels quite jungly in winter. There are a lot of automated indoor gardening devices these days, and I wonder if they might help contribute to the humidity, or cause you to increase it through plant care. Just throwing ideas out there.
posted by Mizu at 7:06 AM on November 5, 2023
All heat dries the air and decreases relative humidity but you're better off with radiators than you would be forced air, they are much less drying and result in higher indoor humidity under otherwise similar circumstances.
Anyway, another fun way to add humidity is with plants that evapotranspirate a lot of water. E.g I have a large dwarf papyrus that can put out a quart or two of water into the air each day! No cleaning necessary. Any other plants that need a lot of water and have a lot of leaves can help. I could try to send you a rooted cutting, memail me if interested.
posted by SaltySalticid at 7:14 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Anyway, another fun way to add humidity is with plants that evapotranspirate a lot of water. E.g I have a large dwarf papyrus that can put out a quart or two of water into the air each day! No cleaning necessary. Any other plants that need a lot of water and have a lot of leaves can help. I could try to send you a rooted cutting, memail me if interested.
posted by SaltySalticid at 7:14 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
I came here to suggest drying laundry indoors too. People who recommend against this because of concerns about mold or condensation are generally from places where indoors RH is greater than 20-30% in the winter, like the US south or the UK.
Also, house plants generally transpire more water if they're getting lots of light. I'm consistently shocked by how much more frequently I have to water plants when there's a very bright LED light above them (the kind you'd grow weed with, not, like, a bright "normal" bulb or fixure). That water is defintiely winding up in the air.
posted by pullayup at 7:24 AM on November 5, 2023
Also, house plants generally transpire more water if they're getting lots of light. I'm consistently shocked by how much more frequently I have to water plants when there's a very bright LED light above them (the kind you'd grow weed with, not, like, a bright "normal" bulb or fixure). That water is defintiely winding up in the air.
posted by pullayup at 7:24 AM on November 5, 2023
Back with another suggestion. I have this humidifier as well - it's easy to clean with the vinegar thing, but it's easier to keep from having to clean it if you use either filtered or distilled water to fill it up in the first place.
What I like about it, though, is that it has a built-in hydrometer that will let it turn on or off when the air reaches a certain humidity level. You connect it to an app on your phone, and you can control the humidity settings there.
best of all - the app also reminds you when to clean the thing so you don't forget.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:29 AM on November 5, 2023
What I like about it, though, is that it has a built-in hydrometer that will let it turn on or off when the air reaches a certain humidity level. You connect it to an app on your phone, and you can control the humidity settings there.
best of all - the app also reminds you when to clean the thing so you don't forget.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:29 AM on November 5, 2023
Get an old school vaporizer rather than a humidifier. They boil the water, which keeps the vapor clean and also mineral free.
posted by slkinsey at 7:37 AM on November 5, 2023
posted by slkinsey at 7:37 AM on November 5, 2023
I have the levoit humidifier recommended by wire cutter and linked by EmpressCallipygos, though I don’t have the wifi linked version. You still need to make sure to clean it every few days. Otherwise it gets super gross. I’ve only filled it with filtered water, adding a splash of vinegar and even one of those “ceramic fish cleaner” things, it still gets gunked up. I know you already know about the terra-cotta planter option, but it really is the best choice
posted by raccoon409 at 7:45 AM on November 5, 2023
posted by raccoon409 at 7:45 AM on November 5, 2023
We used LEVOIT Classic300S recommend from Wirecutter two years ago, we ran it year around. It was really easy to clean, especially after I use filtered water, And I definitely did not clean as frequently as recommended, which is why it was kind of gross at the end of last winter, and retired. I feel bad about that, but also, it lasted longer than any humidifier I've tried before
I have a new model arriving Tuesday, the dual most (warm/cold) model AND while I suspect it'll be harder to clean, but I was happy enough with the model above to try the new one out.
posted by bindr at 7:49 AM on November 5, 2023
I have a new model arriving Tuesday, the dual most (warm/cold) model AND while I suspect it'll be harder to clean, but I was happy enough with the model above to try the new one out.
posted by bindr at 7:49 AM on November 5, 2023
I love this one - wide mouth opening on the water container and dishwasher safe!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:03 AM on November 5, 2023
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:03 AM on November 5, 2023
Best answer: I am the same combination of lazy yet paranoid, and just went with this one (i bought it for $130, for what its worth)
It basically looks like a brita. Its super easy to fill (cause i can be lazy about that) and only has that one little part in the water, and I bought it on the recommendation of "my sister made me buy it" on instagram, who took care of their aging parents and are very conscientious about mold.
I just bought it for this season, so I cant speak to longetivty but its nicely made and I'm not too concerned.
posted by zara at 8:14 AM on November 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
It basically looks like a brita. Its super easy to fill (cause i can be lazy about that) and only has that one little part in the water, and I bought it on the recommendation of "my sister made me buy it" on instagram, who took care of their aging parents and are very conscientious about mold.
I just bought it for this season, so I cant speak to longetivty but its nicely made and I'm not too concerned.
posted by zara at 8:14 AM on November 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
The need for cleaning has a lot to do with water quality and, honestly, the effectiveness of the humidifier. We’ve been using an older version of something like this wick-based model for years, and have been very pleased with how well it works. It does eventually need to be cleaned at the end of the heating season, but it’s really just a minor clean-up before it goes into storage until next year. It’s never needed cleaning during the heating season.
posted by Thorzdad at 8:17 AM on November 5, 2023
posted by Thorzdad at 8:17 AM on November 5, 2023
I've worked my way through numerous cheaper humidifiers that have those round filters that seem to get mould on them if you don't clean them often, and they spill everywhere when you refill them. This year I thought f*ck it, I'm getting a real grown up humidifier that will actually work properly. I got this one. It's awesome. Easy to use and I don't get nosebleeds anymore. Bonus points is the white noise aspect, which I enjoy when I sleep.
posted by EllaEm at 8:25 AM on November 5, 2023
posted by EllaEm at 8:25 AM on November 5, 2023
I use an ultrasonic humidifier and it does require occasional cleaning - not for mould, just for water borne calcium and minerals that settle out in the tank and under it. Perhaps if you used it with distilled water that would save you the trouble? CVS and most other places sell it by the gallon for not much money.
I actually have a couple of different makes, but the tanks are interchangeable - which makes me suspect that for a lot of those models they're all functionally equivalent but for the tank size. Imagine the tank full of water and decide if you'd be comfortable lifting it.
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 8:50 AM on November 5, 2023
I actually have a couple of different makes, but the tanks are interchangeable - which makes me suspect that for a lot of those models they're all functionally equivalent but for the tank size. Imagine the tank full of water and decide if you'd be comfortable lifting it.
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 8:50 AM on November 5, 2023
Best answer: I want to chime in and say that as a lifelong nosebleed haver, more effective than any humidifier has been…saline nasal spray. I use it a few times a day and I can definitely tell the difference if I skip a day.
As for humidifiers, I’ll admit I had just resigned myself to them being one year items, but I’m going to try the one above that looks like a Brita.
posted by bilabial at 9:05 AM on November 5, 2023
As for humidifiers, I’ll admit I had just resigned myself to them being one year items, but I’m going to try the one above that looks like a Brita.
posted by bilabial at 9:05 AM on November 5, 2023
I have a Carepod, which has the easiest tank to clean I've ever seen, but the unfortunate thing is that it's impossible to get to the fan unit.
Looking at the Carepod, and all ultrasonic humidifiers, it's basically an ultrasonic mist maker plus a fan. It makes me wonder if you could jury-rig one by putting a mister in a bowl with a small fan pointed at it. Engineers of Mefi, would this be a bad idea?
posted by airmail at 9:10 AM on November 5, 2023
Looking at the Carepod, and all ultrasonic humidifiers, it's basically an ultrasonic mist maker plus a fan. It makes me wonder if you could jury-rig one by putting a mister in a bowl with a small fan pointed at it. Engineers of Mefi, would this be a bad idea?
posted by airmail at 9:10 AM on November 5, 2023
Best answer: Regarding: I want to chime in and say that as a lifelong nosebleed haver, more effective than any humidifier has been…saline nasal spray. (bilabial)
My case is similar: I was getting nosebleeds during the very arid, freezing cold desert winters where I live, and rather than hassling with a humidifier, I started applying Ayr Saline Nasal Gel with a q-tip - success!
posted by SageTrail at 9:26 AM on November 5, 2023
My case is similar: I was getting nosebleeds during the very arid, freezing cold desert winters where I live, and rather than hassling with a humidifier, I started applying Ayr Saline Nasal Gel with a q-tip - success!
posted by SageTrail at 9:26 AM on November 5, 2023
Response by poster: Wow, I love all of these answers! I also love hearing that I'm not the only "paranoid lazy one"!!
I think I'm going to check out the vaporizer, the britta type one, and def the nasal saline spray/gel. (But I feel like the nosebleeds are a symptom of my whole self turning into a raisin...hence multiple pronged approach). I will keep reading these and will investigate further. Thanks so much everyone!
posted by bquarters at 10:38 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
I think I'm going to check out the vaporizer, the britta type one, and def the nasal saline spray/gel. (But I feel like the nosebleeds are a symptom of my whole self turning into a raisin...hence multiple pronged approach). I will keep reading these and will investigate further. Thanks so much everyone!
posted by bquarters at 10:38 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: PS I also used to hang laundry to dry but am in a very tiny studio apartment so a) my ancient portable machine is probably also terrifying inside and b) I got tired of sitting in front of/starting at a drying rack all the time. This is probably why my nosebleeds are kicking in now after many years! My apartment is also too small (window-wise) and dark for plants- basically I need to move. But in the mean time thank you for all of the awesome suggestions!!!
posted by bquarters at 10:43 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by bquarters at 10:43 AM on November 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
There are plants that will live in permanent shade - Pothos (devil's ivy) works well for me. Sanseveria also seems not to care but since it barely needs water it isn't going to help with humidity.
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 2:13 PM on November 5, 2023
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 2:13 PM on November 5, 2023
Hello! I am also a lazy and paranoid person who gets nosebleeds in dry air! My Vicks Filter Free Cool Mist humidifier last a really long time (I broke it) and was super easy to clean. The Crane Cool Mist humidifier I use in my kids' rooms is still going, but has to be refilled slightly more frequently a is a little bit more difficult to clean. But it's shaped like an elephant! I am lazy enough that i did let it go for a bit too long in between cleanings once, and it was pretty gross. That was enough to kick that habit. If you use distilled water, cleaning is super easy!
posted by BlueBear at 9:04 AM on November 6, 2023
posted by BlueBear at 9:04 AM on November 6, 2023
I use an evaporative humidifier for my place and really the only care I do on it is replace the paper wicks every couple of months and add a splash humidifier solution in with every refill.
posted by Ferreous at 9:33 AM on November 6, 2023
posted by Ferreous at 9:33 AM on November 6, 2023
Response by poster: Next paranoid question- I just read online that ultrasonic humidifiers are dangerous if you don't use distilled water. Are you all buying huge amounts of distilled water? I did buy the Brita one (Carepod) and it was expensive- so I guess I'm all in.
posted by bquarters at 5:32 PM on November 10, 2023
posted by bquarters at 5:32 PM on November 10, 2023
I honestly just use water from my Brita filter. And I'm still alive and healthy so there you go.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:46 AM on November 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:46 AM on November 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
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posted by theora55 at 6:41 AM on November 5, 2023