Dry indoor air can turn your home into an uncomfortable environment, leading to flaky skin, static electricity shocks, and irritated sinuses. While high humidity brings its own set of mold-related problems, finding that sweet spot in the middle is vital for your health and comfort.
If you are tired of waking up with a scratchy throat, you are likely wondering how to increase the humidity in your home effectively.
While buying a humidifier is the most obvious solution, it isn’t the only way. We have compiled a list of inexpensive, natural methods to bring moisture back into your air without necessarily buying a new appliance.
Key Takeaways
- Target the Sweet Spot: Aim to keep indoor humidity levels between 30 and 50 percent for the best balance of health and comfort.
- Go Natural: Simple habits like air-drying laundry, adding houseplants, and cooking without lids can naturally boost moisture.
- Use Existing Appliances: Leaving the dishwasher open after a cycle or leaving the bathroom door open while showering effectively recycles steam.
- Prioritize Safety: Always clean water vessels and humidifiers regularly to prevent mold growth and bacteria like Legionella.
How to Increase the Humidity in Your Home
Boosting your home’s humidity is easier than you might think, and the payoff for your health is huge. You generally want to maintain humidity levels between 30 and 50 percent. This range is the “Goldilocks zone” where you can breathe easily without inviting mold or dampness into your drywall (1).
We tested several popular methods to increase humidity, ranging from mechanical solutions to simple DIY hacks.
Use a Humidifier
This is the gold standard for consistent moisture. A humidifier is a straightforward device: you fill a tank with water, and it emits mist into the air. You can choose between cool mist (better for safety around kids) or warm mist (great for winter comfort).
They are relatively affordable, with decent models averaging around $40. Small units handle single bedrooms perfectly, while larger console models can tackle an entire floor.
However, you cannot set it and forget it. You must empty and clean the tank regularly, as humidifiers are notorious breeding grounds for mold if neglected.
Hang Your Laundry Indoors
If the winter air has your skin feeling like sandpaper, skip the dryer. Hanging your wet clothes on a rack inside the house is a fantastic passive humidifier. As your clothes dry, all that water evaporates directly into your living space.
This method is a win-win: it humidifies your room and saves you money on electricity. Drying racks are cheap, foldable, and effective.
Add Some Houseplants
Houseplants do double duty: they look great and they sweat. Well, technically it is called transpiration. Plants absorb water through their roots and release moisture through their leaves, acting as natural humidifiers.
If you want to multitask, choose plants that also filter toxins. NASA conducted a famous study on plants that remove airborne contaminants like VOCs. Spider plants and Aloe Vera are top-tier choices for both purifying the air and adding moisture (2).
Cook Without Lids
Kitchens are often the most humid room in the house, so why trap that moisture in a pot? When you boil pasta or make soup, leave the lid off. This allows the steam to escape and circulate through your kitchen and dining area.
For the best results, keep your exhaust fan off (or on low) so you don’t immediately suck all that beneficial steam out of the house. You can also simmer a pot of water with cinnamon sticks or orange peels to humidify the air and make your home smell amazing.
Leave the Tub Full
If you enjoy a soak in the tub, don’t pull the plug the second you get out. Let the water sit and cool down completely. As the heat dissipates, a significant amount of water evaporates into the bathroom air.
You can apply this same logic to the kitchen sink; if you hand wash dishes, let the warm water sit until it goes cold before draining it.
Warning About Bacteria
Danger
Leave the Shower Door Open
That steam cloud filling up your bathroom during a hot shower is precious moisture going to waste. If you live alone or with a partner who doesn’t mind, shower with the door open to let that steam migrate into the hallway.
If you need privacy, simply crack the door open immediately after you turn the water off. This lets the trapped steam escape into the rest of the house rather than venting it outside.
Use Water Bowls and Heat
This is an old-school trick that works wonders. Place a metal or ceramic bowl filled with water on top of your floor registers or near radiators. As your heating system warms the bowl, the water evaporates faster than it would at room temperature.
Avoid plastic bowls, as they can melt or release chemicals when heated. You can leave these out for days, just remember to refill them.
Keep In Mind
Add Vases of Flowers
Fresh flowers brighten up a room and boost humidity. Place vases on sunny windowsills. The sun heats the water in the vase, encouraging evaporation, while the flowers themselves release moisture. It is a small contribution, but every bit helps in a dry home.
Open the Dishwasher
Dishwashers generate a massive amount of steam during the drying cycle. Instead of letting the machine condense that steam down the drain, open the door right after the wash cycle finishes.
You will get a blast of warm, moist air into the kitchen. Plus, air-drying your dishes uses less electricity than the heated dry cycle, saving you money on your utility bill.
Set Up an Indoor Fountain
If you want to reduce stress and dry air simultaneously, get a tabletop water fountain. The constant movement of the water encourages evaporation.
Place the fountain in the room you spend the most time in. If you put it near a heat source or in a patch of sunlight, it will evaporate water even faster.
Legionella Risk
Get a Fish Tank
Aquariums are surprisingly effective humidifiers. If you have an open-top tank, the water evaporates constantly (as any fish owner who has to top off the tank knows). Even a small 10-gallon tank can release a steady stream of moisture into a dry room.
What Is Considered Low Humidity?
Indoor humidity is a major factor in how your home feels. Ideally, you want to stay between 30 and 50 percent.
Once you drop below 30 percent, you are in the “dry zone.” This is when you start noticing static electricity, dry nasal passages, and cracking wood furniture. Conversely, anything above 50 or 60 percent encourages dust mites and mold growth.
FAQs
What Are Three Signs That a Home Is Too Dry?
The three most common signs are increased static electricity (getting shocked when touching metal), physical symptoms like dry/itchy eyes and nosebleeds, and visible damage to the home such as cracking wood flooring or peeling wallpaper.
What Causes Low Humidity in the House?
Winter weather is the main culprit, as cold air holds less moisture than warm air. Running your central heating system then warms up that dry air, dropping the relative humidity even further. Poor insulation and lack of ventilation can also contribute.
Does Opening Windows Help With Dry Air?
Usually, no. In the winter, the air outside is generally drier than the air inside. Opening a window lets cold, dry air in, which your heater then warms up, lowering the humidity even more. It is better to seal leaks and generate moisture internally.
Can You Over-Humidify a Room?
Yes. If humidity climbs above 60 percent, you create a breeding ground for mold, mildew, and dust mites. This can trigger allergies and asthma just as badly as dry air can.
Is Sleeping With a Humidifier Good for You?
Yes, sleeping with a humidifier is highly beneficial if your air is dry. It keeps your nasal passages and throat hydrated, which can reduce snoring, ease congestion, and help you wake up feeling more rested.
How Long Does a Humidifier Take to Humidify a Room?
You will typically feel a difference near the device within 15 minutes, but it can take anywhere from 3 to 24 hours to raise the overall humidity level of a room to a comfortable range, depending on the room size and draftiness.
How Do I Measure the Humidity in My Home?
The most accurate way to measure indoor humidity is with a device called a hygrometer. These are inexpensive, look like small digital thermometers, and give you a real-time percentage reading of the moisture in the air.
Improving the Atmosphere
Low humidity is more than just a nuisance; it affects your health, your sleep, and even the structural integrity of your home. If you are feeling congested or your skin is constantly itchy, the air is likely too dry.
Fortunately, you don’t always need expensive equipment to fix it. Simple lifestyle tweaks, like air-drying your jeans, showering with the door cracked, or boiling a pot of tea, can make a noticeable difference.
Start with these natural methods, and if you still need a boost, consider a dedicated humidifier. Just remember to keep whatever method you choose clean to ensure the air you breathe stays fresh and healthy.
