Homemade Humidifier Solutions DIY Methods
A moist environment helps prevent the growth of bacteria and viruses. Humidity levels above 50% are considered ideal for most people. If you live in a dry climate, it’s important to keep the relative humidity level high enough to avoid discomfort.
If you suffer from respiratory problems such as asthma, allergies, sinusitis, bronchitis, or emphysema, having too little humidity can aggravate symptoms. A healthy indoor environment is essential for maintaining good health.
One way to improve the quality of your indoor air is to use a humidifier. There are many types of humidifiers out there, each designed for different purposes. Some work better than others, depending on what type of humidification you want.
The best humidifiers help reduce the amount of dust particles in the air, while others help eliminate odors. You might even find some that offer both features. Homemade Humidifier Solutions DIY Methods
There are several factors to consider when choosing a humidifier. For example, do you prefer a portable model or a permanent fixture? How much space does it take up? Is it easy to clean? Does it produce a lot of steam? Are there extra accessories included?
Once you know what you’re looking for, you can narrow down your choices based on price. While you don’t necessarily need to spend a fortune, you don’t want to skimp either.
You can choose from a variety of options, including ultrasonic models, heat pump systems, evaporative mist units, and more. Each type offers benefits over another. Let’s look at some of the main ones.
Create your own homemade humidifier
You don’t need to buy a fancy humidifier to keep your home comfortable during cold weather. All you need are some common household items.
The trickiest part about making your own humidifier is finding a container large enough to hold water. If you’re lucky, you’ll find a plastic bottle somewhere around the house. But if that doesn’t work out, you can use a glass jar, a bucket, or even a laundry tub.
Once you’ve got a container big enough to hold water, it’s time to fill it up. Fill the container halfway full with tap water and let it sit overnight. In the morning, take the lid off and add another half cup of water. Let it sit again overnight, then repeat the process once more.
Now it’s time to put together your humidifier. Take a small piece of cloth and fold it into thirds. Then wrap the folded cloth around the neck of the container. Tie it tight with string or rubber bands. Homemade Humidifier Solutions DIY Methods,This creates a seal that keeps moisture inside the container while letting air flow freely outside.
To make sure your homemade humidifier works properly, place it near a window where there’s plenty of sunlight. Check it every few hours throughout the day to see how much humidity it produces. Once you reach the desired level of humidity, stop checking on it.
Fan humidifier
To make a humidifier like one found in stores, you’ll need a drinking glass, bowl or container, a skewer long enough so it rests across the container, a sponge or cloth, some water, a small fan, and a battery pack. You’ll also want to add a few drops of dish soap to help keep the humidity level consistent.
The trickiest part about making a humidifier is finding a way to keep the air moist without letting too much moisture escape into the room. A fan helps, but it won’t work well if there isn’t adequate ventilation. Soap helps, but it doesn’t do anything to increase the humidity.
5. Take advantage of vents and radiators
If you live in a cold climate, you know how dry it gets in the wintertime. You might even notice that your skin feels drier than usual. This happens because our bodies naturally try to keep moisture levels high inside our homes to protect us from the elements. But sometimes we forget about one of the most important ways to keep ourselves hydrated—by taking advantage of natural ventilation systems like windows, doors, and fans.
In fact, according to the National Weather Service, indoor temperatures are typically 5 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than outdoor temperatures. So, while you’re enjoying the warmth of your home, you’re actually losing precious body heat. And, if you don’t take steps to prevent it, you could end up feeling dehydrated.
So, what does this mean? Well, if you want to feel better throughout the entire season, you need to make sure you’re staying well-hydrated. To do that, here are five tips to consider:
1. Keep Your Home Humidified
Humidity helps regulate temperature and keeps your house comfortable. When your home is too dry, your thermostat runs constantly to maintain a constant temperature. As a result, you waste energy and money. On the flip side, when your home is too wet, mold and mildew start growing. Not good.
To ensure that your home stays properly humidified, install a dehumidifier in your basement or attic. Or, if you prefer, you can simply open your window(s) and let in some fresh air. However, if you choose to rely on the latter option, remember to close your window(s) once you’ve finished drying out. Otherwise, you risk making things worse.
2. Use Fans
Fans circulate cool air through your home, keeping it cooler during the summer months and warmer during the winter. If you have an electric fan, turn it on for 10 minutes before bedtime. That will help you get more restful sleep.
3. Drink Plenty Of Water
Water plays a key role in regulating your internal temperature. It helps your body stay warm by flushing away excess heat. Plus, it helps flush toxins from your system.
4. Avoid Alcoholic Drinks
Alcohol has diuretic properties. This means that it causes your body to lose fluid. In other words, alcohol makes you pee more often. The problem with this is that you’re not getting rid of all the extra liquid. Instead, you’re just replacing it with urine.
5. Eat Healthy Foods
When you eat healthy foods, they provide nutrients that help your body function at its best. They also give you energy so that you can be active.
6. Shower with the door open
If you want to keep the heat in your home while still getting some fresh air, crack the bathroom door open as wide as possible. This will allow warm moist air to escape out of the room, creating a humid environment inside. While this might seem like a good thing, it could actually cause problems for your neighbors.
According to HomeAdvisor, about half of Americans are concerned about the amount of moisture coming out of their homes. And according to the National Weather Service, showers are responsible for up to 40% of indoor humidity levels. So if you’re worried about how much moisture is being pumped out of your house, try opening the door wider.
7. Save your bath water
If you’ve ever taken a bath, you know how relaxing it can be. You might even enjoy taking one every now and again. But what happens once you’re finished? If you just let the water sit there, it’ll eventually evaporate. This is great news if you like using aromatherapy while bathing, because it allows those oils to disperse throughout the room. However, if you want to save some of that moisture for later use, here are a few ways to do it.
1. Letting it Cool Completely
The best way to keep the water vapor around is to allow it to cool down entirely. When the temperature drops, the water molecules move closer together, making it easier for them to escape into the air. So, if you’d like to save some of that steamy goodness, simply turn off the faucet and wait for the water to stop flowing.
2. Using Aromatherapy Oils
Aromatherapy oils are often used in conjunction with baths, so why not take advantage of that fact? Simply add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the water before you start soaking. Not only does this give you another reason to relax, but it helps to spread out the scent throughout your home.
3. Adding Essential Oil To Your Bathwater
Essential oils aren’t just good for adding fragrance to your home; they can actually be beneficial to your health. For example, lavender oil is known to relieve stress, while peppermint oil is thought to aid digestion. These benefits make it easy to see why many people choose to incorporate essential oils into their daily routines.
8. Put your dishwasher to use
During the washing cycle of your dishwasher you could be doing some good for the environment. When you put your dishes away, let them sit out for about 30 minutes to allow the moisture to evaporate. This will help reduce the amount of water used during the next load. If you don’t want to wait for the dishes to dry naturally, crack open the dishwasher door and allow it to vent out the excess heat. You’ll notice less condensation inside the machine and less humidity outside.
9. Skip the clothes dryer
While it’s easy to throw your laundry in the dryer, there are some things you can do to make sure you’re getting the most out of your laundry routine. One thing you might want to consider skipping is the dryer altogether. Instead, try hanging your laundry outside or even setting up a clothesline inside. Not only does this save energy, but it helps reduce the amount of moisture in the air. This way, you won’t have to worry about having too much humidity in your home.
10. Host a fish tank or mini aquarium
Water evaporation is a naturally occurring process that occurs within a fish tank or aquarium. This helps to passively increase the humidity levels inside the water, which can benefit both the health of the fish and the environment around it. In addition, fish tanks and aquarium decorations are easy to decorate, making them ideal for enhancing the overall aesthetic of your living space.
Considerations
The Asthma and Allergy Association recommends keeping indoor humidity levels between 30 and 50 percent. If you live in a humid climate, it might seem like there isn’t much you can do to keep the air dry. However, there are some things you can do to help reduce moisture in your home.
• Use fans to circulate air throughout your house. Fans pull moist air out of rooms and into vents where it can escape outside.
• Clean windows regularly. Dust accumulates on glass and can cause condensation. This can lead to mold and mildew.
• Seal cracks around doors and windows. Cracks allow moisture to enter your home.
• Maintain proper ventilation. Make sure your heating system runs efficiently and exhausts stale air.
• Consider installing dehumidifiers to eliminate excess moisture. These devices work best in areas where temperatures remain constant.
The takeaway
If you want to keep your house feeling comfortable, consider adding some humidity to the mix. Dry air isn’t good for anyone, especially those with allergies. But while we’ve been told to open windows and turn up the AC, there are ways to add moisture without spending a fortune. Here are 11 tips for making small changes in your home that will help bring down the dryness level.