In the winter, as the air gets colder, it also gets drier. This is simply because cold air cannot retain as much moisture as warm air. So, your best option to prevent your indoor air from getting too dry is to get a humidifier. This post lists out some of the best eco-friendly humidifiers in the market.
Psst, the Best Overall Humidifier is the Canopy Humidifier with Aroma. The Most Affordable Humidifier is the Pure Enrichment MistAire Humidifier
- The Need for Humidifiers in Winter
- Best Eco-friendly Humidifier for Winter
- 1 // Best Overall Humidifier: CANOPY HUMIDIFIER WITH AROMA
- 2 // Best Humidifier for Small Spaces: MISSED GLOBAL’S STELLA
- 3 // Best Humidifier for Large Spaces: Dyson Purifier Humidify + Cool
- 4 // Best Energy Smart Humidifier: Vornado Energy Smart Evaporative Humidifier
- 5 // Best Zero Waste Humidifier (Filter-free): Objecto H9 Tower Hybrid Humidifier
- 6 // Best Zero Waste Humidifier (Zero Energy Cost): Floor Vent Rumidifier RD10
- 7 // Best Travel Humidifier: Fancii Cool Mist Personal Humidifier
- 8 // Humidifier That’s Easiest to Sterilize: Carepod One
- 9 // Best Humidifier-Purifier Combo: Brondell Revive
- 10 // Best Budget Humidifier: Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
- 11 // Best Humidifier for Kids: Crane Adorable Elephant Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
- 12 // Best Mist Humidifier: TaoTronics Warm and Cool Mist Humidifier
- What If I Want to Dehumidify my Indoor Space?
The Need for Humidifiers in Winter
The ideal indoor humidity level is between 30% and 50% (as measured by a hygrometer). When humidity levels drop, due to cold, dry air (especially with the use of electric heaters), we end up facing health issues such as allergic reactions, sinus congestion and dry skin. This can be prevented simply by increasing the humidity levels to the healthy range. And that’s where humidifiers come in.
Advantages of Using a Humidifier
Your skin and nose will thank you. A well-humidified room will help you breathe more easily, have less dryness in your nose, less static in your hair and clothes, and more healthy, hydrated skin. No more itchiness and chapped lips.
Now, most humidifiers aren’t very eco-friendly – they are made up of a lot of plastic parts, or use up a lot of energy to run. Sometimes humidifiers waste a lot of electricity. They can add to your electric bill, as well as your carbon footprint, simply by dint of being an electronic gadget.
How to Choose the Right Humidifier
Depending on how critical your need is, you could try to naturally increase indoor air humidity first, before looking into humidifiers. But if you do need a humidifier, make sure you get one that is:
- 1 / Appropriately sized for your space
- 2 / Energy-efficient
- 3 / Easy to clean and maintain
- 4 / Filter-free, or with paper filters
So, how do you keep your humidity up in the winter? We have some suggestions, but the most effective way is to invest in a good humidifier. And, of course, the more eco-friendly it is, the better!
Humidifier Vs. Diffuser
Humidifiers and diffusers differ in their functions: humidifiers release water vapor into the air, and diffusers emit essential oils in tiny water droplets.
So, if you want to increase the moisture in the air, then you need a humidifier. If you want to add a nice aroma to the air through essential oils, then you should go for a diffuser.
It’s important to note that diffusers do not hold enough water to affect the humidity levels in the air either way. So if you switch on a diffuser and wonder why your nose still feels raw and dry, this is why. And you will then need a humidifier. Of course, there are humidifier and diffuser combos, such as the Asakuki Aromatherapy Humidifier. But this post only looks at humidifiers.
Best Eco-friendly Humidifier for Winter
These humidifiers listed below are the most eco-friendly: they use paper filters, have energy-efficient technology, and automatic controls (which makes them more efficient).
1 // Best Overall Humidifier: CANOPY HUMIDIFIER WITH AROMA
Price: $150
Smart sensors | Paper filters | embedded UV lights | | Up to 500 sq. ft.
Canopy can work for up to 36 hours of running time. It has some cool anti-mold and UV sensor technology that helps keep the air clean. Besides, it only uses paper filters.
Canopy Review: “Best Humidifier Ever! I’ve had this for over a year, and I love it! I use it in the colder months, as I’m in NYC and it’s humid in the summer but dry in the winter. It’s helped so much with a bout of allergies I had last year, and it’s kept me and my husband hydrated overnight, so we wouldn’t wake up dried out from the radiator heat as usual. Plus, keeping this humidifier clean is SO easy, and no mold ever. Highly recommend!!”
2 // Best Humidifier for Small Spaces: MISSED GLOBAL’S STELLA
Price: $85
Wireless | portable power bank | nano-mist adjustable sprays | Up to 150 sq. ft.
Stella is a wireless humidifier with a 12-hour runtime. It’s ideal for small spaces, but you can also take it along on your trips, and you’ll be able to charge it with a wireless USB charger. It’s super quiet, low maintenance, and very easy to clean.
3 // Best Humidifier for Large Spaces: Dyson Purifier Humidify + Cool
Price: From $800
UV-C Tech | sealed HEPA filtration | control with remote, app & voice | Up to 400 sq. ft.
The Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool comes in two models: formaldehyde and autoreact. They have UV-C humidification technology to destroy bacteria growth, and gases and pollutants, with full machine sealed HEPA filtration. It’s a nice looking machine too, and ideal for any large enclosed space.
Dyson Review: “My daughter bought me this for Christmas because I struggle with asthma/allergies and have a dry place. Filling humidifiers and trying to get the perfect humidity level was impossible until I received this. This machine keeps my room at the targeted humidity levels and tells me what type of particles in the air that I am dealing with, if any. It charts it all out and on my phone as well. There’s a remote but you can use your phone app as well to change settings. It’s a rocking machine!! Easy to fill the water. Just wish it had handles to move it from one room to another. I am older and it’s awkward to pick up. But otherwise, I am sleeping like a baby now with no stuffiness or headaches. 9 star rating from me!!”
4 // Best Energy Smart Humidifier: Vornado Energy Smart Evaporative Humidifier
Price: $79.99
auto-humidity control | water-level sensing | energy-efficient | Up to 750 sq. ft.
Vornado’s eco-friendly EVDC3000 model uses 90% less energy than a traditional humidifier. It comes with an impressive auto-humidity control, as well as a solid warranty.
Vornado Review: ”Replaced a very old unit from another company and am real happy with this purchase. Vornado space heates worked well for us in unheated spaces so we decided to try this humidifier. I don’t like the white dust that most of the ultrasonic ones create, or the not-quite-undetectable sound. This unit works well, looks pretty good for what it is, and is sturdy. I really appreciate that it doesn’t have air intakes on the BOTTOM, like older humidifiers did. Dust and pet fur too easily block those intakes. It’s easy to fill AND TO CLEAN the reservoir in this unit too.”
5 // Best Zero Waste Humidifier (Filter-free): Objecto H9 Tower Hybrid Humidifier
Price: $300
No filter needed | remote control | automatic shut off | removable water tank | Up to 800 sq. ft.
Objecto’s H9 Tower Hybrid Humidifier is as close as you will get to a Plastic-free humidifier. It’s a filter-free option, so there’s no single-use, disposable items. It has an impressive 22 hours of run time. And it looks so fancy!
6 // Best Zero Waste Humidifier (Zero Energy Cost): Floor Vent Rumidifier RD10
Price: $45
No power needed | silent operation | goes over vents | Up to 1000 sq. ft.
The Rumidifier models have “zero operating cost,” because they don’t require electricity. They work with a floor or wall vent to bring moisture into the room. It just re-uses the existing air flow from forced air furnaces. Due to its simple and safe design, this is a great humidifier to keep in your children’s room (or near pets).
7 // Best Travel Humidifier: Fancii Cool Mist Personal Humidifier
Price: $79.99
Battery-operated | cordless
Frequent traveler? The Fancii Cool Mist Personal Humidifier is a lightweight, no-fuss must-have. The tank is a water bottle placed upside down. It’s got an 18-hour battery life, a timer, and an automatic shutoff when the bottle is completely empty.
Another lightweight option is the Hunter Ultrasonic Personal Air Humidifier. It can humidify a space of up to 25 sq. ft.
8 // Humidifier That’s Easiest to Sterilize: Carepod One
Price: $225
Stainless steel design | ultrasonic cool mist | three mist settings | up to 600 sq. ft.
This award-winning humidifier was designed by a medical doctor to be easy to clean and sterilize. The three parts of the Carepod need to be boiled in water to get a 99% germ-free device. It’s also filter-free.
9 // Best Humidifier-Purifier Combo: Brondell Revive
Price: $500
Dual True HEPA air filtration | touch control panel | allergy setting | up to 1885 sq. ft.
The Brondell Revive is a 2-in-1 True HEPA air purifier and True HEPA humidifier, and works as an air moisturizer offering protection against airborne contaminants. It is super-efficient and good at maintaining consistent humidity levels. It comes with a white noise option.
10 // Best Budget Humidifier: Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
Price: $39.99
Easy-fill tank & auto shutoff | up to 250 sq. ft.
This humidifier’s ultrasonic cool mist technology safely and quickly moisturizes dry air for up to 25 hours of continuous operation (How good are ultrasonic humidifiers?). Bang for the buck.
MistAire Review: “I love it! Stays on for hours. I keep it runnin all day and night especially in the cold season. Very easy to clean. Has an option to turn on or off the light. I keep it in my living room so it acts as a night light. Perfect! Two different settings for the humidity to blow (low and high). Love it! Make sure you activate the warranty that comes with it 😌✨”
11 // Best Humidifier for Kids: Crane Adorable Elephant Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
Price: $54.99
Energy-efficient | filter-free | space-saving | Optional demineralization filters available | reduce mold and bacteria growth up to 99.6% | up to 500 sq. ft.
This cute, award-winning, child-friendly humidifier is perfect to get relief from cold and flu symptoms for your little ones.
Crane Adorable Elephant Review: “Absolutely silent — “elephant” trunk shoots mist high into the air, more than the “sheep” type Adorable Crane humidifier we had before. We’ve had these for over ten years now — they usually last 5-7 years. New one has a different motor and uses a “wall wart” rather than a direct 120 V plug — more efficient, about 15 W or less. We do need to clean with a dilute Clorox solution weekly.”
12 // Best Mist Humidifier: TaoTronics Warm and Cool Mist Humidifier
Price: $89.99
remote control | AUTOMATIC HUMIDITY MONITORING | humidity levels | timer | up to 753 sq. ft.
Want both warm and cool mist in one humidifier? This 1.58 gallon TaoTronics device has a low-noise operation, and you can also use your favorite essential oil to take your room to the next level.
What If I Want to Dehumidify my Indoor Space?
There are many ways to increase the indoor humidity with humidifiers, but if you’re looking to dehumidify your indoor space, here are some of the best small dehumidifiers.
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