10 humidifier mistakes
Why do we use humidifiers? Humidifiers are a major necessity for places where the humidity level is low or for people, who experience respiratory-related symptoms. Therefore, humidifier lamps have become one of the most purchased products online. But not all buyers are perfect in their choices. Some humidifiers work with boiled water, these types of humidifiers can be dangerous for those who have children. People often make wrong decisions or mistakes, while purchasing ultrasonic mist decorative lamps for their home or office, some of the most mistakes made are mentioned as under.
Benefits of using a humidifier
Humidifier therapy adds moisture to the air to prevent dryness that can cause irritation in many parts of the body. Humidifiers can be effective for treating dryness of the skin, nose, throat, and lips. They can also ease some symptoms caused by the flu or common cold. Let’s talk about the benefits of using humidifiers in detail.
Airborne diseases
You can catch some diseases by breathing. How do airborne diseases spread? The answer is simple: when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, spewing nasal and throat secretions into the air. These causative organisms of these diseases are harder to control because they travel in the air and once a person that is free of these diseases breathe in the contaminated air, he or she gets infected. So, how can you prevent the spread of infection? A recent study found that raising indoor humidity levels to at least 43% had a dramatic effect on approximately 85% of airborne viruses. This is precisely why one of the main benefits of a humidifier is increasing the overall humidity levels in a room or in a home even in summer!
Allergy relief
You may think that seasonal allergies are less common during the summer. But, did you know that it’s possible to experience allergic rhinitis year-round? Symptoms of allergies can be different. The most common include sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, watery and itchy eyes, itchy sinuses, throat, etc. Less common symptoms are headache, shortness of breath, coughing. A lot of people also have asthma. A humidifier will help you to cope with any respiratory problem in a few days. If you want to know all the benefits for allergic, you can read the article ‘Humidifier for allergies’
Prevent dry skin
As everyone knows, 50–60% of the human body is made of water. Therefore, dry conditions may pull moisture out leaving behind dry skin, chapped lips, and so on. Our bodies rely on the right quantity of water to feel good. Lips and eyes also show irritation when they are not properly hydrated. A humidifier also helps relieve your baby of irritated, dry skin. And it is the best pros of a cool-mist humidifier for the child’s room. Baby’s skin is sensitive to dry climates and can result in red patches and tender, chapped lips. The dry air may also aggravate common skin conditions, such as eczema. By using a humidifier in winter, the skin remains soft and clear by retaining its natural moistness. Another benefit of a humidifier in the nursery is the white noise it provides. Not only will it help to drown out household noises like dogs, television, and kids playing, but it will also help lull baby into a peaceful sleep.
More information about dry skin and humidifier you can read here ‘Are humidifiers good for skin’
Healthier houseplants
Plants help pull toxins out of the air, but they can suffer in the dry, winter air. Have you noticed that the soil is dryer than usual during the winter? Ask yourself are the leaves looking droopy and sick? If you are growing plants in areas with a high level of sunlight and low humidity, you certainly need to increase the moisture in the air and the best way to do that is to get any of the best plant humidifiers. A cool-mist humidifier can help keep your houseplants healthy — which helps keep you healthy, too!
Improve sleep
Unhealthy daytime habits and lifestyle choices can leave you tossing and turning at night and adversely affect your mood, brain and heart health, immune system, creativity, vitality, and weight. Adding humidity to the air by running a humidifier at night may help to relieve some symptoms and improve the quality of sleep. A moist environment also feels warmer and more comfortable, which can encourage a good night’s sleep.
White noise
Another benefit of a humidifier especially in the nursery is the white noise it provides. Not only will it help to drown out household noises like dogs, television, and kids playing, but it will also help lull babies into a peaceful sleep. Scientists prove white noise to help with sleeping issues. Not for everyone, certainly, but for most people. The technical definition is that white noise is created by equally distributed frequencies. To make it simpler, white noise is formed by an equal amount at every frequency that can be heard by a human – from low to high.
Top mistakes while using a humidifier
You should have a certain knowledge about this device by reading the instructions on the label. However, if you still need more specific instructions on how to use a humidifier, the next part can be useful for you.
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Letting the water sit for too long
One of the very common mistakes that people do is letting water sit too long. It is extremely dangerous because such water can be a breeding home for bacteria, mold, and mildew. Therefore, you should clean the tank and filters as mention in instructions, otherwise, these bacteria and mold in standing water can be dispersed into the air through the humidifier. As a result, this will cause many infections and respiratory issues. Change the water of the humidifier daily and do not leave it in the tank. Always empty the tank and leave it out to dry. It will keep your humidifier fresh until you need to use it again.
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Not cleaning often enough
You need to clean your humidifier regularly. Even if it looks clean enough. If you won’t clean your humidifier regularly, you’re letting bacteria, mold, and allergens grow into the tank. As a result, everything will be sprayed into the air by the humidifier. Every third day empties the tank, scrub it with disinfectant to remove the mold and infections, and after letting it dry completely refill the tank.
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Tap water in humidifiers
Filling tap water into humidifiers is a huge mistake that people often do. You should remember that humidifier using bottled water. Tap water may contain not only bacteria and other infections but mineral deposits. This white dust can gather in the tank and also around the room, which can be a serious threat for people with an allergy. These mineral residues can also promote bacterial growth into the room. You should always use distilled or filtered water not to spread allergens and other dangerous bacteria.
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Not checking equipment and chord
Safety is key. Humidifiers are serious home appliances; therefore, you should take measures for safety. Whether you have an old humidifier or a new one, keep checking the damaged chord or part. As a humidifier is filled with water, a damaged chord can be an electrical hazard. Leaving a long and messy chord in the room can be a trip hazard especially with kids or pets around. Avoid placing your humidifier in a place where it comes in the way or can be tripped over.
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Submerging the main unit in water
As humidifiers need to be cleaned regularly, submerging the main unit into the water can damage the machine. While cleaning the humidifier, take good care to save its electrical parts from water and use only as much water as is required to rinse the corners.
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Not monitoring the humidity level
Humidifiers help to keep the optimal humidity level of a room. Dry air can cause cough, allergies, and other respiratory issues, but an excess of humidity is also damaging. Too much moisture in the air can make the atmosphere uncomfortable, and it may breed the bacteria and other infections in the room. Most humidifiers have automatic control, but they may not work accurately. Ideally, the humidity level of your room should be between 40-60%.
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Not placing your humidifier on a flat surface
The right placing of a humidifier is important. First, you don’t want to tip over a humidifier with a tank full of water. Humidifiers emit water vapor and the surrounding area can get damp; humidifier makes room wet. It can damage the floor or carpet if left on the floor. Besides, the action of heating the water and emitting the water vapor or steam into the air can be disrupted if the humidifier is not placed straight properly. Therefore, placing the humidifier in a corner on a raised flat surface can save you from a lot of trouble.
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Placing humidifier too close or too far
Placing the humidifier too close to your bed seems a tempting idea, but you don’t need to run it over you to feel its benefits. If your humidifier is emitting white dust, then it may cover your bed with dust. A warm mist humidifier can make your bed sheet damp from steam. In the same way, placing a humidifier too far is also not a very good idea.
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Choosing the wrong unit
Choosing the right size of humidifier for your room is essential. Using a small-sized humidifier for a large and airy area isn’t going to be effective in raising the humidity level of a room. Similarly, if you are using a big sized humidifier in a smaller room it would make it extra damp and may breed bacteria, mold, or mildew. Therefore, before buying the humidifier, keep in mind the size of the room. Most of the humidifiers mention in their specification the area they are designed to humidify. There are many types of humidifiers in the market, flow-through units, mist units, and steam units. Different types can work in different conditions. So, do a little research before buying a humidifier and choose the one that suits your requirement.
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Lack of Research
Research is very important before buying any product. Without proper knowledge of the product use, benefits, price, models, etc., you cannot and should not purchase any product, especially colorful humidifiers.
The common mistakes while using a humidifier
Keep in mind that you don’t have to make these mistakes, especially when someone is suffering from allergies. That is why you have to be very careful when buying and using a humidifier.