Benefits of Using a Humidifier in Winter 2024

The winter season can be a tricky time for maintaining good health. Preventing a cold and flu may be the first thing that comes to mind when trying to keep healthy in the winter, but something else that can sneak up on you and cause/aggravate health issues during this season is the dry air we encounter in our homes.

Dry air often occurs in the winter months when the heating is on. Adding moisture to the air you breathe with the help of a humidifier can relieve health issues such as cold and allergy symptoms, dry sinuses, nosebleeds, dry skin, dehydration, cracked lips, and more. Read on to find out the benefits of investing in a humidifier for the home, and to take a look at our best ones available.

Woman and Baby with Humidifier Running
Using a humidifier over winter can improve health


What's Covered In this Guide?


What Are Humidifiers and How Can They Benefit Me?

Humidifiers have one simple job: to add more humidity (or moisture) into the air to prevent dryness that can cause irritation in many parts of the body. They can come in all shapes and sizes to meet your room requirements, but are all effective in treating dry skin, a dry throat and cough, bloody noses, dry sinuses and congestion, cracked lips, headaches, irritated vocal chords, and can ease symptoms caused by the flu or common cold.

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Best Humidifier for the Living Room

Our Winner: Beurer LB44 Ultrasonic Air Humidifier

The Beurer LB44 Ultrasonic Air Humidifier is our top humidifier for the living room space. With the ability to cover up to 25m², this humidifier creates healthy ambient air in your living room by using ultrasound humidification technology, and includes 15 aroma pads that will make your living room smell fresh too.

Beurer LB44 Ultrasonic Air Humidifier

Why We Love It...

Humidifies the air in larger spaces such as living rooms up to 25m²
 Switches off automatically once water tank is empty
 Includes 15 aroma pads that make the room smell fresh
 Low energy consumption making economical

Expert Verdict from Beurer: "Humans spend a large proportion of their time indoors. For ideal ambient air, a humidity level of between 40% and 60% is recommended. This value is often not reached, particularly in winter, when cold, dry air enters living spaces that are being aired and is then warmed up. This dry ambient air draws in moisture, drying out mucous membranes and skin, but also furniture." 



Best Humidifier for the Bedroom

Our Winner: Beurer LB37 Compact Ultrasonic Humidifier

With a sleek and stylish design the Beurer LB37 Humidifier will sit perfectly in the bedroom, as well as humidify dry air in order for you to sleep better. This humidifier releases a micro-fine atomisation for a quiet operation, and has no brights lights to ensure you're not disturbed at night. As a bonus, the humidifier can also be used with essential oils to improve room fragrance, and is easily operate by a simple LED indicator.

Beureer LB37 Compact Ultrasonic Humidifier

Why We Love It...

 Ultrasound humidification tech humidifies the air in bedrooms up to 20m²
 Quiet operation and no bright lights ensures you're not disturbed at night
 Includes 15 aroma pads to make the room smell fresh
 Available in two colours: Toffee and White

Expert Verdict from Beurer: "High-frequency vibrations release tiny drops from the surface of the water. The fan air flow transports the humidified air out into the room. If you wish, the device can be used with aromas."



Best Humidifier for Allergies and Dust

Our Winner: Beurer LR330 2-In-1 Comfort Air Purifier

Our most advanced humidifier, the Beurer LR330 2-in-1 Comfort Air Purifier provides air cleaning and air humidification in one for larger spaces of up to 35m². This device is perfect for allergy sufferers as it cleans the air around you by using a three-layered filter system that fights against domestic dust, animal hair, odours, pollen, various bacteria and viruses, as well as harmful gases in the air.

Beurer LR330 2-In-1 Comfort Air Purifier

Why We Love It...

 Cleans and humidifies the air in larger rooms of up to 35cm²
 Sucks up dust, animal hair, pollen etc, making it ideal for allergy sufferers
 Ultra quiet operation to clean the air while you sleep 
 Displays current ambient air humidity level

Expert Verdict from Beurer: "The air indoors is often polluted with dust particles, pollen, animal hair, odours, harmful gases as well as various bacteria and viruses and, particularly in winter, is also too dry. Ambient air that is too dry and contaminated may have a number of negative effects. The LR 330 air purifier humidifies air that is too dry and simultaneously cleans the air with a 3-layer filter system"



Best Humidifier for a Baby

Our Winner: Lifemax Timed Projection Humidifier

With the Lifemax Timed Projection Humidifier you can rest assured that your little ones are breathing healthy ambient air, and have a relaxing comforting environment to sleep in. Combining a humidifier and night-light in one, this device lets off a mist that will help bring relief of dry air in order to prevent dry skin, relieve allergies, ease colds and flus, and more, all using a quiet-run fan that will not disturb you or your baby's sleep.

Lifemax Timed Projection Humidifier

Why We Love It...

 Humidifies the air of your baby's room and creates a relaxing mood
 Fights against dry skin, allergies, asthma, and eases colds and flu
 Ultra quiet mist operation does not disturb you or your baby
 Choose between a colour changing light, specific colour, or no light

Expert Verdict from Lifemax: "The ever changing colours of this night light will help you or your little ones relax into a peaceful nights sleep...[whilst] the revitalising mist helps bring relief from dry air associated with dry skin, colds, asthma, and allergies."



The Best Humidifier for Travel

Our Winner: Beurer LB12 Mini Air Humidifier

Small and compact, the Beurer LB12 Mini Air Humidifier can be taken anywhere with you to ensure you're always breathing in healthy ambient air whilst indoors, no matter where in the world you are. With a convenient design, this device can be used with any standard plastic water bottle to quickly humidify the air of rooms up to 20m².

Beurer LB12 Mini Air Humidifier

Why We Love It...

 For healthy indoor air no matter where you are in the world
 Portable small design, for on the go use with a standard plastic bottle
 Quiet mist operation does not disturb your sleep
 Ideal for hotel rooms and hostels up to 20m²

Expert Verdict from Beurer: "With this air humidifier, you can bring additional humidity into the ambient air – everywhere: at home, on the move or in the office. You only require a standard plastic water bottle that you use as a water tank with the adapter provided. For this reason, and due to its compact size, this air humidifier can be taken with you when you travel and mounted on a small surface. With the storage pouch, all of the accessories are always close at hand."



Why Is Dry Air Bad for Me?

Dry air can be particularly bad for those who suffer from respiratory problems, making asthma worse, causing bronchitis and dehydration, and it can even mean that viruses spread faster. Dry air is one of the reasons why viruses tend to be more prevalent during winter, thus a humidifier is beneficial in preventing the spread.

The other problem is what dry air can do to your house. Dry air can also make your house plants die, and cause cracks on wood and leather in the home. The solution isn't to turn your heating on, but to try and get more humidity and moisture into the air.

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Six Reasons Why Using a Humidifier Can Improve Your Winter

  1. Reduce Infections and Viruses: Viruses and bacteria travel more effectively in dry air. A humidifer can keep flus, colds and more at bay.
  2. Improve Skin Health and Prevent Dry Skin: Dry air is the cause of dry skin and cracked lips, not cold air. Keep the air moist and your skin and lips will get the moisture it needs to stay healthy.
  3. Increase Sleep Quality: Sinuses don't react well to dry air, which can cause snoring while you sleep. A humidifier can help you to sleep better.
  4. Relieve Allergies: We've already mentioned that dry air is bad for your sinuses. Dry air is harsh on the throat and nasal passages, which can be prevented by ensuring that the air that you are breathing has some moisture.
  5. Keep Your House Plants Happy: Your plants need water all year round and during summer they benefit from humid air. Winter isn't the case, which is why you might be struggling to keep your plants thriving through the cold. A humidifier can quickly solve this problem. 
  6. Maintain your Home: Dry air can cause cracks on wood beams, plaster, and leather furniture. In this case, a humidifier would help.

Remove Dry Air from Your Home

You don't have to suffer from the usual problems associated with dry air, including snoring, dry skin and an increased risk of developing colds and the flu. A humidifier can quickly put an end to your worries, but if you've not found the perfect humidifier for you in this blog, please check out more humidifiers in our Air Purifiers category.

Do you have any questions about the different types of air humidifiers? Please don't hesitate to let us know in the comments below, or find us on Facebook and Twitter.

Tags: Aids for Daily Living, Breathing, General Health, Humidifiers, Nasal and Sinus, Winter Essentials.