Come winter, it goes without saying that your skin is a bit moisture-deprived. But that's not the only reason you're ready to invest in a top-notch humidifier: Running one when the temperature drops can help relieve cold and allergy symptoms, prevent snoring and warm up your home, too. Still, it's tricky to choose one that really gets the job done...and isn't difficult to fill and clean on the regular. (No small job.) Here are the three best options on Amazon.
The 3 Best Humidifiers on Amazon
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Best Value: Vicks
The Facts:
- Runs for 24 hours without a tank refill
- Dispenses warm mist
- Releases 95% bacteria-free mist into the air
When you consider cost and value, you can't go wrong with this warm-mist model from Vicks. Not only does it provide cold and allergy relief, you can use it with Vicks VapoSteam to release medicated vapors into the air. (It's available in the cold and flu aisle of your drugstore.) One mom raved about this option, saying that she's found it to make a huge difference with cold prevention simply by running it on the regular overnight. It's also a high performer when it comes to humidifying medium- and large-sized rooms.
Editors' Pick: Honeywell
The Facts:
- Kills 99.9% of bacteria
- Runs for up to 24 hours on low before requiring a tank refill
- Uses evaporative technology so that room doesn't over-humidify
This juggernaut humidifier works quickly and efficiently but, perhaps most importantly, quietly and without causing any disturbances. One of our editors—a new mom—commented, “This was an easy addition to our nursery since it not only runs silently, there isn't a bright display that interferes with our one-year-old's sleep.” Other standout features: The one gallon tank, which lasts for close to 24 hours before you have to refill it. Plus the fact Another huge plus is the fact that the tank is dishwasher-safe, which means you don't have to toil away to reach residue or limestone left behind in hard-to-reach nooks and crannies.
Splurge-worthy: Dyson
The Facts:
- Kills 99.9% of bacteria before mist/air is projected into the room
- Includes cooling technology for the summer months
- Certified asthma- and allergy-friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
It's hard to resist the sleek and sophisticated technology of the Dyson AM10 Humidifier. Not only is it easy to set up; if you fill the water tank once, it will run efficiently for close to 18 hours before requiring a refill. (That's at least two nights' sleep—impressive.) It also comes with Intelligent Climate Control, a feature that makes it possible to measure both the temperature in the room and the moisture in the air so that it doesn't over-humidify, a common problem with other options we've tried. (You want moist air, not a steam room, right?) Other details worth noting: You can control it via remote and also set a sleep timer if you'd prefer so that it doesn't run the entire night. Still, the best part of this device—aside from the hygienic and high velocity air it pumps out—is how easy it is to clean. In fact, you can get away with scrub-down once a week (sometimes less frequently depending on use).