How to humidify a room without a humidifier

When discussing the relative humidity of your home, it’s usually in terms of high humidity. While living in humid, heavy air can be a miserable experience, having air that’s too dry is just as uncomfortable — and just as dangerous. Low humidity levels can result in:

• Property damage. Very dry air can dry out wood, causing it to shrink and warp. It can also cause adhesives to turn brittle and fail, resulting in peeling wallpaper and paint.
   
• Health problems. Low humidity can exacerbate asthma and other respiratory conditions, cause itching and cracking skin, induce nosebleeds, and make you more prone to diseases like the flu. Dry air also breeds high static electricity, resulting in frequent painful shocks.

If the air in your home is too dry, you can use something like an ultrasonic humidifier to raise the humidity levels in the home (don’t use a diffuser, as they don’t do much to increase humidity levels). But if you don’t have (or want) a humidifier, you have other options.

Three DIY ways to humidify the air

If the air in your house is too dry, you don’t necessarily need to invest in a humidifier to improve the situation. Here are three ways you can increase the humidity without a trip to the store.

1. Existing sources of humidity

Your home generates a lot of humidity. An easy way to get more water vapor into the air is to harness these existing sources.

1. Take longer showers. Take a longer shower than usual and leave the bathroom door open to release humidity further throughout your home.
2. Air dry laundry. Instead of putting clothes in the dryer, hang them on a drying rack inside. 
3. Air out dishwashers. Skip the drying cycle, open the dishwasher door, and let that humid air circulate.

2. Add more sources of water vapor

An easy way to increase humidity is to increase the number of sources of water vapor.

1. Heat water. Fill a pot with water and boil it on your stovetop, or place a container of water on radiators or sunny window sills to evaporate.
2. Get some houseplants. Many plants add moisture to the air via a process known as transpiration. Adding the right varieties can increase the humidity in a room noticeably.
3. Place water vessels. Standing water increases humidity through the process of evaporation. Adding a fish tank or flower vases to your home’s decor will make an impact.

3. Make a DIY humidifier

A humidifier is a very simple machine — you can easily make one yourself with a water container (like a bucket or a bowl), a sponge and a fan. 

1. Place the bucket or pan on a flat surface like the floor, a chair, or a table.
2. Place the fan behind the bucket or pan so that it blows air across the surface. 
3. Place your sponge in the container:
   1. If using a shallow container like a baking pan, lay the sponge flat on the bottom. 
   2. If using a taller container like a bucket, use a skewer, chopstick, or other material to pierce the top of the sponge and lay it across the top of the container.
4. Fill the container so that the sponge is about half immersed in the water. 
5. Turn the fan on low.

The sponge will wick up water, which then evaporates. The fan then blows that moisture across the room, raising the humidity.

The ideal humidity levels at home

Relative humidity in the home should be maintained between 30% and 50% for your comfort, personal health, and home environment. There are two easy ways to measure humidity in your home: using a hygrometer, or via the “wet/dry bulb” method.

Common questions about dry air and humidity at home

Final thoughts

A dry home is an uncomfortable and unhealthy one. If you frequently suffer from symptoms related to dry air, there are some fixes you can employ right now. It’s easy to raise your home’s humidity levels, and it doesn’t require any expensive equipment. A few simple steps can turn your home back into the comfortable oasis it was meant to be.