How to Increase Humidity in a Dry House
When winter winds blow, you probably run your central heating system. Blowing all this hot air typically reduces the humidity levels in your home, which can lead to dry skin, chapped lips and irritated eyes, nose and nasal passages. Low humidity can also dry out hardwood flooring and fine furniture, sometimes even leading to cracking.
Swipe through to find out how to increase the humidity in a dry house.
Consider adding some houseplants to your decor. Through transpiration, plants release moisture into the air, helping to combat dry air. Look for plants that need a lot of irrigation—such as ferns or African violets—as they will release more moisture.
Increase humidity in your home by hang-drying your laundry. Instead of moving items straight from the washer into the dryer, consider hanging them to dry in your home. Not only will you combat dryness, you’ll save money and be more environmentally friendly.
If possible, make dinner on the stovetop rather than in the oven. Whereas oven use tends to dry out the air, cooking on top of the stove releases moisture into the air.
If you’re more of an order-takeout kind of person, you can simply fill up a few pots with water and bring them to a boil on your cooktop. The steam will increase the humidity. Just keep an eye on them so they don’t run dry.
Photography: Pinterest/Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Whole-house humidifiers are quite expensive, but you might consider using a portable one. Some folks find adding a plug-in humidifier in the bedroom helps them sleep better.
Photography: Amazon
Let the dishes in the dishwasher air dry. When the dishwasher has finished its wash cycle, rather than let the dry cycle kick in, open the door of the machine and let all that steam escape into the room.
If privacy isn’t an issue, consider leaving the bathroom door open when you shower, and leave the exhaust fan off. All the steam from the warm water will flood the home, adding humidity. If you prefer to take a bath, leave the water in the tub after you bathe to evaporate into the air.