TOP 20 methods for humidifying the air in a room with your own hands at home
The humidity of the air is the content of water vapor it contains. For a person to feel comfortable, this figure should be 40-60%. A person spends most of the day in rooms, the humidity of which largely depends not on the natural environment outside the window, but on the operation of heating and other devices. Excessive air drying negatively affects your well-being. Let's see how to humidify the air in a room without using special devices.
What can the lack of necessary moisture lead to
The human body has a fantastic ability to adapt to all conditions. That is why people settled in all regions of the Earth - from dry deserts to humid tropics and the equatorial zone. But this does not mean that all conditions are equally beneficial and do not harm the body.Low humidity causes many health problems.
Diseases of the respiratory system
Dry air, entering the bronchi and lungs, dries up the epithelium, causing a severe cough. The protective functions of the epithelial membranes are lost, bacteria and viruses multiply rapidly, causing diseases of all parts of the respiratory system.
The appearance of a runny nose, sinusitis and sinusitis
Lack of moisture leads to drying of the mucous membranes of the nasal passages, disruption of the natural microflora. Rhinitis, sinusitis and sinusitis of an allergic nature develop.
Inflamed mucous membranes become a breeding ground for bacterial, fungal and viral diseases of the nose.
rapid aging of the skin
The evaporation of moisture from the skin, with a lack of moisture, occurs especially quickly. The skin becomes rough, covered with burrs, flakes. Many itch, the epidermis becomes inflamed. Drying of the skin causes rapid aging, the appearance of wrinkles.
Dull and brittle hair
Hair and scalp react quickly to dry air. The lack of hydration makes the hair dull, it breaks faster, electrifies, split ends.
Allergic reactions
Water vapor in the air binds the dust, making it less volatile. It does not enter the airways as quickly. At low humidity, people are more likely to develop allergic reactions to various components of the air. Dry air is especially dangerous for people with allergic asthma.
Decreased immunity
The skin and mucous membranes are the natural defenses of the whole body. They meet all pathogens and prevent their penetration inside. At low humidity, not only local, but also general immunity is lost.In addition, the lack of humidity leads to the rapid multiplication in closed rooms of certain infectious agents.
All kinds of eye problems
The mucous membranes of the eyes lose moisture, the eyes often turn red, quickly get tired. Infectious join allergic conjunctivitis. Wearing contact lenses becomes a torment - they dry out, you feel discomfort and burning in the eyes.
Important: the most dangerous consequences of low humidity for the body are a lack of oxygen, increased fatigue and difficulties in the work of the heart.
What is humidity and how to measure
Air humidity of 40-60% is considered the most favorable for health and comfortable for well-being. Such an indicator in winter apartments with working heating systems can only be maintained artificially.
You can measure humidity with special devices - hygrometers. In the absence of a device, a simple test can be carried out. A glass of water is cooled in the refrigerator to 3-5°. This field is exposed to the room, away from radiators. Check the reaction after 5 minutes in the room:
- The misted glass has dried up during this time - the air is dry.
- Stayed with water droplets - within normal limits.
- The drops collected in the streams and flowed - the humidity is high.
Most people feel a lack of humidity in the apartment to the desire to constantly lick their lips, dry skin on the hands and face. The throat dries up, often wants to take a sip of water, although there is no thirst. Wet laundry and items dry in record time, and the tips of houseplant leaves turn yellow and curl.
Home humidification methods without a humidifier
It is possible to make the air in the apartment more humid and pleasant for the inhabitants without special devices. Traditional methods are inexpensive, simple and practical. The heating season in Russia is long, during all this time it is worth fighting against dry air in order to avoid health problems.
Aeration
The most effective way to increase humidity in an apartment is to regularly air the premises. It gives additional bonuses compared to other means - supply of oxygen, elimination of odors, reduction of carbon dioxide content.
When leaving the house, it is worth leaving the windows, vents, transoms open, this will equalize the humidity with the street level. At home, keep windows open in empty rooms to avoid catching a cold from the cold outside.
Wet cleaning
Regular wet cleaning can increase the wetness index. Do not press too hard on the cloth when cleaning the floor, tables and window sills. This method is good for hardworking housewives, because the dampness dries quickly, the effect of this method does not last long.
An additional advantage of the method is the removal of dust, which often causes allergies in winter.
Water tanks
Water containers are used to humidify the premises. To increase evaporation, they are placed near heating radiators. A bucket, basin, pan with a large open surface, standing next to the radiator, will help saturate the room with moisture.
A good effect is given by special tanks hooked to the batteries.
Moisture evaporates even faster, increasing the humidity of the air. You can put vases of water on the tables.
The disadvantage of the method is that the water must be changed regularly and the containers must be washed well, since a plaque forms on the walls due to dried water.
Damp cloth on batteries
A quick way to dampen a room is to hang a damp cloth over the batteries. Evaporation occurs quickly, the fabric dries out, the air becomes more humid. To feel the result, the fabric must be large (sheet, towel).
The disadvantage of the method is that the fabric will have to be moistened regularly, and hanging rags will not improve the appearance of the room.
Water sprayers
Finely scattered nozzles humidify the air well. You can safely walk around the house and spray water on the sides. This will help improve the humidity reading and remove dust from the air.
Laundry drying
When drying laundry, the humidity rises in a simple, natural and unadorned way. Do not squeeze the laundry too much, it is better to set the minimum spin in automatic washing machines. Since housewives often wash, drying will help improve the humidity in the apartment.
indoor plants
Indoor plants create a microclimate in apartments, not only supply housing with oxygen, but also evaporate moisture. Water for home flowers is poured into pallets, saved for laying in special containers. Greens are regularly sprayed, leaves are washed. All this contributes to increased humidity in apartments.
Consider the best indoor crops traditionally used to humidify rooms.
Nephrolepis
The mighty fern is one of the best houseplants; it is often grown in public places to purify the air of dust and radiation. Dense and abundant foliage creates a microclimate that favorably affects the moisture content in the room. One plant can purify the air in an entire apartment.
Fatsia
Large fatsia leaves wick away moisture, green apartments and offices, and purify the air. It is useful to spray smooth foliage - this way the benefits of the plant will be maximum.
Cyperus
A great water lover - Cyperus, also called the swamp guard. The plant is kept constantly moist, like rice, it likes to stay in water, but itself evaporates a lot of moisture into the air. Cyperus is recommended for improving water-gas exchange in rooms with low humidity. During the heating season, the plant is able to improve the composition of the air.
Sparmania
The Sparmania is a real indoor tree, with abundant and wide foliage. A well-groomed flower cleans the apartment of dust, increases the humidity content in the premises and releases oxygen.
Ficus
Smooth ficus leaves emit a lot of moisture, purify the air from phenols and benzols. The Ficus Benjamin is particularly popular, as it is grown in office buildings and apartments to filter and humidify the air.
Dracaena
Dracaena is rightfully considered a filter for air purification - it destroys pathogenic bacteria, removes phenols, ammonia compounds and formaldehydes. Abundant foliage saturates the rooms with moisture, regulates the composition of oxygen.
Hibiscus
A useful houseplant, in addition to medicinal properties, heals the premises well, releasing phytoncides. Abundant foliage evaporates moisture, creates a favorable microclimate around the plant.
Important: indoor plants should be regularly washed, moistened and the water in the tubs changed, then their properties will fully manifest and benefit.
Fountains
Pretty fountains not only delight the eyes and calm the nervous system, but also increase the humidity. It is especially important to turn them on during the operation of heaters - they will refresh and heal the air. The main thing is to add water in time.
home aquarium
Evaporation is constantly occurring from the large surface area of the aquarium water, it is a natural means of humidification. Setting up an aquarium to increase humidity is a very questionable method. Keeping fish and other inhabitants requires not only knowledge, but also tangible costs. A humidifier is much cheaper.
Also note that it is recommended to cover the aquariums with a lid, which considerably reduces evaporation.
Bathroom
Excess humidity in bathrooms can be used to increase the moisture content of the whole apartment. After taking a bath, you can not immediately drain the water, open the door so that the vapors spread through the rooms and do not come out through the vents.
You can also turn on a hot shower by opening the bathroom door. This will quickly increase the water content of the air.
Boiling water
If you forget the kettle on the stove, water droplets will cover all the walls. When boiled, the water quickly evaporates, increasing the humidity of the air. This is another way to humidify rooms, but it is quite dangerous.
You should not use the method regularly - the products of gas combustion poison the air, there is a risk of forgetting the kettle, ruining it or starting a fire.
Important: hot steam damages furniture and kitchen utensils, wallpaper swells and can come off the walls.
Hydrogel
Vibrant decorative hydrogel granules used to regulate soil moisture during plant growth can be used to humidify the air. They are filled with water and displayed in vases around the apartment.
This product is harmless, non-toxic, releases moisture, the granules increase the water vapor content in the air. Regularly add fresh water.
DIY humidifier
If dry air adversely affects the well-being of households and leads to a deterioration in health, then it is better not to count on single events and a short-term increase in humidity inefficiently. It's time to build a humidifier that works all the time.
For crafting you will need:
- capacity that is not afraid to be close to the battery (heat resistant). Alternatively - a plastic bottle;
- wire, rope or twine for fixing to the radiator;
- loose fabric (gauze, wide bandage - about a meter long).
A hole of 5 to 7 by 10 to 15 centimeters is made in the side of the bottle. The bottle is fixed horizontally to a radiator or a hot pipe by the ends.
The fabric is folded into a ribbon 8-10 centimeters wide (it is convenient to use a bandage in several layers). The edges are wrapped around the pipe or placed on a radiator, and the central part is lowered into the opening of the bottle. Fill the bottle with water. Water will rise on the fabric and increase the evaporation area.
It is better to hide a homemade humidor with tulle, behind furniture or in some other way. You can be smart and give the device an aesthetic look. It is important that it is convenient to approach the humidifier - the water should be topped up regularly, you will also need to periodically change the fabric and clean the water tank.
During a long heating season, all methods for increasing the humidity in the apartment should be used. By airing houseplants will also make the air cleaner and more oxygenated. Normal humidity will help to avoid illnesses, deterioration of health, loss of immunity, maintain tone and performance.