One of the side effects of cold winter air is dry air in your house. It causes discomfort such as dry skin, irritated sinuses and my lips get chapped. There are many ways to increase the humidity in your home, some high-tech and some low-tech. Obviously, the high-tech methods are the more expensive.
The moist soil in plants evaporates and provides some moisture in the air. Other plants, like air plants need humidity in the air to thrive. Getting ready for winter? Here are my Winterization Home Tips!
Best humidity level for a house in winter
Most homes feel comfortable when indoor humidity is between 30% and 50%.
If you start seeing condensation on your windows, that’s a sign the humidity is likely too high for the current outdoor temperature. Try lowering it to around 40% and see if the moisture improves.
Window condensation happens because indoor humidity and outdoor temperature work together - colder outdoor air makes excess moisture show up faster on glass.
I use a few inexpensive hygrometers around my house to check current humidity levels, then choose 2–3 methods below and recheck after a few hours to see what actually makes a difference.
Table of contents
- Best humidity level for a house in winter
- How to tell if air is dry in your house
- Fastest ways to add humidity today
- Humidifiers that work - bedroom vs whole house
- Ideas for whole house dryness (when you have no humidifier)
- Turn the thermostat down a few degrees
- Essential oil diffuser
- I call this my crockpot room humidifier
- Use a simmer pot to remedy low humidity
- Air dry your washed clothing
- Dry wet mittens and hats (and maybe even boots) on radiators or heat grates
- Wash and air dry your washable curtains to add moisture to air
- Spray water with a spray bottle
- Start growing houseplants
- Fill vases with water
- Fill decor items with water - ceramic vases, bowls etc.
- Wash dishes by hand
- Humidifying ideas for older homes
- How I check the humidity in my home
How to tell if air is dry in your house
Speaking from my own experience (and what I’ve seen in my family), I notice low humidity levels when my hands start getting very dry and lips get dry and chapped. The dry air also affects my throat, making it feel scratchy and giving me a little cough. I've also experienced more frequent headaches and the dry air can also cause nosebleeds.
When the air is too dry, it definitely affects the air quality and comfort of our home. I am in the northern part of the U.S. so we have quite cold winters.
My home is about 100 years old and has the most beautiful wooden floors and woodwork everywhere. For example, I have 4 built-ins like this one.
That wood sucks up moisture like crazy. When the air in my home gets too dry, I can hear it cracking. I worry about the wood being damaged so I do my best to regulate the humidity in the air. But, in the winter, when we have a cold snap, it becomes challenging.
Fastest ways to add humidity today
If your house feels painfully dry, start with one fast option (boil water or shower steam), then add one steady option (a portable humidifier) and recheck your humidity level in a few hours. Small changes add up quickly.
Boil water
This is one of the most effective ways to add moisture to dry air, specifically your kitchen. I prefer to cook food so I'm not wasting energy when boiling water. Make hardboiled eggs or boil potatoes. If not cooking, I usually get the pot of water to a slow boil on the stovetop, then turn it down to a simmer or even off. Be careful about boiling a pot dry!
Make soup
Expanding from the first point, above. The steam from cooking adds moisture to the air. Thinking of making soup? I've been making this easy, healthy and delicious cabbage soup lately! Another favorite big-batch soup is this Pasta Fagioli.
Shower steam tips
If your bathroom doesn’t have moisture problems, you can leave the door open after a shower and wait 10–15 minutes before turning on the fan. If you have condensation, peeling paint, or any mold issues, run the fan as usual.
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Leave water in the tub
It can evaporate from there. The most water vapor comes from the warmer water. Make sure this isn't causing too much moisture in the bathroom. You don't want to create an environment for mold.
Set your dishwasher to air dry dishes
Don't use the dishwasher's drying cycle. Let the dishes air dry.
Or, if you do, open the door slightly right when the dishwasher is done. Newer dishwashers don't totally dry dishes and that moisture can escape when the door is opened.
Humidifiers that work - bedroom vs whole house
Larger portable humidifier
You can purchase portable humidifiers if you don't have a whole-house humidifier. I use this larger portable humidifier. I love it because it holds 1 ½ gallons of water and the tank can easily be lifted off and taken to the tap. Make sure you change the filter regularly They get hard because of all the minerals in the water and stop wicking the water as well.
Portable bedroom humidifier
Remember those Room humidifiers that you use for yourself or your kids when you have a cold? They do a pretty good job of adding humidity into the air, especially in small rooms like bedrooms. When you are suffering from a house with dry winter air, they certainly help. Filters do need to be changed in these.
Turn on your whole house humidifier
I didn't know I had one when I bought my home. This is intended to bring the humidity level of the whole house up. This humidifier is attached to your furnace and humidifies the air of a forced-air furnace. If it's not working, make sure you have the water to the humidifier turned on.
Also, some filters need to be changed regularly. If they aren't, they don't absorb the water that runs over the filter. I had my HVAC professional write which humidifier water pad I need to buy so it's easy for me to do so! A cost-saving tip - I order mine online and buying 2 is much more cost-effective than buying them one at a time.
I've not recently installed a whole house humidifier but was told it's about $600 (unconfirmed amount). You would call the company that maintains your HVAC system for this.
Ideas for whole house dryness (when you have no humidifier)
Turn the thermostat down a few degrees
If you have a forced-air furnace, a slightly lower temperature (a couple of degrees) can really help with the humidity level. Put on a sweater and lower the temperature. You'll find the humidity level is better.
Essential oil diffuser
If you are looking to buy an essential oil diffuser, buy one with a larger water tank. I use a humidifier and essential oil combo similar to this essential oil diffuser in my bedroom. The extra humidity is helpful and I feel that the lavender essential oil helps me sleep (this is not medical advice, just my personal experience).
I call this my crockpot room humidifier
Fill your crockpot with boiling water, turn it on hot and leave the lid off. I find it helps to occasionally put the lid back on to let the water heat. When there are cold snaps, and the air is really dry, I put my big crockpot in the room my family spends time in.
The above works especially well when you have a crockpot with a timer. Make sure to never leave your slow cooker unattended and don't let it boil dry. Keep it out of reach of kids/pets and set it on a heat-safe surface.
Use a simmer pot to remedy low humidity
I have a small crockpot that I use to both humidify air and to scent it. Simmer pots aren’t the old-fashioned potpourri smell - you can use fresh ingredients for a cleaner scent. They are now freshly scented and use fresh ingredients.
Here is an example of what a simmer pot can have in it! Humidity, a beautiful fragrance and it looks pretty too!
Air dry your washed clothing
I like air-drying many of my clothes anyway. Air drying your laundry saves energy too while helping to moisturize air! You will be surprised at how fast your damp clothing dries in your home's dry air. I have a fold-up laundry drying rack beside my washing machine for this purpose. For some laundered items like towels, you let them air dry until they are just damp and then use the dryer to soften them.
Dry wet mittens and hats (and maybe even boots) on radiators or heat grates
Don't throw them in the dryer unless you need them dry fast. You would be surprised how quickly wet mittens and hats can dry in a house with low humidity.
Wash and air dry your washable curtains to add moisture to air
I have simple cotton curtains. My kitty likes to cuddle at the bottom of them so I do wash them regularly. Wash and hang them so they air dry. Make sure they are washable curtains!
Spray water with a spray bottle
I have done this but very lightly over area rugs. Ensure you don't soak them because you could damage your floors (especially if they are wood).
I also lightly spray my washable curtains with a fine mist (I only wash when necessary, but this is a way to dampen them).
Some of your plants would also appreciate a light spray of water. This dry air can be hard on plants that come from a more tropical environment.
Start growing houseplants
The water from the soil evaporates and moisturizes the air. Careful, not to overwater the plants, though! Plants lose moisture naturally from their leaves, in a process called transpiration. Plants also increase indoor air-quality.
For those of you asking how to increase humidity in a room naturally, this is a great option!
Fill vases with water
If you can put them in direct sunlight locations like window sills, it will help warm up the water to evaporate it. I'm starting a few new plants by rooting them in water. Or, what better excuse to buy some fresh flowers for yourself! Keep that vase full of water.
Fill decor items with water - ceramic vases, bowls etc.
Do you have items displayed on your mantle or on side tables that can hold water? If your house is so dry you’re getting constant static shocks, filling water-safe decor items can help a little.
Wash dishes by hand
Leave the dishwater in the sink until it has cooled then drain it. This is NOT an excuse to leave gross water in the sink for long periods of time.
Humidifying ideas for older homes
Put bowls of water on your radiators or registers
If your radiators are covered or uncovered, they produce heat and can evaporate water. That's what folks with radiators all used to do in past years.
Put water on your old-fashioned floor vents
Do you have old large floor vents? This heat source is available anyway so why not give it another purpose (evaporating water).
Put water under your floor grates
Found out about this from a forum I just joined of owners of old home. For now, I've put containers full of water under the grates. Be mindful of the total weight so you don't cause problems with your home's HVAC system.
Preventative maintenance, prevent and stop air leaks
If you have a newer house, this may apply to you too! The cold dry air entering your home is contributing significantly to the overall dryness of your house. Especially when you have a forced air furnace. Seal any leaks that you can find, especially in those old basements. Areas to focus on are around where utilities come in from the outside. Think of areas around plumbing, electrical, furnace, and dryer vents. Also, the area where the top of the house meets the basement needs to be sealed and/or insulated.
Have a woodburning stove? Put a stove steamer on it
This is literally made to be filled with water, and will boil on the woodburning stove so the water can evaporate. Stove steamers are usually cast iron and heavy!
How I check the humidity in my home
Trying to track the humidity level in your house? You can buy a hygrometer. They are inexpensive (less than $10), portable, and normally show the room temperature and humidity level.
Hope I have helped you with some new ideas to introduce humidity in your home!
If you do something I haven't mentioned, just make sure to let me know!
What works best will depend on your home, your heating system, and how cold it is outside.
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