Humidifier Demand surgesโฃ as Flu Cases Rise, New Guide Reveals Top Picks for 2025
Table of Contents
Newโ York, NY – โJanuary 26, 2025 – As influenza cases continue to climb nationwide, demand for humidifiers is spiking, prompting WIRED to release its annualโข guideโ to the best humidifiers for home and travel. Expertsโค warn that drier indoor air, commonโ during winter heating seasons, can exacerbate respiratory symptoms and even increase the survival rate of the influenza virus. The guide arrives as a recent study highlights concerning gaps in consumer โknowledge regarding proper humidifier cleaning, and a renewed caution against chemical disinfectants.
The increasing prevalence of respiratory illnesses,coupled with growing awareness of theโ linkโฃ between indoor air โขquality and โฃhealth,is driving theโฃ humidifier market.Millions of Americans are seeking solutions to combat dry air, but navigating the diverseโข range โฃof options – from cool mist to warm mist, ultrasonic to evaporative – can beโ overwhelming. WIRED’s 2025 guide aims to simplify the process,offering recommendations for โvarious needs and budgets,while emphasizing the critical importance of regular cleaning to preventโค the growth of mold and bacteria.
Finding the Right Humidity for You
The guide details a range of humidifier options, catering to different spaces and lifestyles. โFor larger homes, whole-house humidifiers integrated with HVAC systems are highlighted. โPortable options are categorized by size and technology, including ultrasonic humidifiers known for their quiet operation and evaporative humidifiers favored for their self-regulating capabilities.โ Travel-sized humidifiers are also featured, โคaddressing the needs of individuals seeking relief from dry airโ while on the go.
Cleaning is Key: New โฃResearch Highlights Risks
Maintaining a clean humidifier โขis paramount. WIRED notes instructions vary widely,from cleaning “after every โuse” for dishwasher-safe models to “once a โmonth.” A 2023 study published in the Chest journal found that many participants were unsure how to properlyโฃ clean their humidifiers, but frequently used vinegar and water solutions. The guide recommends consulting the humidifier’s user manual for specific instructions,โ andโ highlights the effectiveness of water and citric acid solutions.โฃ
Crucially,the guide emphasizes โa โคwarning from a 2017 South korean study published โin โค ScienceDirect which linked certain humidifier chemical โdisinfectants to lung injury.โ WIRED strongly advises โagainst using chemical disinfectants and champions dishwasher-safe water tanks as a safer choice.โ
WIRED’s “Our Favorite Humidifiersโค for Home, Travel & more (2025)” isโ available now at https://www.wired.com/story/best-humidifiers/.