Humidifiers?

[agate]

Does anyone know anything about humidifiers?

This is the second year my dentist has strongly recommended a humidifier. Last year I gave up on the idea as another costly item I didn't have room for but this year he was more persuasive, pointing out that some of them are only about $20 and are really quite small.

I've looked at an assortment of them on Amazon, and all of them seem to spray a mist into the air--some do cool mist, some do warm mist, some do both.

I last had a humidifier back around 1978, and it was a large clunky thing on wheels that needed considerable maintenance. I'm relieved to see how much simpler and smaller they are now but I'm not sure I want mist sprayed into the air.

So my question is--how noticeable is the mist?

[Howie]

Well, I can't help. I have a de-humidifier in my kitchen, works great. I would look at Lowe's, or Walmart online.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((agate)))))) ~

We used a humidifier for Jonathan years ago. It had a filter. I had to clean it thoroughly with vinegar every day and leave it out on the patio to dry.

The one caution about humidifiers is that they can transmit bacteria in the mist/air, if they are not absolutely clean. If you have hard water, it's best to use distilled water.

Jim needed a humidifier, and I researched them until I decided to spring for a Dyson. It's absurdly expensive. But it doesn't emit a mist, and it has a system, which reduces bacterial build up.

It requires monthly cleaning, rather than daily, but Jim was unable to figure out how to clean it using the manual. I found a video on line, and it's a process. We haven't done it yet, and he stopped using it. Now, I'm not sure it was a good investment for us.

So, when you're shopping for your humidifier, find out as much as you can about its maintenance and efficacy. Customer reviews are helpful.

Love & Light,



Rose

[agate]

Thanks so much! My concern about mist was exactly about bacteria or possibly mold spores but maybe some of them spray a very fine mist that's hardly noticeable, or have a way of turning off the mist though I haven't noticed that option in the ones I've looked at. If it's not misting, maybe it's not humidifying. Still, the one I had a thousand years ago didn't mist. It made a very subdued purring sound, and if you were close to it you felt a very faint cool breeze.

It had to be cleaned often, and there was a large spongy "belt" that had to be removed and cleaned.

[Howie]

Rose, Consumers Reviews are always very helpful. I always read them on anything I buy online. Agate, Walmart had a bunch. From like $20 and up. Good luck in your search.

[Catdancer]

I just did a Google search: benefits humidifier health. I came up with several sites. None of them mention anything about teeth. All of them say that viruses, like flu, are LESS likely to be transmitted in the damp air that a humidifier causes. The sites talk.about damp air making it easier to breathe, reducing snoring ....which can dry out your mouth --the closest comments having anything to do with teeth...there is also talk about improving your skin....

All also talk about the high maintenance they require.

We have a cool air humidifier, a small one, that we sometimes use in the winter, when one of us has a cold and stopped up sinuses. It's only used for the duration of the cold, then cleaned and put away for the next time. When being used it sits on the nightstand by the bed. It is about the size of two shoe boxes put together.

What did your dentist say to convince you to consider one?

[agate]

Thank you for looking up helpful information on humidifiers, Cat.

I've been treating dry mouth for many years--as well as dry eyes. It may be just aging or maybe it's due to surgery I had back in 1987--the removal of a parotid gland because it had a tumor that was hurting, and the doctor wanted it out, not just the tumor but the entire gland.

Dentists have often warned me that the dry mouth might be contributing to tooth decay, and so I've tried to be diligent with moisturizing gel or spray.

But I have to wear a nightguard at night, which makes it hard to close my mouth, and I'm probably a mouth-breather anyway (sinus problems)-- I have a dry mouth at night and wake up several times to drink water.

This time the dentist was sounding alarms about some "fracture lines" on a tooth and saying I should come in immediately without making an appointment if that tooth starts to wobble. This news has prompted me to be more attentive to that advice about humidifiers.

He pointed out that they aren't the big, difficult things they once were--and not nearly so pricey. When I looked at some on Amazon, I'd say he was right. User reviews have been very helpful. I'll put up with the extra maintenance in order to do whatever I can to keep this tooth, as the partial I wear hooks around it--which is probably why it's giving way. I had hoped I was through losing teeth for a while.

Howie, would Consumer Reviews be the same as Consumer Reports? I always try to look up their ratings and reviews too. I'm going to be doing that for this purchase. I've been a lifelong Consumer Reports fan and get the audio version of their monthly magazine. There are just too many products out there--a person needs some guidance!

[Howie]

Agate, they sound about the same to me. I think of a report as something - a customer has reported, and a review more a mix of both + and - but what do I know, I just woke up!

[agate]

There are some similar-sounding periodicals and organizations but Consumer Reports is run by Consumers Union and accepts no ads--and their ratings are based on tests that they do in their labs. They do a lot of testing of cars but also just about any other type of product you can think of.

[Sunshine]

When I lived up north we put a pot of water on the radiators. I suppose wet clothes might also do the trick. It humidified the air very well.

Might you just set out some pots in your bedroom for sleeping, like on dresser, floor etc?

Humidifiers sketch me out with the worryabout mold.

Course we have the opposite problem in Florida. We have a dehumidifier to get rid of excess moisture in the air !

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((agate)))))) ~

Jim received his copy of Consumer Reports today, and the cover story is Humidifiers! If you don't get the magazine, perhaps you can read it on line.

Love & Light,



Rose

[agate]

I'll be on the lookout for Consumer Reports, Rose! I get it in recorded form and will get it a bit later but it shouldn't be long.

I had already gone ahead and ordered one based on ratings and reviews at Amazon. The one I got had mixed reviews but was highly regarded for the features I was looking for--with a nightlight, simple to operate and clean, not heavy, quiet.

The water here is very soft, which should mean less of a cleaning and maintenance problem for the humidifier.

I just tried it out for a couple of hours and was amazed at how much easier it is to breathe now. My voice isn't so hoarse any more, for the first time in years.

It looks as if many people use it only at night, and that may work well for me as this place is quite small.

I'm not sure why the manual says not to put it on a metal surface. It's on a metal surface now because it's not supposed to be on a wood surface (or a towel or mat), and that was the only other option. I'm going to try to find out what the issue is about metal surfaces. It also can't be on the floor.

But I like its light weight, its ease of filling, and the way the mist flow can be directed. It's just a very fine, somewhat cool cloud of mist.

[Parsi]

I'm guessing the warning about putting it on metal is to avoid accidental electrocution. No wood, no towel, no mat? What's left? Ceramic tile? If on the floor might be run into and knocked over.

[agate]

I was just wondering about you, Parsi--good to "see" you!

I called the company (Crane) and asked about the metal. They said they just put that in their instructions to be extra careful and said that it was to prevent possible damage to the metal.

I decided that a piece of cardboard on top of a metal surface might be OK, and so that's what I'm doing.

So far, I'm very pleased with the humidifier. This one is simple enough for even me not to goof up too badly.

[agate]

Just an update on this.

I'm still very happy with this humidifier. I wake up only once or twice a night now but it's not mouth dryness that is waking me up.

Sometimes a drop of water is clinging to the exterior of the humdifier when I bring it to its location after filling it, and that might spill on any surface I put it on. I'm still putting it on a metal cabinet with a cardboard under it to take care of the little spills.

I fill it using a funnel because the water goes in with less spilling but I have to do this only once a day. The humidifier keeps itself going nicely all night. I'd say it lasts for about 8-10 hours, and then it handily turns itself off (when the water is used up).

What I especially like about it is its light. It has an "On" light but with a mere tap of the finger you can change that to a very nice (blue) nightlight.

I'm so impressed at how much humidifiers have improved since I last used one, which was in the late 1960s, when they were huge clunky things on wheels that had a large rotating belt inside. Cleaning the belt and the inside of the humidifier wasn't easy but had to be done often to prevent mold.