How To Keep Your Apartment Humid? (7 Tips)

Transitioning from fall to winter can be tricky. With the humidity levels dropping significantly, the air gets drier, increasing the risks of problems like dry skin, static electricity shocks, and even sinus infections. Keeping your home humid is a great way to combat these issues and make the winter months more bearable.

Here are 7 tips on how to keep your apartment humid:

1. Add houseplants.
2. Dry your clothes on a drying rack.
3. Leave the bathroom door open when showering.
4. Place bowls of water around your home.
5. Invest in a humidifier.
6. Steam fabrics rather than iron them.
7. Boil water and cook more on the stovetop.

Keep reading to learn how these incredible and creative tips can help you achieve optimal humidity levels in your apartment this winter.

Effects of Low Humidity in Your Apartment

According to the EPA, the ideal humidity level for human health should be kept below 60%, ideally between 30-50%. When the humidity drops below 30%, it can have some severe effects on your health. Anything above 60% and you start to worry about mold growth, so it’s essential to find that happy medium.

Some of the effects of low humidity levels include:

• Dry, itchy skin and eyes
• Static electricity shocks
• Chapped and cracked lips
• Cold and flu symptoms
• Sinus infections
• Dry throat and nosebleeds
• Allergies acting up
• Dry, cracking furniture and floors

Read: How To Keep A House Humid In Winter?

Benefits of Maintaining Ideal Humidity Levels in Your Apartment

Dry air isn’t just a nuisance. It can be detrimental to your health. Conversely, maintaining ideal humidity levels comes with a whole host of benefits for your mind, body, and home, including:

• Prevention of illnesses and infections – Flu and common cold viruses transmit better in dry air. Maintaining an ideal humidity level helps prevent these illnesses and others like sore throats and headaches from spreading.
• Eases allergy and asthma symptoms – Dry air can exacerbate allergies and trigger asthma attacks. Increasing the humidity in your apartment is an excellent way to alleviate these symptoms. It also helps keep dust, pollutants, and allergens at bay, resulting in cleaner and healthier air.
• Soothes and hydrates skin – Dry air sucks the moisture out of your skin, leading to itchiness, cracks, and an unhealthy appearance. Maintaining your apartment’s humidity level helps keep your skin hydrated and looking its best.
• Proper care of furniture and flooring – Dry air can cause wood floors and furniture to crack and splinter. Maintaining ideal humidity levels helps preserve the life and beauty of these items.
• Elimination of static electricity – Dry air leads to electrostatic shocks, which can be annoying at best and dangerous at worst. Prevent static electricity by increasing the humidity in your home.

Read: Why Is My Humidifier Leaving White Dust?

7 Creative and Easy Ways To Keep Your Apartment Humid

Now that you know the importance of humidity and how it affects your health and your home, it’s time to learn how to increase the humidity levels in your apartment. These seven creative tips will help you achieve optimum humidity, making the winter months more bearable.

1. Add Houseplants to Your Home

Indoor plants add a touch of ambiance and nature to your apartment while also helping increase the humidity levels. They also come with a host of other benefits, including improved air quality, stress relief, and increased productivity.

Plants release water vapor into the air through a process called transpiration. As the moisture evaporates into the air through the leaves, it increases the humidity levels around the plant.

The soil for the indoor plants also holds moisture, which slowly evaporates into the air and further increases the humidity. 

Tropical plants with large leaves, such as palms, ferns, and philodendrons, are especially good at raising the humidity. Remember to water the plants regularly and mist their leaves to boost their humidity effects.

2. Dry Your Clothes on a Drying Rack

Hanging your clothes to dry inside your apartment is an excellent way to increase the humidity levels. It’s also more energy-efficient than using a clothes dryer, saving you money on your energy bills.

As your clothes dry, the water evaporates into the air, raising the humidity levels. While it may take a while for your clothes to dry this way, it will help increase the humidity in your home and lower your electricity bills. 

Additionally, drying racks are affordable and easy to store when not in use. Ensure your room is well ventilated to prevent mold and mildew from forming on your clothes.

Read: How To Keep Low Humidity In The House?

3. Leave the Bathroom Door Open

As you shower, steam and moisture are released into the air, increasing the humidity in your bathroom. Leaving the door open allows this humid air to circulate throughout your apartment, raising humidity levels.

You can use a stand-up fan to help circulate the air more quickly and evenly. Avoid using the built-in bathroom fan as it’s designed to suck the moist air out of the room rather than distribute it.

4. Place Bowls of Water Around Your Home

Another easy and efficient way to increase the humidity in your home is to place water bowls around the apartment. Fill bowls or pots with water and place them strategically around your home. 

Window sills, bookshelves, and radiators are ideal places to set up a water bowl.

The heat from the radiator or the sun will cause the water to evaporate, raising the humidity levels in your apartment. You can also add a few drops of essential oils to the water to enjoy a pleasant fragrance while boosting the humidity. 

Be cautious when lifting the bowls placed over radiators, as they can become quite hot to the extent of causing burns and injuries. Remember to replace the water regularly to avoid stagnation and foul odors.

Read: Can You Use Tap Water In The Humidifier?

5. Invest in a Humidifier

If you want a more immediate solution to your dry air problem, consider investing in a humidifier. A humidifier is an electrical appliance that releases water vapor into the air, raising the humidity levels in your home. They come in different sizes and types to suit the needs of any home. 

Here are the five main types of humidifiers:

• Central humidifiers: These are the largest and most expensive types of humidifiers. They are usually installed as part of your home’s HVAC system and control the humidity of your entire home.
• Evaporators: These humidifiers blow air over a wet wick, filter, or belt using a fan. The water is then evaporated into the air and released into the room, raising the humidity levels.
• Impellers: These humidifiers use a rotating disc to fling water droplets into the air. As the water droplets fall, they evaporate and release moisture into the air.
• Steam vaporizers: These rely on electricity to heat water and produce steam. The steam is then released into the air, raising the humidity levels. They can cause burns if misused, so they are not recommended for homes with young children or pets.
• Ultrasonic humidifiers: These produce a cool mist with ultrasonic vibrations. The mist is then released into the room, raising the humidity levels.

While humidifiers are an excellent way to increase the humidity in your home, it’s essential to clean them regularly to ensure efficiency. Additionally, be sure to use distilled water in your humidifier as tap water can contain minerals that can damage the unit.

6. Steam Fabrics Rather than Iron Them

Steaming your clothes is a great way to add moisture to the air without using a humidifier. A steamer uses hot water to produce steam, which provides an easy way to remove wrinkles from your clothes while increasing the humidity in your apartment.

Unlike a humidifier, portable steamers heat up in seconds and require no filters or wicks. You can also use a steamer to remove wrinkles from upholstery, drapes, and bedding. As the steam penetrates the fabric, it will release moisture into the air, raising the humidity levels in your apartment.

7. Boil Water and Cook More Often on the Stovetop

While a microwave is a convenient way to heat food, boiling water on the stovetop is a great way to add moisture to your apartment. Boiling water releases steam into the air, which will help to raise the humidity levels in your home.

Cooking on the stovetop is also a great way to add moisture to the air. Soup, stews, and pasta dishes can all help raise the humidity levels in your apartment. 

As you simmer, boil, or stir-fry your food, the water will evaporate into the air, increasing the humidity levels. Leave the pots uncovered to allow the maximum amount of water to evaporate.

Read: Why Dehumidifier Freezing Up?

Final Thoughts

Keeping your apartment humid offers a slew of benefits for your health, comfort, and overall well-being. Adding indoor houseplants, drying your clothes inside using a drying rack, and using a humidifier are great ways to increase the humidity in your home. 

Additionally, leave your bathroom door open when showering and cook more often on the stovetop to add moisture to the air. By following these tips, you can create a humid, comfortable, and healthy environment in your apartment.