Dry Indoor Air in Winter: 7 Signs You Need a Humidifier

When the heating goes on, indoor humidity drops, often well below the 40–60% range most people find comfortable. You might not notice the air itself, but you'll notice the effects.

7 signs your indoor air is too dry

1. You wake up with a dry throat or stuffy nose.
2. Your skin feels tight and itchy, even after moisturizing.
3. Your lips crack no matter how much lip balm you use.
4. You get static shocks from door handles and blankets.
5. Your eyes feel dry or tired by the end of the day.
6. Houseplants brown at the tips.
7. Wooden furniture or floors start to creak or gap.

How to add moisture back

Drying clothes indoors and leaving bowls of water near heaters help a little, but a humidifier is the simplest, most consistent fix. Place it in the room where you spend the most time, usually your bedroom or desk, and keep it a few feet from walls and electronics.

A humidifier you'll actually want on display

Most humidifiers are plain plastic boxes. Our Anti-Gravity Levitating Water Drop Humidifier adds cool mist to the air while water droplets appear to float upward under its light, so it doubles as a calming desk or bedside piece. It runs quietly, plugs into USB, and ships from within the USA in 1–3 business days.

Quick care tips

• Use clean, ideally distilled, water to avoid white dust.
• Empty and rinse the tank every couple of days.
• Don't over-humidify: if windows fog up, turn it down or off for a while.

Shop the Anti-Gravity Humidifier →