When the weather gets dry, more and more people are turning to air humidifiers for comfort. However, many people experience a peculiar sight the morning after leaving their humidifiers on all night: a misty atmosphere indoors.

In reality, improper use of humidifiers can also impact your health.

Running a humidifier for a short period can indeed boost indoor humidity, but prolonged use can lead to excessive moisture in the air. This can result in issues like moldy walls, damp clothing, and a chilly indoor environment.

If there are elderly individuals or children in your home, prolonged exposure to such conditions can increase the risk of illness. Therefore, it's not advisable to keep your humidifier running continuously for 24 hours a day.

1. Choose Pure or Distilled Water: Opt for purified or distilled water when filling your humidifier. While some may find it wasteful, using tap water in larger humidifiers can lead to the deposition of calcium and magnesium ions, causing a white powder to clog the micro-pores of the humidifier, reducing its efficiency.

Even more concerning, tap water can release chlorine, metal ions, and other particles into the air as it's sprayed, potentially causing harm when inhaled. Filtering tap water before use is also a suitable option.

2. Avoid Continuous Use: Humidifiers should not run all night or even all day. It's recommended to use a hygrometer to monitor indoor humidity levels. Ideal indoor humidity levels for human comfort should range between 20% and 50%.

If humidity surpasses 50%, it can be detrimental to the respiratory tract's mucous membrane and may even lead to pneumonia. Hence, it's crucial to turn off the humidifier promptly when humidity levels exceed 50%.

Sometimes, the indoor environment may appear foggy, which is often due to low indoor temperatures causing water vapor to condense. In such cases, simply opening a window for ventilation can disperse this "fog."

3. Use Caution with Additives: Adding vinegar or essential oils to your humidifier should be done cautiously. Some people believe that vinegar can disinfect and prevent colds, but putting vinegar in the humidifier can lead to pneumonia.

Atomized vinegar entering the respiratory tract can cause irritation and harm. Essential oils, on the other hand, can only change the air's scent and do not enhance air quality. If you have rhinitis or allergies, use them with care.

4. Regular Cleaning is Key: Follow the manufacturer's instructions for regular cleaning and maintenance of your humidifier.

Timely cleaning and water replacement can reduce the growth of bacteria. For pure humidifiers, it's essential to replace filters and evaporators regularly.

Ultrasonic humidifiers require attention to the cleanliness of the water tank and should be cleaned at least once a week to prevent scale buildup and the release of mold and other microorganisms into the air as aerosols.

Using a humidifier can greatly improve indoor comfort, but it's crucial to use it wisely and maintain it properly to ensure both your well-being and the longevity of the device.