I personally use the Enviracaire Warm Mist Humidifier. Here are the features:

 Humidifier features a dual germicidal process – ultraviolet light and vaporization – that kills up to 99.999% of boiling-resistant spores, bacteria and mold. Plus, this 3.5 gallon water capacity humidifier runs for 24 hours continuously without a refill. The mineral absorption pads minimize mineral build-up, and there is no white dust build-up in your room. Features a manual humidity level control with low to high output settings, a refill indicator light, a medicine cup accessory and a handle on lift-out tank

I do not run it all day, but I do turn it on at night when I go to bed. I’m not sure if it’s all in my head, but so far I have been healthy this season, with no hard boogers (again I’m sorry). I also find the sound of the mist extremely soothing. It’s almost like a white noise machine! Also, I have yet to use the medicine vapor feature, but I can imagine how that would be a comforting tool during those nights of congestion.

The Benefit Of Humidifiers:

1. Can relieve dry scratchy skin
2. Reduce susceptibility to infection by keeping the mucus membranes of your throat and nasal passages moist allowing the tiny hairs (cilia) in both to work at expelling foreign objects such as mold, pet dander and bacteria.
3. Can help relieve cold symptoms by making the air you breath moist, which helps keep your lungs more elastic.
4. Reduce static electricity, thus reducing the tiny shocks received from touching certain objects and other people.
5. Reduce nosebleeds, as the air you breathe is moist.

For all you mothers out there, humidifiers also help keep your children healthy. Especially for babies. Based on this article in Associated Content

To improve humidity levels in the home, the pediatrician’s recommendation to utilize a steam room humidifier is effective. In the winter, especially, the air inside and outside of our homes becomes excessively dry leading to dry skin and drying of the mucous membranes.  For a baby who is ill, the drying affect may further complicate the baby’s breathing capacity.   Such conditions may persist until a steam humidifier is utilized.

So my battle with dry flaky winter skin continues, but I really think the humidifier is a great tool to lessen the effects. Do you use one?

To find more things people love check out Things I Love Thursday over at The Diaper Diaries!