It's not just excessive humidity in living spaces that can have negative consequences. Too little humidity can also be harmful in the long term. Read here how you can increase the humidity.
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Especially in winter, the dry air from the heating often means that the humidity in the living spaces is too low. Low humidity is not quite as dramatic as too much humidity. In living spaces, for example, it can cause wood to warp in some places.
For us, indoor air that is too dry tends to be noticeable through dry skin and mucous membranes. This can cause itching and redness and even weaken the immune system. A dry cough can also be the result of too little humidity in the living room.
You can read here which air humidity is optimal for which living spaces and how you can increase it without fearing mold.
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What is the optimal humidity?
In general, 50% humidity with a room temperature of 20 degrees is ideal.
The recommended humidity level depends on what activities take place in a room. In the kitchen, where cooking is done and it tends to be warmer, higher humidity is tolerated than in the bedroom, where it is cooler and you mainly sleep.
In the table below we show what humidity (along with the recommended room temperature) is recommended for different rooms:
Space | optimal temperature | optimal humidity |
---|---|---|
Living room | 20 Grad | 40–60 % |
bedroom | 18 Grad | 40–60 % |
nursery | 22 Grad | 40–60 % |
Kitchen | 18 Grad | 50–60 % |
Bad | 23 Grad | 50–70 % |
Hallway | 18 Grad | 40–60 % |
Keller | 10–15 Grad | 50–65 % |
Measure humidity
Dry lips, a scratchy throat, or itchy skin are signs that the humidity in your home is too low. To be on the safe side, you can also get a hygrometer (here on Amazon*) increase.
The small device is aThermometer, theadditionally via a moisture meterhas. The interaction between room temperature and humidity is therefore taken into account.
Compare the measured value with our table. If the humidity is too low, you can increase it with these measures:
Increase humidity: 5 effective tips
1. Place houseplants
Houseplants absorb water through watering and then release it back into the air. Houseplants such as ivy, spider plants and golden fruit palms are particularly good for the indoor climate.
Reading tips:
2. Dry laundry in the apartment
Damp laundry is a simple and effective way to increase the humidity in the room. This works quickly and easily, especially in winter, when the humidity drops due to the heating air. Drying on a drying rack also saves a lot of electricity compared to a tumble dryer.
3. Set up bowls of water
Another super simple tip: distribute a few bowls of water on the windowsills. The heat from the heater and the sunlight causes the water to evaporate and release moisture into the air.
If you don't have space on the windowsill, you can also buy an evaporator (like this one from Amazon*), which can be hung on the heater. The principle is the same. Just remember to clean the container regularly.
4. Open the bathroom door after showering
Because a lot of water vapor is produced when you take a (warm) shower, you can use it straight away. After showering, leave the bathroom door open for a while until the moisture has dispersed throughout the apartment.
Because the humidity can escape from the bathroom, this method also prevents the formation of mold in the bathroom.
5. Electric humidifier
If these measures don't help, you can use a room humidifier (like this one from Amazon*) let it run. This constantly emits a fine mist and increases the humidity to a previously set value.
A plus point: If you like room scents, many humidifiers also allow you to add a few drops of essential oil. Important: When buying a room humidifier, make sure that it is suitable for your room size.
But be careful:When you increase the humidity, you can quickly go overboard. Make sure that the humidity remains within limits and check it daily with the hygrometer. If there is too much moisture in the air for a long time, it can cause mold.
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