How Close Should A Humidifier Be To Your Bed?

Humidifiers promote comfort. They add moisture to the air preventing dryness that can irritate your skin, eyes, lips, and throat. Not only are they a classy addition to your home, but they are also very healthy.

However, can you place a humidifier in any given space in your bedroom? Or should it be at a specific place?

Deciding where you should put your humidifier can be confusing, which is why this article will tell you where you should put your humidifier, its placements, and how close it should be to your bed.

Where to Put a Humidifier In Your Bedroom?

There’s no right place for you to place a humidifier in your bedroom, but ideally, it should be kept at least a few feet away from your bed at all times. With that being said, people who suffer from congestion or sinus issues can keep it closer to bed but not less than 3 feet away. This is why it’s important to find the purpose of using the appliance.

For example, warm-mist humidifiers can be extremely dangerous if placed too close to the bed. Their mechanism relies on boiling water therefore you can guess how easily accidents can happen when the appliance is within easy reach. It applies also applies to humidifier placement in nurseries.

You should also keep in mind the size of the humidifier. Larger and more powerful humidifiers produce more mist while compact ones do not create as much. So placing it too close to your bed when the humidity level in the room is already pretty high can be harmful to your health.

Night-time Placement

While sleeping, it’s better to have the humidifier located in a place where the mist can be distributed evenly. If the model of humidifier you have creates a strong mist, you should keep it at a good distance from your bed as it may irritate your nose and throat.

Plus, a fluctuation in body temperature may occur throughout the night so having a humidifier too close to you can be potentially harmful to your health.

One feature that plays a huge role in determining where to place the humidifier at nighttime is the sound it makes while operating. The majority of the humidifiers you’ll come across are extremely quiet so you’ll most likely not be disturbed if it’s placed at a distance however that’s not the case for all.

However, if you are a light sleeper, you may want to put the humidifier far away from your bed as the minimal sounds created by the appliance can be bothersome too. On the other hand, heavy sleepers don’t need to worry about the sound.

Daytime Placement

A humidifier should not be placed under direct sunlight in any circumstance. Therefore, even if you keep the appliance near a window at night, ensure you put it away after dawn. If a humidifier comes in contact with direct sunlight it will promote the growth of bacteria, and before you know it your appliance will be too spoiled to even use.

Also, you must clean the humidifier occasionally using a mixture of water and vinegar. The duration between cleaning can be extended if you use distilled water to fill up the humidifier.

How Close Should A Humidifier Be To Your Bed?

To avoid direct contact with excessive moisture and for equal moisture distribution around your room, place your humidifier at least 3 feet from where your bed is.

There is also the question of how far the humidifier should be from your bed; the answer is not too far away. If you keep it way too far, the mist might not reach your bed when you’re sleeping and provide you the comfort you need. If you decide to put it way too far from your bed, remember to turn it on an adequate amount of time before bedtime.

How Close To A Humidifier Should You Sleep?

As mentioned above, a distance of at least 3 feet should be maintained from your humidifier to your bed. As long as you’re maintaining this, you should be okay to sleep next to a humidifier.

Is It Bad To Sleep Next To A Humidifier?

No, it is not bad at all to sleep next to a humidifier. Humidifiers are meant to provide comfort to you. Sleeping next to a humidifier is healthy because of the moisture it provides.

As long as the safety distance is maintained, there is no issue with sleeping next to a humidifier.

Should The Humidifier Be Kept On A Table Or On The Bedroom Floor?

Ideally, a humidifier should be placed at least 2 feet above the floor. Therefore a suitable spot would be on a sturdy table. You must place it carefully to avoid any possible accidents if someone tips it over. Also, it’s better if you put a protective material below the humidifier which will come in handy when you’re transferring water into and out of the appliance, and there’s spillage.

With that being said, some large humidifiers (at least 2 feet in height) can be placed on the floor. Usually, they are designed with wheels, which can easily indicate that you can place the appliance on the floor.

The decision of placement of a humidifier on a table or the floor also depends on its type. In the case of ultrasonic humidifiers, an accumulation of mist droplets can occur on the floor, which is why they should be placed on a piece of furniture. On the other hand, evaporative humidifiers can be placed on the floor as they do not leave behind water droplets.

Tips To Determine the Placement of a Humidifier in Bedroom

• Measure the humidity level in your room using a hygrometer. The humidifier should not be used if the reading is more than 40 % already.
• Depending on the height of the humidifier you should place it either on the table (if it’s compact) or on the floor (if it’s above 2 feet).
• A humidifier should only be placed on non-metallic surfaces. Also, avoid putting them on wooden furniture as moisture can damage them. To protect them you should use a water-resistant cover.
• Do not put the humidifier in a place where it is exposed to sunlight.
• To get the maximum benefits, putting the humidifier in the center of the room would be ideal.

Bedroom Placement of Humidifier Depending On Its Type

Now, let’s talk about how you should place your humidifier based on the humidifier type you have.

Evaporative Humidifier

The mechanism of evaporative humidifiers depends on air. This is why the best place to put them is near a fan. These types of humidifiers are designed to only increase the humidity in a room up to a certain level. So, while it maintains a standard humidity level, its effectiveness can be increased when exposed to air.

Warm-Mist Humidifier

Warm-mist humidifiers are suitable for people who are prone to allergies, flu, and colds. The appliance uses boiling water to produce warm mist that helps with congestion. Due to the use of hot water, it can be extremely risky to put it in a place where you’re bound to tip it off. So, avoid keeping close to the bed, especially when you’re sleeping. Instead, you can keep it on top of a table or desk.

Cool-Mist Humidifier

These are the safest types of humidifiers as they produce cold mist. Therefore, you can place it close to your bed even when you’re sleeping to obtain the maximum benefits.

Benefits of Placing a Humidifier in Your Bedroom

During summer, running the air conditioner for an extended period can reduce the moisture in the air significantly while winters do a brilliant job of doing the same without the help of any system.

This leads to dryness in the skin, eyes, throat, and lungs. Placing a humidifier in your bedroom can improve your sleep to a great extent, apart from the obvious benefits mentioned below.

Keeps the Skin and Hair Moist

Depending on the season, any heating or cooling system can dry out your hair and skin leading to itchiness and flakiness. In that case, a humidifier does an excellent job of retaining moisture in the air. So, you’ll be free of cracked skin and dull hair if you place a humidifier in your bedroom.

Reduces Snoring

When the air is dry, your airway is not lubricated enough to breathe with ease when you’re asleep. This can cause your horrible snoring habits to get worse. When a humidifier is placed in your bedroom, it will help clear up the airways by adding moisture, reducing your snoring significantly. e are now researching the best humidifiers for snoring.

Prevents Influenza

According to a study on the Effect of high humidity on influenza, a humidity level above 40% can significantly reduce the risk of influenza. The study focuses on how increasing humidity in the air can successfully alleviate virus particles.

It Helps To Release Trapped Phlegm

Dryness in the air can cause an unproductive cough. When you’re subjected to high levels of humidity with the help of a humidifier, the added moisture in your airways can release trapped phlegm leading to a productive cough.

Should You Run The Humidifier All Night?

Running a humidifier throughout the night will leave your body moisturized, and you’ll wake up with unwrinkled lips and smooth skin. This is what a lot of people prefer during the colder, drier months of the year. Although a humidifier can be run all night, it depends on the person who’s using it.

For some people, high levels of humidity can be detrimental to health rather than improving it. If you believe an excessive humidity level can cause discomfort, you should start by running it only 2 to 3 hours a night and see how you feel. To sum it up, the run time of the appliance varies from user to user.

Good Humidifier for Sleeping?

There are a plethora of humidifiers in the market that focuses on respiratory benefits, room size, cool/warm mist, and more. But if there’s one best humidifier that will be beneficial for everyone, especially if you prioritize sleeping, it is the Honeywell HCM350W Humidifier.  It’s an amazing option for first-time users as well since it’s easy to clean, fill, and carry.

With just three speed settings, this humidifier can kill up to 99.9% of bacteria, viruses, and mold. At the low setting, it will humidify a mid-sized room perfectly. With regular use of this humidifier, you’ll be able to witness congestion relief and, of course, better sleep. You can run this humidifier for 24 hours without worrying about the device’s performance.

Plus, it is not harmful to your furniture even if it’s placed in proximity. The appliance has a large tank handle, so you easily transport it wherever you need it in an increased air moisture level. Overall, it’s the best humidifier for a good night’s sleep.

A budget alternative and an affordable humidifier you can use in your bedroom is the Vicks Drop Shape humidifier.

Final Words

The correct humidifier placement is the key to your comfort as well as the utmost performance of the appliance. The closest you should keep a humidifier to your bed is 3 feet away.

Maintaining this distance while placing your humidifier near your bed will ensure healthy sleep. Also, since a humidifier being too close to soft furnishings or electronics can damage them, put them at a proper distance. As long as your placement is correct, you won’t have any worries about your humidifier.