My D received her PurMist handheld steamer for Christmas but also wants to get a small room humidifier. She is a mouth breather and finds the winter months really rough and would love some suggestions on personal experiences that work for MT’s. Thank you in advance!
I have a Crane personal ultrasonic cool mist that is small and works great. Only about 25 oz. No filters to change or clean either. I use distilled water in it but water from a filtered pitcher like Britta should work fine. I also use a dollar store funnel for easier filling. Target still has it on their website. It is the short, round one, not the tear drop one. On the Crane website it is Product ID: EE-5951. Target has it for less.
Any chance you have an international market nearby? Korean markets like H-Mart usually have small appliances including small humidifiers.
I just bought one at Aldi’s on a fluke. Saw it and thought we could try it for 12.99! It is small and you use a 16 oz bottled water which screws into unit for water supply.
We bought a CVS Health Cool Mist Humidifier; it’s both quiet and operates for a long time without needing to add water. It got the best small room review score on Consumer Reports, which is why we bought and we’ve been very pleased so far.
We just use it during the winter months; does anyone use these humidifiers for other seasons?
I recommend that all of my students and voice therapy patients sleep with a humidifier every night during all seasons, unless they have a pulmonary of other condition that makes this not problematic (which is not true of most people). The reason is that when you sleep, you’re almost always inhaling dry air for all of your sleeping hours (esp. if you have heat or a/c on). Inhaling the water vapor from a humidifier helps while you sleep your vocal folds be much less dry in the morning than they would be otherwise, which helps your voice be ready for optimal functioning. Even if your house has internal humidification, I still recommend that all singers sleep with a humidifier. And FOR SURE you need a humidifier to sleep with during Unifieds. I take my big one to Chicago - it’s a pain to travel, but I use my voice so much during Unifieds and it’s soooo dry in Chicago in the winter that it’s worth the hassle!
@CoachC what are your thoughts about a CPAP or APAP and how that might effect/help/improve or replace the need for humidifiers
That’s a great question. I’ve never known a performer who needed a CPAP (and I don’t know anyone who’s used APAP, since most insurance companies won’t fund that unless CPAP fails to help). My only experience with CPAP has been with patients who are pretty ill, so they had much lower voice quality needs than performers do. I know you have to be extra, extra careful in cleaning CPAP humidifiers in order to prevent infection. Also, you have to make sure the CPAP humidifier doesn’t run out of water during the night, or the person will wake up with a super-dry throat. If a singer must have a CPAP, then get the best model with humidifier you can afford and pay strict attention to the operation and maintenance to optimize the warm moisture being inhaled. Dry mouth, throat, or nose can trigger the body’s natural production of secretion - aka mucus - the opposite of what we want!
My D has started to use a humidifier. She seems to sleep better through the night, but she also complains that she wakes up congested and wants to stop using the humidifier now because of this correlation.
Is the humidifier working for her (as it should) and she should just decongest further despite not liking the “result”? Or should she reduce the amount of steam that it is emitted and that will result in better mornings for her? Does anyone have thoughts or suggestions on waking up with congestion after using a humidifier? Is this good, bad or indifferent for her? Does her congestion have nothing to do with the humidifier and she is just attributing a causal relationship where none exists?
Thanks for your input.
My daughter started using a humidifier during the winter break, and she had the same issue. I’m interested to know if this is common and part of the process!
@Twelfthman What type of water is she using? Tap water can put minerals in the air which you breath in. It often shows as a white film on walls and other items closest to the humidifier. Distilled water or water from a filtering pitcher such as britta is best since some of minerals are removed.
Thanks. She has used cold tap water. We will ask her to try filtered water.
I would definitely use distilled water but also make sure the humidifier isn’t in a warm place (like near a heater) which could encourage mold growth because breathing moldy humid air all night isn’t a health benefit. 
Personally, I would never insist on anyone using a humidifier if it made them feel bad in any way. I grew up using a humidifier all winter due to chronic bonchitis and I loved my humidifier because it made me breathe so much easier. If the singer feels worse after sleeping with it on, listen to them!
Humidifiers: Air moisture eases skin, breathing symptoms - Mayo Clinic A good article.
The humidifier is not near a heater. Not insisting on use but many professionals endorse it, so just trying to see if we are using it correctly and if the outcomes are expected / working.
Happy to see this thread, as D has been complaining about throat issues the last few weeks (partly due to a cold) and tends to attack the problem with a lot of Ricola throat drops, but we haven’t tried a humidifier. Will definitely check out some of the recommendations above!
Twelfthman, one thought on the congestion that may be totally off-base–my D has a dust allergy that’s definitely worse in the winter when she spends more time indoors and in her room. That tends to make her congested, particularly at night. I don’t know if a humidifier would help with indoor allergies or make them worse?
@toystorymom Two of my kids also have dust allergy. We were advised by allergist to buy an inexpensive digital hygrometer and try to keep humidity at roughly 55% – I think he said that much above 60% can cause dust mite growth issues (and mold too I think, but I didn’t pay as much attention to that since she doesn’t have mold allergy).
I’d be interested to know if voice specialists like @CoachC have any advice on optimal humidity levels.
@Twelfthman - Does your D have any allergies? My D has pretty significant allergies AND asthma. Her allergist specifically said NO humidifiers for her. She can steam with a personal steamer, but not use a humidifier as it would exacerbate her conditions. So if your D has a tendency toward allergy- could be the problem?
@toystorymom @ctaylors6 @stagedoormama You’ve definitely hit on something.
My D does have a dust / dust mite allergy.
@stagedoormama, how does your D deal with dry air? Does she just stick with a personal steamer? Anything else?
Does anyone know what the recommended humidity level is for anyone with allergies to dust / dust mites (~55%, <50%, XY%)? In these instances, are there alternate solutions or steps one can take to “combat” dry air besides the personal steamer?
@toystorymom, I will be interested to learn if your D finds that a humidifier helps or not but read what was written after your post
@ctaylors6 gives great advice! The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology gives identical advice (and the same advice others have had in this thread about distilled water). Google their article on “Humidifiers and Indoor Allergies”.