Humidifiers help restore moisture in the air in a dry environment. But if your place is notorious for hard water, you should invest in the best humidifier without white dust.
If used well, humidifiers can help soothe bleeding noses and respiratory problems. However, humidifiers can release white dust when loaded with hard water.
Such dust will cling to surfaces and potentially trigger irritations. Infants and those suffering from asthma are the most vulnerable when exposed to this dust.
Aside from that, the white dust from humidifiers will add up to the dirt in your home. This means you have to vacuum and wipe surfaces more often than usual.
Instead of going through this hassle, you can purchase a humidifier designed not to leave any white dust or residue. These units have a filtration system inside that will help remove the minerals from the water so it doesn’t get diffused.
Below, I reviewed three of the best-selling humidifiers with this feature. See which one suits your budget and needs:
| HUMIDIFIER | BRAND | EXPERT RATING | CHECK PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Our Top Pick! Vicks Starry Night Humidifier With Filter |  | Check Price |
 | Honeywell Humidifier With Wicking Filter |  | Check Price |
 | Vornado EV100 Evaporative Humidifier |  | Check Price |
Best Humidifier Without White Dust – Our Top 3 Picks!
OUR #1 CHOICE
OUR TOP PICK: Vicks Starry Night Cool Mist Humidifier With Filter
Product Name: Vicks Starry Night Cool Mist Humidifier With Filter
Product Description: If you’re looking for the best humidifier without white dust, you should consider the Vicks Starry Night Cool Mist Humidifier. This is equipped with a Protec filter that removes minerals from the water, so it doesn’t get diffused into the air. Aside from that, this humidifier has a wide tank opening for easy refilling. You can also adjust the mist settings to achieve the comfort level you prefer. Moreover, the Vicks Starry Night Humidifier is compatible with Vicks VapoPads. You’ll get one free on the package to soothe your child’s cough and colds. Another thing I really like about this humidifier is the integrated projector. It will transform your child’s dark ceiling into a starry night sky, with 7 changing colors. You can also use this feature as lighting for your room. Don’t worry because you can turn off the light if you find it disturbing.
Offer price: $$$
Availability: InStock
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Capacity
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Adjustability
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Design
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Value for Money
Overall
Summary
This has a 1-gallon capacity and can operate for 24 hours straight. There’s no need to refill repeatedly in the middle of the night.
Overall, this humidifier will help soothe coughing and colds. It will also help a lot in reducing nose and skin dryness during winter. Also, many parents swear by this Vicks humidifier for their toddlers and babies.
The only downside I see on this humidifier is it leaks sometimes. It’s also bulky, but understandable due to its large capacity.
Also, the lighting of this humidifier is a little too bright, which can be disruptive to kids’ sleep. The good thing is that you can turn it off anytime.
Pros
- Large 1-gallon capacity
- Built-in lighting projector with 7 colors
- Compatible with VapoPads for a soothing effect
- Adjustable mist levels
- Equipped with Protec filter to remove minerals from water
- It comes with one free VapoPad
Cons
- The lighting is a bit too bright at night.
- It’s bulky and leaks may occur if you’re not careful.
RUNNERS-UP
Honeywell Cool Most Humidifier With Wicking FilterKit
Another one I recommend is the Honeywell Cool Mist Humidifier With Wicking Filter. The filter inside this humidifier helps reduce white dust formation if you’re using hard water.
This unit is designed for small to medium-sized rooms with its 0.8-gallon size. It can run for up to 18 hours in every refill as long as you use the low settings. For high settings, it will last for a couple of hours before the need to refill.
Aside from that, the Honeywell Cool Most Humidifier is 30% quieter compared to other evaporative units. You can also adjust the speed of this unit to suit your humidification needs.
I also like the break-resistant housing of this humidifier. The tank is also easy to fill, making it convenient for those who aren’t very techie.
Overall, this unit is suitable for all ages and in all rooms of your house. Just make sure that you keep it clean to avoid mold buildup. The filter also lasts longer than those found on other units, and replacements are easily available for purchase.
If you want a simple humidifier that gets the job done, this Honeywell unit will not disappoint. It’s also priced reasonably, which is already a steal for its size and features.
However, I just wish that this unit shuts off automatically. You have to turn it off manually, which is a little inconvenience that I can live with.
Also, you should only use this in small rooms. Otherwise, it will take a long time for the unit to achieve ideal humidity. Other than that, I still think that this unit is right for the money.
Vornado EV100 Evaporative Humidifier
If you have the extra bucks, I highly recommend that you consider the Vornado EV100. This evaporative humidifier uses deep-pitched blades that pull large amounts of air. It also boasts a 360-degree air intake to ensure that the humid air gets circulated all over the room. This unit also sports Vornado’s Vortex for uniform humidification for rooms up to 300 sq. ft.
Aside from that, this humidifier has a 1-gallon capacity that will last for 24 hours for every refill. It has push-button controls so that you can choose between three fan settings and 6 output levels. With this, you can choose the humidification level that matches your needs.
I also like the intelligent humidification of EV100. It senses the humidity in your room and automatically adjusts circulation to reach the ideal level.
Moreover, this unit also has the SimpleTank system. It’s easy to remove, carry, and refill since it’s placed outside the humidifier itself.
This Vornado humidifier is also covered by a 5-year satisfaction guarantee. It provides protection for your purchase from a reputable brand known for its quality products.
If you wish to have a larger tank and double wick filters, you can upgrade to EV200. It’s rated for up to 700 sq. ft., but the price is also much higher.
As for the EV100, I wish that they could make it less noisy. The noise gets more prominent once you choose a specific target humidity level. Nevertheless, the noise remains tolerable if you choose the continuous setting.
How to choose the best humidifier without white dust
Humidifiers are very popular, and you can get one for a very small price. However, most of these cheap units don’t have any filter for hard water. So if you’re tired of wiping dust in your home, you should consider the following:
✔️Humidifier type
The first thing you have to consider is the type of humidifier you’re going to buy. In general, you’ll choose between an evaporator and an ultrasonic type.
An evaporator humidifier uses a fan to propel water molecules into the air. It speeds up the evaporation of the water to increase the humidity inside the room.
As the fan draws air, it pushes the water into a wick filter. This filter helps remove mineral contents of the water, and it also creates a mist, so the water is sprayed into the air.
On the other hand, ultrasonic humidifiers use vibrations to produce mist. Depending on the model you purchase, it can be cool or warm mist. Unlike evaporative types, ultrasonic humidifiers don’t use fans, so it’s quieter. However, most ultrasonic humidifiers often lack filters, which allows white dust to form on surfaces.
If you happen to prefer ultrasonic humidifiers, you should at least get an additional demineralization filter. This will trap mineral deposits into the water to avoid diffusing into the air.
So if you want the best humidifier without white dust, you should consider getting an evaporative type instead.
✔️Your room size
Another thing you should consider is the size of the room where you plan to use the humidifier. The bigger the room is, the more powerful your humidifier should be.
Most humidifiers nowadays are rated by square foot to ensure that it’s ideal for the size of your property. Usually, portable types are made to cover 25 to 1,000 sq. ft.
If you have a larger room to humidify, you can use multiple units or, better yet, invest in a whole-house system.
✔️Maintenance level
You should also factor in the maintenance needs of the humidifier you’re going to buy. Make sure that the filter is easy to replace and easy to come by.
Usually, humidifiers made for hard water will need additional maintenance due to the accumulated mineral deposits.
Many users add demineralization tablets into their humidifiers to reduce the production of white dust.
✔️Noise level
Humidifiers, especially evaporative ones, tend to have a higher noise level. This isn’t really a problem unless you’re using the unit in your nursery.
Overall, it’s a matter of preference. Just make sure that the unit isn’t too noisy for you to sleep.
✔️Price range
Lastly, you may want to consider the price range of the humidifier you’re going to buy. While price alone isn’t the sole indicator of quality, those that cost a little more tend to have better quality.
Also, premium humidifiers are made of quality materials and have a design that costs more to produce. So if you’re looking for a humidifier that will last long, you should consider shelling out a few more bucks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I prevent white dust in my humidifier?
A: If you don’t want your humidifier to produce a white dust, you should only use distilled water. Also, if your home has hard water, you should install a reliable water softener system. Aside from that, a demineralization cartridge installed into the humidifier will trap the minerals so it doesn’t get diffused into the air. However, not all humidifiers are compatible with demineralization cartridges.
Q: Why is the mist of my humidifier white?
A: A white mist from your humidifier may indicate that you used hard water. The white dust in the mist will soon settle on surfaces. It can also be inhaled, which can trigger respiratory irritation. It’s best to use distilled water if your humidifier doesn’t support demineralization cartridges.
Q: Do humidifiers remove dust?
A: Humidifiers don’t help remove dust or any particulates in your indoor air. It only diffuses moisture, and it’s not made with any filtration, except for those with demineralization filters. If you wish to remove dust in your home, you should use an air purifier or air scrubber instead.
Q: What kind of water do you use in a humidifier?
A: It’s always best to use distilled water in your humidifier to avoid white dust and mineral buildup. You can still use tap water, but make sure that you have a water softening system to remove the minerals. This is to prevent the production of white dust and mineral buildup on the humidifier itself.
Q: Is it okay to inhale the mist from a humidifier?
A: Inhaling the mist from a humidifier is safe as long as you use distilled water. Also, it’s safe to inhale the mist if your humidifier has a filter inside that prevents minerals from being diffused. Aside from that, it’s important to keep your humidifier clean to avoid the formation of molds, which are harmful to the lungs.
Final words
The best humidifier without white dust will save you from respiratory irritations. It will also reduce the dust that you have to clean inside your home. Despite that, you should still keep your humidifiers clean to avoid mold and mineral buildup. You should also pick one that matches the size of your room.
What do you think of these humidifiers? Share your thoughts below!
Home Air Quality is founded by Bernard K to provide information on Indoor Air Quality in Homes and enlighten people about what they need to know about creating and maintaining a comfortable and healthy home environment.
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