Can You Put Essential Oils In A Humidifier? – (With Pitfalls & Alternatives)

The short answer is YES. Technically it’s okay to spread the aroma everywhere if you already have a humidifier and make it more “useful”.

Although you can put essential oils in a humidifier, there are some other aspects that you should know. There are some negative sides to doing so and I think you should be aware of them.

Including talking about putting essential oils in humidifiers, I have also talked about what should you do to get the most out of this arrangement and some better alternatives.

You Can Put Essential Oil In A Humidifier But You Should Not

can you put essential oils in a humidifier

I know I said you can but let me explain why should not. Many people put essential oils into the water tank of the humidifier. Then the oil gets clogged on several parts of the humidifier and creates a thick layer and causes it to slow down.

Frequent use of essential oil in that area requires regular cleaning and maintenance of the humidifier. There’re also other reasons why putting essential oils into a humidifier may not be the right decision.

  • Most Humidifiers Don’t Have Any Timer

Absorbing essential oils is good for our body, but there’s a limit to it. As most humidifiers don’t have any timer and run non-stop, they disperse essential oils simultaneously as well. That’s why if we forget to turn off the humidifier, over absorption will happen, which will affect our health negatively.

  • Humidifiers Don’t Nebulize The Oils

Essential oils dispersed into air works best when its elements are broken into particles. But humidifiers are designed to work for only water, not oils. As a result, we cannot get many benefits by putting essential oils into a humidifier.

  • Warm Mist Humidifiers Damage The Properties Of Essential Oils

We’ve already mentioned that humidifiers can release warm moisture also. On that type of humidifier, there’s a boiling system that creates warm humidity. And if you put essential oil there, it’ll warm the oil too, and this boiling can damage the properties of essential oils. So you won’t get benefitted at all by absorbing oils.

Things To Ensure If You Put Essential Oils In Humidifiers

essential oils in humidifiers

I don’t personally recommend it but if you still want to put essential oils to a humidifier, you can. But this should not be a normal practice and I have explained why in the next section of this article.

An emergency situation may arise out of blue to disperse essential oil within the home, inside a particular room or confined area.

Besides, someone may feel sick or you need to relax from the huge workload, but there is no diffuser available near you. In such situations, you can go forward with this. But I recommend you to consider some facts as well.

And don’t forget to visit GotAbout Buying Guide, if you are willing to be updated latest information about home improvement, renovation, appliances, kitchen necessities, and many more to make your life easy and healthy!

  • Clean is MUST

You’ve to clean the humidifier almost every time after putting essential oils to avoid oil clogging. The oil leftover will damage or slow down the equipment.

  • Turn It Off

Turn off the humidifier at least after 15 minutes, as most of the humidifiers don’t have any timer option. And non-stop dispersion of oil will result in over absorption, which will affect your and other member’s health.

  • Not Too Much Oil At Once

Don’t use a huge amount of oil at once. Essential oils are usually expensive and come in little quantity. And they work better only if used on a minimum amount. Overuse will cost you more money as well as damage the humidifier.

  • Use Cool Mist Humidifier

Can you put essential oils in a cool mist humidifier? Yes, and it’s most ideal to do so. Among different types of humidifiers, use the cool mist one.

As I’ve already said, that warm mist humidifier has a boiling process that warms the essential oil. And it damages the natural benefits of the oil. Using a cool-mist humidifier will spare the essential oil from getting altered. And you’ll get the benefit you want.

Which Essential Can Be Used In A Humidifier?

essential oil for humidifier

Some best essential oils that work really well for both mental and physical health after putting on a humidifier. It changes the environment on a home with a refreshing feeling.

  • Lavender Oil works best for reducing stress, anxiety, tiredness or headaches, etc. It helps to calm our minds.
  • Rose Oil can change the environment of a home with some romantic feelings. Also, it has antibacterial properties, which reduces the growth of germs.
  • Tea Tree Oil is best when someone is suffering from cold or nasal are problems. The dispersion of this oil throughout the home helps to cure infections as it has both anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties.
  • Sandalwood Oil help to maintain mental agility as well as it increases the soothe of the environment.
  • Peppermint Oil works excellent for sinuses, headaches, and digestion. It also enhances the calmness of the brain.

Using Diffuser Instead of Putting Essential Oils In Humidifiers

Don’t get disheartened by knowing that humidifiers may not be an excellent option to put essential oils on. You can use a diffuser as an alternative.

A diffuser works almost the same as a humidifier. The significant difference is a diffuser is capable of breaking oil elements and convert it into a vapor through an advanced atomization process that can disperse evenly with the water moisture.

how to use reed diffuser

It also blows cold moisture on the air, so no chance of damaging the properties of essential oils. As a result, you can get both the humidity and the benefits of essential oil at the same time. Also, diffuser lets the particles of the essential oils to last longer in the air.

Diffusers are made with polypropylene, which means it’s both water and oil-proof. The problem we pointed for humidifiers that the oils may break or damage the plastic of the humidifier; it won’t happen with a diffuser.

A home is a place where we all try to find comfort and soothe. And to make our home calmer and welcoming, we try and use different things. For example, imagine the moment you enter your home, you get a warm feeling with a soft, nourishing fragrance.

Or you’re spending your holidays or weekends in a fresh smelled environment, feels fantastic, right? Yes, it is, and essential oils can quickly do it.

Essential oils are 100% organic and come with different flavors. It has many positive effects on both mental and physical well-being. But to spread the flavor of essential oils, many people wonder if it can be done through a humidifier?

Well, the answer is a bit tricky. But don’t worry, we’re going to clear it out and provide some fruitful information about how you can use essential oils and, most importantly the answer to the query of putting essential oil into a humidifier. Is it a wise decision? Or how much useful it’ll be?

A humidifier is an equipment which is used for increasing humidity or moisture on a specific range or area. Usually, people use it in their homes in a particular room or to the whole unit.

It’s one kind of water tank and has a ventilation system on it. A humidifier increases the amount of moisture on the air by keeping out the dry air and helps to maintain a hydrated environment.

Lack of moisture causes many issues such as breathing problems, hampers peaceful sleep, irritation on the skin, eye, etc. It also damages the walls and generates cracks as the walls get dried up.

That’s why a humidifier is quite popular among places with a dry environment, and people use it to keep a refreshing and healthy atmosphere at their home.

Types Of Humidifiers With Essential Oils

There’re generally four types of humidifiers. Each has its distinct functions and feasibilities.

  1. Cool Mist

This type of humidifier delivers cool, invisible moisture into the air by pulling out the dry air through the ventilation system. It also takes out harmful elements floating on air, Cool Mist Humidifiers works well in broader areas and comfortable in arid weather.

  1. Warm Mist

This humidifier is the opposite of the cool mist one. It disperses a warm, soothing, and invisible moisture on the air, which gives the whole environment a cozy effect.

There’s a boiling function that provides warm moisture and traps existing pollutants. Warm Mist Humidifiers are really effective in cold environments.

  1. Vaporizers

This type of humidifier releases warm, soothing vapors in the air, and the ventilation system takes out the impurities from the air, just like other humidifiers. There’s a boiling function on the tank, which mainly produces the vaporizing moisture.

  1. Ultrasonic

Ultrasonic humidifiers are most popular among other humidifiers because of its low-maintenance and silence. It has a vibrator installed in the water tank, which breaks down the water molecules at an ultrasonic speed and produces refreshing, pure, cool mist. It also disperses the moisture much faster than other humidifiers,

Bottom Line

As you can see you can put essential oils in a humidifier with some catches. Diffusing essential oils have a lot of benefits.

It helps to boost up the immunity system, keeps your body and mind relaxed after a long day, helps you to deal with insomnia or other sleeping problem, and of course, cleans up the air and changes the flavor of the environment.

But it’s necessary to use essential oils properly to get exactly what you want. That’s why before putting it on a humidifier, be sure of what you’re doing and how you’re doing.

Nowadays, modifies versions of humidifiers are available, which works as a diffuser. Although we’ll suggest you to use a good quality diffuser that’ll help you to enjoy the best result from essential oil as well as a properly moisture home.

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