How to Combat Dry Indoor Air

Chilly weather is upon us, which means more time spent indoors. Running the heater non-stop can severely reduce the amount of moisture in the air, leading to chapped skin, sore throats, and increased susceptibility to colds and flu. It also damages wood and leather goods, aging your living room furniture prematurely. Fight dry indoor air with the tips below... you'll be glad you did!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Lower the temperature. As mentioned above, leaving the furnace running can suck all the moisture out of a room. Lowering the temperature just a few degrees won't just leave some of that precious H2O in the air- it can save you some big bucks in energy costs.

2. Create an indoor jungle. Plants of all kinds give off some moisture through their leaves. Moisture evaporating from the potting soil also serves to humidify the air. Plants also replace carbon dioxide with oxygen and give a lively boost to any room. Group them together for the best result, and make sure they receive enough water and light to keep them healthy.

3. Make some soup. A pot simmering on the stove makes the whole house smell divine, and the steam it gives off has a significant humidifying effect. Don't like to cook? Achieve the same effect by tossing an orange peel and a stick of cinnamon into a pot, adding enough water to cover, and simmering on low. It smells like dessert, without all the calories!

4. Do laundry. My laundry room is always like a sauna on laundry day. Leave the door open to let the moisture circulate. Even better than running the dryer? Allowing clothes to dry on a line or on racks, so the evaporating water stays in the room instead of escaping through the exhaust hose.

5. Take a bath. Nothing takes the chill off like a tub of hot water. When you're done pruning up, let the water stay in the tub until it's cold. The warmth and evaporating water will take the crackle right out of the air. Be careful if you have young kids though- make sure the bathroom is blocked off so they can't fall in and drown. Or take your bath after they're in bed.

6. Run a humidifier. Especially important in bedrooms. The cool-mist ones are the safest if you have children or pets. Change the water daily so mold can't grow, and make sure it never runs dry.

7. Set shallow dishes of water in warm areas of your home- on top of the radiator, dryer, stove, and refrigerator. They'll add moisture to the air, but, if carefully placed, will still be unobtrusive.

8. If the air in your home is still too dry for your comfort, take heart. Winter will be over before you know it. In the meantime, keep your skin supple by using a rich lotion or moisturizing cream, and condition leather furniture regularly.