Can essential oils be added to a humidifier? Instrument operation rules

Do you want to fill your home space with healthy scents? Do you think you can add essential oils to your humidifier or do you need two different devices? Agree that buying several devices is expensive, and you need a place to store this arsenal.

When the instructions for the humidifier do not contain clear instructions on the use of aromatic additives, do not experiment. This is hazardous to health and may damage the device.

We'll help you understand the types of humidifiers that combine two useful functions in one device. We will guide you in the variety of essential oils. Well, if for some reason you do not want to buy a finished product, then we will show you how to make it yourself.

Studying the instructions for the device

Not every humidifier can be added with essential oil. If you have already purchased such a device, and the idea with aromatization has come up only now, do not rush to implement it immediately.

Because the device must contain this characteristic of the simultaneous use of both water and oil. The instructions for the humidifier prescribe the correct filling with these two different liquid components.

If you are still planning a purchase and are busy model selection, pay attention to the possibility of using the aromatization function in the device. Ask your dealer which medicinal oils can be added to which parts of the humidifier without affecting the operation of the device.

So, we study the instructions:

• It is written that you can add oil to the water tank. This means that the device is both a humidifier and a fragrance. Together with the steam, essential oil will come out of it, filling the room with a unique smell.
• The design contains a special hole with a filter, into which oil is dripped. This model should not be considered as a full-fledged flavoring agent. The scent of ether will only be felt in the immediate vicinity of the humidifier.
• The instruction does not contain permission or indicates a direct prohibition on the use of essential oils in the humidifier. You should not experiment with such a device, it can quickly fail.

A humidifier with a diffuser evaporates moisture while simultaneously filling the air with phytoncides of oils. The proportions that are not indicated in the instructions for the device can be selected independently according to a simple formula - for 5 square meters of the area of ​​the room, 2 drops of mono-oil or an oil mixture.

Optimal home microclimate conditions

It is not only a certain temperature that helps to create comfort in the house, provision of standard humidity, but also a fragrant, serene atmosphere. For example, we associate essential oils with the smell of pine needles and citrus fruits with a festive, upbeat New Year's mood.

Rose oil, reminiscent of my mother's perfume, causes a state of calmness, love, protection. Is it worth buying a humidifier just for the scent? It may well be that the air in your house is already comfortable enough.

Checking technical parameters

You can measure humidity with a device called a moisture meter or hygrometer. It provides humidity control and helps you navigate a rational humidifier schedule.

You can measure the moisture level without instruments using a simple method. Fill a clear glass cup halfway with water and refrigerate.

When the water temperature drops enough, to about +2^OC, take out the glass. In a place far from radiators or other heat sources in the room, observe the top of the glass for 5 minutes.

The output will be as follows:

• The air humidity is average, if after 5 minutes the walls of the glass are still fogged up;
• The air is dry if the surface of the glass is fogged up at first and then dried out;
• With high humidity, rivulets of condensate water will appear on the glass.

A healthy microclimate has a humidity index of 40-60%. Perhaps you do not feel particularly dry, you just want to fill your apartment or house with pleasant smells. If the humidity parameters in your home are already at or above the permitted level, you can use scent alternative devices.

Essential oils are sprayed here using special diffusers, these include atomizers, nebulizers. Remember when buying that oil is contraindicated for heating, which is used in some models of sprayers.

What is the threat of low moisture levels?

Suspicions of increased dryness were confirmed, which means that the air must be humidified. Because breathing dehydrated air is dangerous. It reduces immunity, promotes the development of diseases such as sinusitis, sinusitis. Many essential oils just successfully resist the occurrence of these diseases.

Dry air is also harmful to children. The optimal level for them, according to the authoritative doctor E.O. Komarovsky, is 50-70%. In adults, low humidity causes headaches and skin aging. Damages overdrying of wooden furniture, plants, books, musical instruments.

Dangers of waterlogged air

The other extreme is also fraught with trouble. Overdoing it with moisture will not cause the best sensations, but also illness and discomfort from dampness.

Increase humidity:

• Insufficient ventilation, infrequent ventilation;
• Long-term boiling, drying of things in the room;
• Water tanks, aquariums, decorative fountains.

With high humidity, people are allergic to fungi and mold. Fight it by airing, get rid of plants that give off moisture in large quantities. For example, such as hibiscus, sparmania (house linden), ficus, cyperus, nephrolepis (indoor fern), dracaena.

For air saturated with moisture, climatic devices of the opposite design are used, which are called air dryers. These devices do not emit, but absorb moisture in the room.

How to choose a humidifier?

There are three main types of devices on the market. The most popular ultrasonic ones, with a large margin behind them are traditional and very rarely come across models with a steam principle of operation. Among these species, there are dozens of designs with flavoring and many other useful functions.

For example, with ionization, self-cleaning, built-in light, remote control, automation and alarm.

Performance is an important metric. Based on this characteristic, you can easily calculate the volume of evaporated water. For example, a 3-liter tank that consumes 0.4 liters per hour will work without refueling for 8 hours.

This is not much, it may not even be enough for sleep. The developers always indicate the area of ​​humidification, noise level. Control is possible from the instrument panel, remote control and using a smartphone.

You need to choose a device very carefully so as not to face inconvenient ergonomics when adding water or the lack of steam supply settings. Convenient to use humidifying device, which is equipped with a special automatic on and off.

It has a built-in hygrostat that controls the level of humidity in the room. Such a humidifier operates within a given range of technical parameters.

Moisture probes can be purchased and installed separately. This will make the adjustment even more accurate, because they will show the level in the farthest corner of the room, and not next to the device, like built-in ones.

Why do we need pleasant aromas?

Smells play an important role in a person's emotional life. Essential oil molecules enter the nose when inhaled along with the air and vapor from the humidifier.

Olfactory receptors instantly transmit information to an area of ​​the brain called the hippocampus. It is this department that is also responsible for emotions and memory. Therefore, smells return us to the past in a split second.

We come across scent marketing quite often in life. The smell of freshly baked bread in a coffee shop, the freshness and cleanliness of the hotel, the smell of an expensive clothing store - all these are just the right aromatic tricks that increase profits by up to 15%.

Realtors, when showing long-empty apartments, in which a specific unpleasant smell of "undead" appears, also use this simple technique. They fill the premises with the smells of vanilla coffee and sales increase. This is how the proper use of a regular essential oil moisturizer helps a business.

In everyday life, such memorable smells can be made as a kind of psychological "anchors". Send them not to past memories, but to future ones.

For example, if a beloved granny is constantly charged with energy, cheerfulness, relieves anxiety with the help essential oil of orange and a steam device, then the smell in the grandmother's apartment will be etched into the memory child. In adulthood, the familiar citrus signal will bring a person back to childhood to strong, iridescent emotions.

What essential oils should I use?

Plant extracts are great for helping to restore physical fitness, improve mental health.

When choosing the types of aromatic oils for your home air humidifier, you should think carefully about which one to choose from the many options offered. So that the benefits are obvious both for people and for living quarters.

For relaxation, good mood

Essential oils have many positive properties, for example, they accelerate the elimination of carcinogens from the body. Contained in some species, substances such as antioxidants help slow down aging.

It is not only in special medical offices that you can use procedures with the influence of essential oils and air humidifier vapors. It is not difficult to master the devices for home relaxation or activity enhancement.

Depending on your goal, psychotherapists advise using:

• Against anxiety, stress - geranium, chamomile, incense, bergamot, citrus fruits, which have a calming effect on the nervous system;
• For apathy, depressive states - lavender, orange, sandalwood, basil, which improve emotional mood;
• To improve memory and concentration of attention - spruce, pine, black pepper, marigolds, orange, energizing, adjusting to the working rhythm;
• Aphrodisiacs for sensuality - patchouli, musk, ylang-ylang, sandalwood, increasing attraction, excitement;
• To activate brain activity - bergamot, which increases creative perception, extraordinary abilities.

All of the listed fragrances need to be filled in the space at the appropriate time of the day. Improving sleep - at night, invigorating - in the morning, and so on. The exposure time is selected individually, but not more than one and a half hours.

Health support, healing goals

Popular plant extracts will help relieve you of sinusitis, runny nose, and cough. Phytoncides of oils destroy viruses, antioxidants stimulate hair growth, strengthen the immune system.

Essential oils added to the air humidifier enter the human bloodstream. That is why their effects show a very fast healing effect.

Healthcare professionals recommend:

• With difficulty breathing - rosemary, conifers, cloves, globular eucalyptus, sage, anise, mint help with coughing, stimulate the ligaments;
• In the prevention of viral diseases - thyme, tea tree, yarrow, lemon slow down the spread of infection, fight microbes;
• To improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal tract), the cardiovascular system - orange, chamomile, juniper normalizes blood pressure;
• For headaches - lemon, lavender, mint, basil help with migraines, relieve spasms.

You do not need to mix everything in a row, gradually study the effect on your body. Listen to your feelings, if the smell is unpleasant for you, refuse such oil. Because there is nothing more subjective, individual, like the perception of a scent.

Improving the ecology of housing

Essential oils are not only used for prevention and treatment. They are wonderful natural antiseptics that work well for disinfecting air, home surfaces and personal belongings.

Oils cope with protection against mold and mildew due to their bactericidal properties.

You can improve the atmosphere as follows:

• a mixture of tea tree and eucalyptus will help fight mold;
• insects will be scared away by coconut oil, citronella, eucalyptus, lemongrass;
• tea tree mixed with lemon will destroy pathogenic microorganisms;
• fir or cedar wood creates a bright fireplace scent in the room.

Spraying a mixture of tea tree and lemon in a sports locker room is the best disinfectant for uniforms, shoes, and other special equipment.

The reverse side of the fragrant medal

Harmful consequences arise from excessive enthusiasm for the moisturizer-fragrance. For example, you know very well what to add to a humidifier when treating a cold, which oil is most effective. But you absolutely do not think about the quantity, and an overdose should not be underestimated.

For certain conditions and chronic diseases, it is generally better not to know about essential oils.

So, without the permission of a doctor, you cannot experiment with aromatherapy:

• pregnant women;
• nursing mothers;
• small children;
• people with allergies.

Do not use fragrances for people with kidney disease, any stage of asthma, thyroid dysfunction, epilepsy, severe mental disorders. Essential oils are contraindicated in a painful condition accompanied by high fever.

Proper care and storage of devices

The humidifier must be maintained constantly, even with a rarely used steam or ultrasound machine deep clean every 2-3 weeks. In case of using essential oil, perform the care procedures in the following order:

Daily cleaning after use

Switch off the device, unplug the power cord from the mains, pour out the rest of the water and oil solution. Clean the parts of the humidifier with hot soapy water.

Use a brush when cleaning the reservoir from plaque, oil stains. Rinse with running tap water, dry all parts.

Be careful not to let moisture get on the electric motor and other working elements of the device. For subsequent use, fill a completely dry moisturizer with an essential oil aqueous solution.

Weekly cleaning and disinfection

After the soapy solution, treat the sides of the tank with diluted vinegar. Then rinse under running water. Follow all other daily cleaning procedures in the normal sequence.

Perform while using a moisturizer to treat with essential oils. Open the windows before starting disinfection. You can use half a glass of bleach for 4 liters of water. Pour the resulting solution into the tank and turn on the device.

Turn off the humidifier as soon as steam starts to evolve. After 3-5 minutes, pour out the disinfectant, rinse the reservoir. Then change the water several times and turn on the device for 5-10 minutes. Stop processing after the bleach smell disappears.

If the instruction prohibits the use of bleach, replace it with hydrogen peroxide to disinfect the humidifier.

Special attention is required to control the quality of the essential oil in the air humidifier, which is used to treat a child, and to replace it in a timely manner. Keep an eye on the expiration date, store the product in a cool dark place, close the container tightly.

How to make it yourself?

You can humidify and aromatize the air without any devices at all. It is enough to wet a towel, drip essential oil and hang it near the radiator. For "automation", one end of the towel can be dipped into a container of water.

The easiest way to make a primitive humidifier is with the omnipotent DIY plastic tool. Fill the bottle with water, drip the fragrance and place near the battery.

Manufacturing designs based on industrial designs will require tools and electrical parts. Connecting water and electricity in a homemade device is not the safest correct way. Only masters with sufficient experience can engage in such experiments.

The scheme of a homemade ultrasonic humidifier is a radiator lowered into a container of water. The produced cold steam is pushed out of the container by the fan.

The emitter and the fan are connected to the 220 V network through the power supply. The polarity "+" and "-" of the circuit elements must be observed at the terminals. A special float mechanism holds the emitter on the water.

Drop the essential oil inside the vessel, turn on the properly assembled device and enjoy the scent. For those who are not confident in their skills, it is better to purchase a ready-made device. The average market price of an ultrasonic humidifier with a fragrance is 2-3 thousand rubles.

The best models that humidify the air in the room almost silently will acquaint next article, which is worth reading for those who are worried about the excessive sound of household appliances.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Instructions for using a fragrance humidifier:

An example of filling with aromatic oil and operating a humidifier:

An overview of the new Spa aroma humidifier. Box 1.0:

You can easily find a useful device and flavors on trading floors. The devices are easy to maintain and durable. Various models differ in price, design, work capabilities.

Scent humidifiers are available in abundance on e-commerce sites and on the shelves of conventional home appliance sales offices. Typically, branded essential oils suitable for each model are offered at the same time.

And what do you think, how useful are aromatized air humidification in the house, apartment? If you have experience of purchasing, using such devices, please share it in the comments. Place your opinion, questions, interesting advice in the form below.