Increasing the humidity in your home helps eliminate the dry air that can irritate and inflame the passages in the nose and throat, and can relieve the discomfort of colds and the flu. Humidified air can be particularly helpful for people who suffer from asthma.

Remember that humidifiers need to be drained and cleaned frequently -- bacteria can multiply in dirty and stale water, including the bacteria that causes legionnaire's disease. If using a humidifier for a child, make sure it is a cool mist humidifier to avoid accidental steam burns.