Although humidifiers are charming device, and very important for staying healthy across several seasons all year round, but a humidifier can also be a tough nut to crack regarding cleaning. Details like cleaning frequency and process have long been a source of frustration for many users. This is why we have written this article on the best low maintenance humidifier that you can buy.
Being the best maintenance free humidifier does not mean that it can get away with not being able to perform certain core functions. It should also possess good features like high moisture output and auto-shutoff. The best easy to clean humidifier on our list is the Miro NR07G. Although we wouldn’t call it a self-cleaning humidifier, cleaning is a total cruise and easy process.
Also, this unit is not lacking in the core features of a humidifier. It is suitable for large rooms and generates a good amount of moisture while running up to 24 hours on the lowest setting before requiring a refill.
Top 5 Low Maintenance Humidifiers
1) Miro NR07G Humidifier
Cool Easy to Use and Clean Design
With a volcano cap design, the presence of this humidifier comes easy on the eye. It is both a humidifier and that beautiful piece of furniture you would like to have at home.
More importantly, the design of this unit makes it easy to take apart and also clean. We can confidently say that cleaning this unit is easy as it gets for humidifiers (except you have a self-sterilizing humidifier).
The nice looks, easy-fill with a top fill design, easy to disassemble, and easy to clean, makes the humidifier very easy to use overall.
Good Capacity
Although primarily known for its washable sanitary design, this humidifier also packs power regarding its capacity. It contains a 1-gallon water tank bow that allows it to run for 24 hours or slightly more, on the lowest setting. With this unit, you can conveniently refill only every other day.
This impressive runtime is backed by a mist capacity good enough to humidify large sized rooms of up to 600sqft. It can also be used in smaller sized rooms by running it on lower speeds.
Quiet Operation with Auto-shutoff
As an ultrasonic humidifier, this unit is one of the zero noise generators out there. It is barely noticeable on the lowest setting. The unit is also completely safe to use, with the inclusion of an auto-shutoff feature as soon as the water drops low. This helps prevent overheat problems, as well as other hazards that could occur.
Pros
- Washable and good design
- Very easy to use and take apart for cleaning
- Packs enough capacity to serve large sized rooms up to 600sqft
- Top-fill design for easy refill
- Included muffler makes it is a very quiet ultrasonic humidifier
- Good mist capacity and a 1-gallon tank that gives 24hr+ runtime at the lowest speed.
- Automatic shutoff on the low water level
Cons
- It is a bit bulky in size
2) Honeywell Easy to Care Cool Mist Humidifier
Easy to Care
Even Honeywell prides itself on how easy it is to care for this particular product, hence the name – easy to care. It is very easy to use, with a design that makes basic humidifier maintenance procedures much easier for users.
Starting with the cleaning, this unit does not contain a separate water tank, but rather the body itself is the tank. Taking off the cover would give you full access to the internal part, which is all you have to clean.
It is also top-fill designed, hence all you need to do is pour in water through the opening at the top to refill. You do not need to remove the top cover to do this.
Auto shutoff and easy water level monitor
On water getting low, the unit turns itself off automatically for safety reasons. With this feature, you can leave the humidifier running with optimal confidence.
If you are among those that manually keep an eye on the water level, then you would love the transparent slit at the front side that provides an easy vision to see through into the humidifier’s tank. With this, you can conveniently check the amount of water left with just a gaze.
Good capacity
With 600sqft services are capacity and a runtime of up to 36 hours per filling, this humidifier is among the most suitable for large rooms. Its expended run time of 36 hours is possible through the backup of a large water tank, and it puts out enough mist to get the job done. This overall capacity specification, along with a control knob for mist output, makes it suitable for all sizes of rooms.
Filter design
Unlike the Miro NR07G, this humidifier actually contains a filter. Although we cannot place it on par with the best humidifier with a washable filter (because the filters are not washable), its filters are very effective and allow it to produce clean mist. It also allows you to use hard water, although this reduces the filter life, without producing any white dust.
For your protection. The wicking filter is treated with protec antimicrobial to inhibit up to 99.99% of mold growth.
Empty water after turning off the unit for the sake of the filter and unit itself!
Pros
- The top-fill design makes it easy to refill
- Self-regulating evaporative system
- Easy to clean with automatic shutoff on the low water level
- Contains illuminated water window for easy level monitor
- The unit is built to humidify up to 600sqft room size
- Its wick filter infused design makes it great to be used with hard water without white dust. The filter is also treated with protec antimicrobial treatment to prevent mold growth.
Cons
- The unit glows at night (blue light), which might be disturbing to light sleepers. You would have to purchase a new all-white HAC-504 filter to replace the blue Honeywell HAV-504W that has the blue surround.
- The white noise produced might be a little noisy for light sleepers
3) Honeywell HWM-340B Easy-to-Care Warm Mist Humidifier
Easy to care
Another product from the honey well easy to care line is the HWM-340B. This humidifier bears much resemblance to the earlier reviewed model, in looks, and actual performance. It is a little smaller but built with all the convenient qualities that its better counterpart possesses. The top can be taken off, exposing the internal part of the unit (water tank), for easy cleaning.
Refilling is easier because you do not have to take the top off. Simply pour in water through the refill opening by the side. However, be careful that water does not enter the wrong place.
Capacity
This unit has a 1.3-gallon water tank, which is pretty large. This capacity allows it to run for up to 24 hours on the lowest setting, before requiring a refill. It could run for way lower or a little higher, depending on use and environmental conditions.
A downside of this product is that it only allows you to choose either a high or low setting. There is no medium. This takes away your option to select a modest steam output, especially when you tend towards maintaining humidity rather than increasing it.
A warm mist with a medicine cup
The most peculiar feature of this humidifier is that it is a warm mist product. This makes it useful during cold seasons because the mist comes with a bit of heat that gives a soothing feeling in winter. The humidifier also contains a medicine cup where you can apply some recommended medicinal produce. Always consult a medical professional before using one.
We recommend that you do not use this humidifier with hard water because of mineral buildups on its element. The combination of heat and hard water leaves mineral residues on the element, and after a while, the unit would stop functioning until thoroughly cleaned.
Pros
- Easy to clean with top-fill design
- Large 1.3 gallons water tank allows it run for up to 24 hours on the low setting
- Certified frustration-free
- Contains a medicine cup for use with liquid inhalant
- Produces warm mist that is especially beneficial in cold seasons
- Automatic shutoff on the low water level
Cons
- The water boiling process to create steam is noisy
- It is not suitable to be used with hard water due to mineral buildups on the heating element
- Only high or low mist options to choose from
4) RENPHO Easy to Clean Humidifiers for Bedroom
Easy to clean with Nano-coating
Once again, another humidifier that has its body double as its tank. This Renpho product does not have a removable tank, but rather only a detachable top cover. Removing this cover allows you to easily clean the internal parts, and also refill easily by pouring water in.
The humidifier’s body shape helps it maximize water by having curved edges that circles all the water to an intake point. This design helps it use water without a remnant.
Another amazing thing about this product is that its internal part is Nano-coated with cleansing technology, making it even easier to clean, and also resistant to mold growth. The product package includes a cleaning brush.
Nice design with essential oil
It takes the shape of a small bucket with four protruding feet beneath. A blue dim night light is also added to provide a warm cozy feeling. This unit also supports aromatherapy, the first of its kind on our review list so far. It allows you to apply essential oil to benefit from its health benefits along with humidification.
Capacity
Although good, its mist capacity is not sufficient enough to humidify large-sized rooms. It is rather more suited for small to medium-sized rooms, where it does a very good job of humidification. The tank capacity is large, 2.8L precisely, and is enough to support the unit’s running for up to 24 hours before refill.
Quiet operation and auto-shutoff
Being an ultrasonic product, it is very quiet while operating, which makes it suitable for bedrooms. It also possesses the automatic shutoff feature that keeps you and the unit safe from overheating.
Pros
- Cool design and essential oil compatible
- Fairly large 2.8L water tank gives a runtime of up to 24 hours on the low setting
- Creates mist through a spiral air duct technology
- It operates very quietly
- Top-fill design for easy refill and a Nano-coating cleansing technology used on the tank surface makes cleaning very easy. It also comes with a brush for cleaning
- Automatic shutoff on the low water level
Cons
- It is more suitable for small to medium-sized rooms
5) Crane Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
Easy to clean
The top of this crane ultrasonic humidifier is detachable, as well as the tank too. These two parts need to be taken off in order to properly clean the unit. Overall, it is easy to take apart and clean the unit, and asides that, requires no other maintenance. For easy cleaning, its tank surface is infused with clean control antimicrobial material that reduces mold and bacteria growth by 99.99% and makes cleaning easier.
Nice looks with different colors
The teardrop shape that accompanies crane humidifier is always a thing of beauty to behold. It makes their humidifiers look cool, and with eight available colors to choose from, you can easily select one that flows with your home color preference.
Precise humidification
The top of this humidifier is rotatable. It can be turned in a 360 degrees manner to face any direction of your choice. This makes precise humidification possible, pointing mist to the exact location of wherever you want in the home.
Capacity
Although small in size, the capacity of this humidifier is kind of impressive. It packs enough mist to humidify rooms of up to 500sqft in size. The water tank of this unit is also 1 gallon in size, which allows it to run for up to 24 hours on the lowest setting. It operates very quietly as an ultrasonic humidifier
Pros
- Cool tear drop crane trademark crane design which is available in 8 different colors
- 360 degrees adjustable mist output nozzle for precise humidification.
- Suitable for mediums to large sized rooms up to 500sqft
- Whisper-quiet operation
- Clean control antimicrobial infused material makes it easy to clean and maintain while reducing mold and bacteria growth by 99.96%
- Large 1-gallon water tank for up to 24 hours runtime on a full tank
- Lightweight makes it very easy to move around
Cons
- Inconvenient water refill process (detach the top, turn upside down, open the cap and then refill).
- Many of this product lacks durability and packed up/ start leaking within a few months of use.
How to pick the best low maintenance humidifier
listed below are the factors to put in consideration when selecting the best low maintenance humidifier
Low Maintenance:
perhaps this is the most important feature to consider since we are reviewing the best low maintenance humidifier. It is necessary that the humidifier can be easily taken apart and cleaned. Some units come with a brush, while others don’t. Whichever one you settle for, it should not take too many scrubbing to get the dirt off.
Capacity:
Even the best no maintenance humidifier would be useless with poor capacity. A humidifier should be able to control moisture in the air regardless of any other quality it possesses, and this capacity should be enough to cover your room.
Antimicrobial treatment:
Humidifiers with antimicrobial infused tank or body are always very easy to clean. Asides the ease of cleaning, this treatment also prevents molds and bacteria from growing on the body of the tank, therefore keeping you safe from infections.
Automatic shutoff:
This is simply safety protection. It monitors and turns off the unit as soon as the water falls low. Purchase humidifiers with this quality for overheat and other related hazard control.
5 Reasons why you should buy the lowest maintenance humidifiers
You should purchase one of these low maintenance humidifiers because:
- They are not Expensive:
low maintenance humidifiers are one of the best budget products you can purchase. They cost a little over $100 at most.
Requires Low Maintenance:
therefore, it would save you a lot of stress.
Low Running Cost:
The cost of running these is very low. This is because they consume less energy and use relatively cheap filters.
Good Humidifying Capacity:
Although low maintenance, they are not slack in performing the basic responsibility of humidification. These are small but powerful units.
- Easy Mobility:
Most of them are lightweight, portable, and easy to use.
Basic maintenance tips of humidifiers
Here are some tips on how to maintain your humidifier:
- Empty the water daily:
Leaving water in a humidifier and pouring more to refill it is a habit most of us are used, but that doesn’t make it a good one. Always ensure you empty and wipe your humidifier dry, daily before refill. This helps prevent the steady buildup of molds.
- Use distilled water as much as possible:
Although some humidifiers can be used with hard water without any problem, extended use of the water reduces the filter life. It also leaves your humidifier exposed to possible mineral buildup and white dust more likely to be expelled along with the mist and into your lungs.
- Thoroughly clean every week:
This is a non-negotiable criterion for proper maintenance of a humidifier. Always clean at least once per week. Use a soft brush and a mild cleanser when cleaning the internal parts of the unit, and wipe with clean, dry cloth thereafter. Always wait for the humidifier to dry completely before refilling and turning on.
- Check the filter occasionally:
During every cleaning schedule, it is important to also check the filter accordingly. This is to have an idea on the filter’s health, and how soon you might need to replace it.
What is lacking in low maintenance humidifier
The major quality lacking in low maintenance humidifier is the amount of mist generated relative to their other counterparts. Let’s put it this way, the higher the amount of mist a humidifier can generate or generates, the messier it becomes. High capacity units always require more frequent and thorough cleaning than low capacity products.
This does not mean that low maintenance humidifiers do not produce enough mist, no, they do, but not just as much as their equivalent high maintenance products.
Final Verdict: Best Low Maintenance Humidifier
It is important that a humidifier can be easily maintained by its user. This helps you stay healthy as well as removes the thorough scrubbing that you might have done with other humidifiers. The best humidifier that fits this is the Miro NR07G.
It is very easy to take apart for cleaning and has a very low maintenance time. Asides its ease of use, it packs enough power to humidify 600sqft of space and can run for up to 24 hours on the low setting. The auto-shutoff is in place for your protection.
The Miro NR07G only slightly comes out on top of the Honeywell B005D1Y7E, which is also a very good choice for a smaller budget. Of course, it fits the billing of being easy to clean and maintain while having enough capacity to serve large sized rooms up to 600sqft. It operates with hard or distilled water without creating white dust and shuts off automatically on a low water level for user protection.
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