I'm so sad to say this wonderful little machine didn't work out for me! I knocked off a star because of the white dust/air quality issues with this type of unit. When I did my initial research, it was obvious that evaporative humidifiers are the way to go for safer air quality and also because it's impossible for them to over-saturate the air with humidity. However, they are bigger, louder, and you have to change the filters. ***UPDATE: I ended up with a STEAM humidifier, and I HIGHLY recommend going with steam! You don't have to constantly change filters, AND, the heat kills any bacteria in the water, so you don't have to constantly worry about keeping the machine pristine clean, although, you still want to do a vinegar rinse weekly to keep minerals from building up (I use reverse osmosis or water filtered through a ZERO water filter). This is the humifier I ended up with and love: https://www.amazon.com/Steamfast-SF-920-Humidifier-Filter-Free-Aromatherapy/dp/B07BZ9SSPZ/ref=sr_1_15?dchild=1&keywords=steam+humidifier&qid=1615763735&s=home-garden&sr=1-15 I decided to give ultrasonic a chance first, and I just loved this one so much! It doesn't look *medicinal," it's quiet (other than a brook/water sound), and it's super easy to use and clean. Call me weird, but I even enjoyed the task of filling it up every day! Ha! It was also very easy to remove the water tight cap. EFFECTIVE? Definitely! It raised my humidity maybe 10-15% taking it from ~35 to ~50 (and not I've learned 50% is probably "too much" humidity). I had to run it on high to get the levels up and then run it as speeds of 2 or 3 to maintain it. TIPS WHITE DUST. Use distilled water. These types of machines will turn minerals in water into *white dust* which will coat your furniture. I used reverse osmosis water, so I was not expected to see this dusting. My water must have more minerals than I realized, as within a week of using the machine, suddenly, I noticed a light white coating all over my furniture. The day before, I had run the machine on high, and on speed 3 that evening. I have read that this white dust can be harmful to breathe. I don't want to take chances with it. I could get a ZERO water filter, but I decided to try an evaporative humidifier instead. CLEANING. It's super easy. And with these units, SUPER important, as everything in the water tank turns into tiny particles and goes out into your air. Just move the entire unit to a bathroom or kitchen counter. Measure out 2 cups of distilled vinegar, and let it soak in the unit for 20 minutes (instructions included). THOROUGHLY rinse--especially before using bleach, as the two mixed together are TOXIC. I recommend micro fiber towels for drying the unit. Instead of using bleach, my plan was to use Seventh Generation Disinfectant Spray. LEAKS. I had a clear, thin cutting board (from VitaMix) under mine, and I'm glad I did, as the first day I used it, there was some water build up around the machine. However, since I've since learned humidifiers can leak *all* of their content, a bucket might not be a bad idea! This cute one is wide and shallow->Behrens C17GS 4-1/4-Gallon Galvanized Steel Pail. ***UPDATE: Your cell phone will not work if in the same room as the steel pail! I ended up buying a plastic pail. I'll be using it for my new Honeywall Humidifier that's coming: Honeywell Top Fill Digital Humidistat Tower Humidifier, Black CONDENSATION. If you have the speed up on 3 or 4, I'd have a fan on low. This worked for me in keeping the condensation build up from happening around the machine. You'll also want a hygrometer of course to keep track of the humidity levels. Anything above 60% can cause problems. Dr. Mercola has an article recommending not going over 45% in order to reduce the risk of mold and fungus build up. Overall, unless you're using distilled water and are diligently cleaning the unit every week, I recommend an evaporative humidifier instead. I hope this helps! Figuring out humidifiers can be a little overwhelming when you're new to it!
