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Household Hacks & Health · February 10, 2022 edition

Use Your Slow Cooker as a Humidifier This Winter

From the Genius House Hacks archive.

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We all know how dry the air can get during the cold winter months. Dry air can affect everything from your skin, eyes, throat, hair, and lips, to seasonal allergies and illnesses. Keeping a humidifier in your home is an easy way to solve the dry air issue, but if you don't have one, you can just use your crock pot or slow cooker instead.

Turn Your Slow Cooker Into a Humidifier

Place the slow cooker in a spot where you'd like fresh air; the kitchen is usually a good choice since it's centrally located. Fill the crock pot with fresh water, cover it with the lid, and set it on high. When steam starts to roll off the lid, it's ready: take the lid off and turn the cooker to low, letting the moisture from the water work its magic. Refill the water as necessary.

Get Rid of Bad Odors Around the House

If you're looking to add fresh smells to your home, try adding lavender or orange peels, or even a few cinnamon sticks, to the water. If you'd rather just neutralize odor, mix baking soda with water, set the cooker to low with the lid off, and let the warm baking soda pull odors from the air.

Bonus: A Vicks VapoRub Steam Therapy

If you're feeling congested in the dry winter months, fill your slow cooker with water and a little Vicks VapoRub (eucalyptus works well on congestion too, if you don't like the Vicks smell). For overnight therapy you can place the slow cooker in your bedroom, but be careful: a pot of hot water in your bedroom overnight can be dangerous, and too much humidity can contribute to mold and mildew.

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