Health-Care Basics: Spend or Save?

Humidifiers

Sure, you could pump a fine, 80 degree, lavender-infused mist into the air with a fancy humidifier, but it's not necessary; a standard model (about $40) has everything you need. The only factor to consider is temperature, says Dorsen: "If you have small children or pets, don't get a vaporizer version that spits warm mist into the air, because it can burn delicate skin" (and inquisitive snouts). In homes without kids or pets, the temperature choice is yours. "There haven't been any studies that relate mist temperature to effectiveness," she says. If your water has a high mineral content, however, opt for a more expensive evaporative model or a vaporizer. The Environmental Protection Agency has found that basic humidifiers are prone to dispersing those minerals into the air, which can irritate lungs. An alternative: Use distilled water in any style humidifier.