Posted January 4, 2007
Humidifiers are vaguely disgusting: The water tanks are hard to clean, they’re noisy, and most tend to look like they were designed in the seventies (but not in a retro-cool sort of way). Because the dry, heated winter air in my apartment has been killing me, I researched all the latest models before I bought the new Air-O-Swiss U7142 ultrasonic humidifier. I love it. It’s incredibly quiet, and it kills germs, thanks to its Ionic Silver Stick technology (silver is a natural anti-microbial agent). It preheats water to 176 degrees Fahrenheit internally but then releases mist at a comfortable 104°. And there’s a replaceable demineralization cartridge so you don’t get white dust all over the place. Oh, and it looks like it was designed this century.
$200 at J&R, 15 Park Row, nr. Ann St.; 212-238-9000.