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Cold and flu season is on its way, and as a mom of three, it feels like there is always some sickness making the rounds in our house. I do my best to prevent and ease sickness with a handful of daily habits, vitamins (these are the ones my kids actually love), hand sanitizer, and baths (always with the Canopy Bath Filter so we don’t dry out our skin). I even have a whole post dedicated to our favorite products for preventing colds and what we use when we do catch one.
Note: I’m not a doctor — just sharing what has worked for my family. Always check with your pediatrician or healthcare provider for medical advice.
Another big part of our routine? Humidifiers. We keep them running in our primary bedroom, the kids’ bedrooms, and even our main living space. In the bedrooms we use the Canopy Bedside Humidifier 2.0, and in the living area we have the Canopy Large Room Humidifier. I’ll go into detail about the differences between the two (and which ones we use where), but first let’s talk about why you should even consider running a humidifier during cold and flu season.
Why You Need a Humidifier in Cold & Flu Season
There are several reasons colds and flu spread more in the winter, and one of them is the cold, dry air. When humidity is low, viruses can survive longer and spread more easily. Running a humidifier helps counteract this by adding healthy moisture back into the air.
Here are some of the biggest benefits:
- Reduces the spread of viruses: Studies show viruses thrive in dry air. Keeping your home at 40–60% humidity makes it harder for germs to spread.
- Supports your body’s defenses: Dry nasal passages and throats can leave you more vulnerable to getting sick. Moist air helps your body fight off germs naturally.
- Soothes symptoms when you are sick: A humidifier eases coughing, congestion, and sinus irritation. As a mom, I especially love having one in my kids’ rooms because it gives me a way to help them breathe and sleep easier when they’re sick.
- Keeps skin, lips, and eyes hydrated: Even if you’re not fighting a cold, humidifiers help prevent dry, itchy skin and cracked lips caused by winter air.
So whether you’re trying to prevent sickness or make your family more comfortable when illness does hit, a humidifier is one of the simplest and most effective tools to have in your home.
Why I Recommend Canopy Humidifiers
Before deciding on the size you need, let me explain why we only use Canopy humidifiers in our home. Both the Bedside Humidifier 2.0 and the Large Room Humidifier share these standout features:
- Easy to clean: Each unit comes apart into several dishwasher-safe pieces. The wide water tank opening makes filling and cleaning simple, no more scrubbing tiny corners with a toothbrush just to fight mold.
- Mold-inhibiting technology: On top of being easy to clean, both units use Canopy’s Smart Persistent Airflow (SPA) technology. This keeps the unit running until the water well and filter are completely dry, no stagnant water sitting around, which helps prevent mold growth. UV technology that sanitizes water with UV light before it evaporates into the air.
- Filtered water + air: Each unit uses a filter that removes chlorine and contaminants, so you can safely use tap water. This is huge for busy moms like me, I don’t have to remember to buy distilled water at the store. You just swap the filter every 6 weeks. (I love their filter + aroma bundle so I always have the diffuser oils on hand too.)
- Doubles as a diffuser: This is one of my favorite features. I used to be a candle girl, but once we started focusing on a low-tox lifestyle, most candles went out the door. Canopy’s diffuser feature is the perfect replacement. I rotate my favorite essential oils, Salt Cave and the whole Coastals line are amazing, and lately I’ve been loving their signature Unwind scent.
Bedside Humidifier 2.0 vs. Large Room Humidifier
Both units share the same base features, dishwasher-safe, filter-based, and mold-inhibiting technology, but there are some key differences:
- Holds 5.5 liters of water
- Covers 1,000 sq. feet
- Up to 36 hours of run time
- Holds 2.5 liters of water
- Covers 500 sq. feet
- Up to 36 hours of run time
- Additional features:
- Dimmable nightlight in yellow and red
- Built-in sound machine
Here’s a side-by-side look at our Bedside Humidifier 2.0 in Jade and the Large Room Humidifier in Moonstruck.
Which One Should You Choose?
In our home, we keep the Large Room Humidifier downstairs in our main living area. I run it pretty much year-round, during summer when the AC dries the air and during winter when it’s cold and dry.
Each of our bedrooms has the Bedside Humidifier 2.0. I run them nightly, but especially when someone is sick. It’s so reassuring to know the air in their rooms is helping them breathe, sleep, and recover more comfortably.
On top of all that, I love that both humidifiers double as diffusers. In the kids’ rooms I use the baby-friendly Little Dreams Set of aromas, and in our bedroom and living space I rotate between Salt Cave, the Coastals line, and Unwind. Between the Large Room Humidifier in our living room and the Canopy Diffuser in our kitchen, our house always smells fresh, cozy, and completely toxin-free.
Limited Edition Holiday Scents Are Here!
Canopy just launched their limited-edition holiday aromas, and they are the perfect way to bring the holidays to life in your home. These exclusive blends smell absolutely incredible
Fresh Batch (light citrus, cinnamon, and clove) subscriptions only.
Spiced Cider (mulled wine, sweet citrus, and sugared praline)
Frosted Fir (crisp pine, balsam, and golden amber)
Each comes with festive aroma stones and ornament-style felt diffusers that make any space feel merry and bright. Don’t wait too long, these scents are only available for a limited time!
Advent Calendar – a fun wellness Advent Calendar that includes Spiced Cider and Fresh Balsam as well as other self care goodies!
Holiday Essential Oils – Comes with Spiced Cider, Fresh Balsam, aroma stones, and ornament felt diffusers.
Did you know?
Both the Canopy Bedside Humidifier 2.0 and the Large Room Humidifier are HSA/FSA eligible, which means you can use pre-tax health funds to purchase them. I love that I can grab something our whole family uses daily without dipping into our regular budget. Just save your receipt or order confirmation in case your provider requires documentation.
How to check out with your HSA/FSA funds:
- Add products to your cart
Make sure everything is set to “one-time”—HSA/FSA cards can’t be used on subscription purchases right now. - Check for Shop Pay
Don’t be signed into Shop Pay, and skip accelerated checkout options (like Shop Pay, Apple Pay, or Google Pay). - Select Truemed at checkout
Choose TrueMed as your payment method before completing your order. - Complete payment
If you pay with your HSA/FSA card, you’re good to go! If you use a personal card, TrueMed will email reimbursement instructions.
Quick Recap: Why We Love Canopy Humidifiers for Cold & Flu Season
- Prevents the spread of germs: Moist air makes it harder for viruses to survive and spread.
- Eases symptoms when sick: Helps with coughing, congestion, and sinus irritation.
- Supports healthy skin & lips: Keeps your skin hydrated through dry winter months.
- Safe & easy to clean: Dishwasher-safe pieces, wide tank opening, and mold-inhibiting technology.
- Tap water friendly: Built-in filter removes chlorine and contaminants—no distilled water needed.
- Diffuser feature: Doubles as a safe, low-tox way to enjoy essential oils.
- Options for every space:
- Large Room Humidifier: Perfect for common living spaces (up to 1,000 sq ft).
- Bedside Humidifier 2.0: Perfect for bedrooms (up to 500 sq ft) with bonus features like a nightlight, sound machine, and UV technology.
Add a Canopy Humidifier to your home and you can save 15% off orders $50+ on the Canopy website with my link. It’s such an easy swap that makes a big difference for your family’s health and comfort during cold and flu season!
If you’re looking to make more low-tox swaps, check out my reviews of the Canopy Bath Filter and the Canopy Showerhead. They’re simple changes that make a huge difference for your skin and your kids’ skin.
And if you’re a mom searching for a little peace (and some ways to keep your kids busy) during these long winter months, be sure to check out some of my favorite posts: Activities for My 2 and 4 Year Olds and 25+ Days of Christmas Activities.
You’re doing a great job. xx, Ciara
