My Annual Battle Against Dry Air and Child-Borne Plagues

How I Became the Humidifier Guy (and Why You Should Too)

Summer’s gone, and now I’m driving home from work in the dark. That can only mean one thing—winter is coming. Here’s how I make it through the cold, dark, and virus-filled months ahead.

The Unavoidable Germs

Once the school year starts, it’s only a matter of time before your kids bring something home. You can’t avoid every virus, but you can make your home a little more comfortable while your immune system does its thing.

Humidifiers

Do yourself a favor and get an evaporative humidifier. I wrote a whole post about these last year, but it’s worth repeating: keeping your home’s humidity at a healthy level makes a huge difference. You’ll sleep better and stop waking up with that “sandpaper throat” feeling.

Just make sure you keep your humidifier clean—a dirty one is worse than none at all. That’s why I recommend something like the BlueAir InvisibleMist Humidifier. Evaporative like the InvisibleMist don’t collect grime as quickly and are much, much easier to clean.

Rechargeable Hand Warmers

If you ever have to walk outside when it’s 20 degrees, pick up a pair of magnetic rechargeable hand warmers. They’re inexpensive, charge like your phone, and snap together when not in use. Your fingers will thank you.

👉 Here’s a good one on Amazon.

Neti Pots and Nasal Irrigation

I won’t sugarcoat it—this one’s kind of gross. But if your kids are constantly bringing home new respiratory bugs, nasal irrigation can be a lifesaver.

I won’t go deep into the details (there are plenty of YouTube demos for that), but here’s what matters: always use distilled water for safety, and follow the instructions carefully.

You won’t feel instantly cured, but you’ll breathe easier and recover faster. Paired with something like Afrin for short-term relief, this routine helps me stay functional—even when I inevitably catch whatever’s going around.

A Preconditioning Electric Car

I know—you’re not buying a new car just because of this post. But if you already have (or are considering) an EV, preconditioning is one of its most underrated perks.

My wife’s favorite feature of our electric car is that it can warm up (or cool down) before we even step outside. Sure, gas cars have remote start, but you have to remember to use it, and it can’t run safely in a closed garage. With an EV, you just tap your phone and the car quietly adjusts the temperature—no fumes, no hassle, just comfort waiting for you

Conclusion

Keep the air moist, your hands warm, your sinuses clear, and your car cozy. You can’t stop winter, but you can definitely make it a lot more comfortable.