Before I bought a small tabletop humidifier, the humidity in my bedroom was down to 23 percent. Everything I touched got a shock of static electricity.

It's easy to spend $75 or more on a humidifier, but the Safety 1st tabletop humidifier is only $30 at Target (in the baby department), at Target.com or Amazon. I've been using it for a month now. It's very quiet except for the occasional gurgling. It's an ultrasonic cool mist model. Some users at target.com were bothered by the fact that the mist falls to the fllo but I haven't found that the floor actually gets wet from the mist.

It takes about 12 hours for it to empty in my house, but online raters have said it can take days to empty. Personally, I like that it empties quicker. It's not a good idea to let water sit for several days in a humidifier or bacteria can grow and be dispersed into the air.

The unit automatically shuts off when the tank is empty, but the base still holds some water. I empty it in the morning and let it dry out to prevent mold. If you have a scale or mold buildup, see the instructions for maintenance.

Due to its quiet operation, this is a good choice for a nursery or light sleepers.

Don't overdo the humidity. If you've got condensation on the windows that wasn't there before you got the humidifier, you're overdoing it. About 35-40 percent humidity in the winter is a healthy goal according to experts, but dial it back if your windows have condensation on them.