Venta’s evaporative mechanism add cool moisture without mist, mineral dust or disposable filters

• Sign up for the Filter US newsletter, your weekly guide to buying fewer, better things

If you live with forced-air heating, you know that winter can bring chapped lips, dry eyes and waking up with a scratchy throat. A common ultrasonic humidifier attacks the issue with an eye-catching stream of cool mist – and they work well. But as I found out after setting up two of them, they also bring an unwelcome guest: dust.

Minerals dissolved in the water travel with those droplets, leaving a messy residue behind. With two running, it was like an invisible dust storm rolled through every day, raining fine white powder everywhere. It coated furniture, clogged air filters and even choked computer fans. I don’t mind dealing with household dust, but a maddening amount accumulated daily.