Humidifying your home in the winter

Instead of using an electric humidifier (which can cost as much as $40 per month to run), try humidifying for free by setting glass or metal bowls of water around your home, or use a non-electric humidifier.  Drying your laundry on a clothes rack is another great way to add moisture back into the air. If you're concerned that air-dried clothes will be stiff, then switch to a natural laundry detergent that does not contain SLS (sodium laureth sulfate, a sudsing agent which leaves clothes stiff).  Also add white vinegar to your wash (1/4 cup for regular washers, or 1/8 cup for High Efficiency washing machines), and your air-dried clothes will be as soft as machine-dried.