Every January my skin turns into sandpaper and the wood floor starts creaking like a haunted house. Both problems have the same cause: winter dry air. Heating your home pulls the humidity right out of it.

The fix is not complicated, but it is more than just buying a humidifier.

Know Your Humidity Level

Ideal indoor humidity in winter is 30 to 50 percent. Below that, your skin dries out, your sinuses complain, and your furniture starts cracking.

A $10 hygrometer tells you where you stand. I bought one and found my living room at 22 percent. No wonder my knuckles looked like a lizard.

Add Moisture Room by Room

A whole house humidifier is ideal, but a room humidifier in the bedroom is where you will feel it most. Running one in your bedroom while you sleep helps your skin and your breathing.

I run mine at night and check the hygrometer in the morning. Getting the bedroom into the 40s made the biggest difference in how my skin felt all day.

Fight Dry Skin Directly

Shorter, lukewarm showers beat long hot ones for winter skin. Hot water strips your skin’s natural oils. I swapped to warm showers and started moisturizing within a few minutes of drying off, while my skin is still damp.

The same logic applies to your hands. Dish soap and hand sanitizer are winter skin killers. Keep a hand cream by the sink.

Protect the House Too

Dry air dries out wood floors, furniture, and even your walls. Wood can shrink and crack when humidity stays below 30 percent. That creaking floor is your house complaining.

Houseplants help a little and look nice, but a bowl of water on the radiator or near a vent works too. I keep a few water bowls around and they add noticeable moisture without any electricity.

Do Not Overdo It

Humidity above 50 percent in winter causes condensation on windows and can lead to mold. Aim for the middle of the range, not the top. If you see fog on your windows in the morning, dial the humidifier back.

Balance is the whole game. Your skin, your sinuses, and your floorboards will all thank you.