Is a home humidifier a good way to mitigate a dry cough?

A home humidifier is helpful for dry cough, as long as it isn't used excessively and is cleaned properly, notes WebMD. In an environment with dry air, nasal secretions become dry as well. Loosening these secretions with a humidifier or hot shower helps ease coughs from allergies, colds and asthma.

A humidifier that is not cleaned releases fungus, mold and bacteria into the air, as WebMD states. Make sure the humidifier is not the cause of the dry cough, as mold in the air may lead to coughing and throat irritation, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nasal stuffiness, eye irritation and skin irritation may also occur.