REASONS TO BUY
Very effective
High quality
Limited parts
Fill from the top
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Louder
Some parts are hard to clean
Boneco U300 Review
Highly effective option that is easy to use but some parts are hard to clean and it is expensive
Credit: Abriah Wofford
RELATED: Best Baby Humidifiers
Our Verdict
The Boneco U300 is a highly effective ultrasonic humidifier with a single unit design. This product is the most effective humidity generator in the group creating more moisture than any of the competition both initially and after an hour. We like the flip top filling feature and the single base/tank design. The Boneco is easy to use despite the lack of programmable features and the tank portion of the base is easy to wipe clean. This unit comes with a demineralization filter and a small cleaning brush for reaching those hard to reach places. The Boneco is the most expensive option in the review making it a poor choice for families on a budget or who may only use their humidifier infrequently. it is also somewhat noisy, though still silent compared to evaporative humidifiers. Despite these minor flaws, we think some families will find everything they are looking for in the Boneco U300.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Boneco started in 1956 by Hans Frei and his son under the name Plaston, a producer of plastic parts in Widnau, Switzerland. They created their first humidifier in 1963. In 1992, Plaston's consumer product division concentrated on humidifiers. In 2001, they grew into other markets, including the US. In 2013, they created a new corporate design under the name Boneco concentrating on healthy air.
Performance Comparison
The Boneco is a single unit divided into a water tank and the ultrasonic plate side. The tnak side can easily wipe clean but the other side has small spaces that are hard to reach.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Cleaning
The Boneco isn't the easiest option to clean, but it isn't the most difficult either. This product doesn't include cleaning instruction, so you'll need to download or look for a video online.
The tank on the Boneco has a flip-open lid that any hand can fit in, so wiping the tank side clean is simple. Unlike other products, the ultrasonic base and the tank portion of the humidifier are the same unit instead of two different parts. The tank side has no small parts or nooks for bacteria and mold to hide.
The ultrasonic plate side has a few nooks and crannies and places that could be challenging to clean. It comes with its own brush (above left) to reach these locations, but we aren't sure that some of these parts can ever be thoroughly clean. The mist tube is also partially covered, so you may not be able to reach all of the surfaces inside. The brush stores inside the flip lid so you won't lose it. The tank has a demineralization filter (above right) that also needs regular maintenance.
The Boneco is the most effective humidifier in the group.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Effectiveness
This product is the most effective option we tested for its ability to humidify a room effectively and efficiently.
The Boneco starts strong and continues to surpass the competition as time went on. After one hour, this unit had created a far more humid environment than most of the other contenders. No other unit we tested creates as much humidity as the Boneco. The top mist diverter has two ports that you can rotate to divert the mist in desired directions. However, these ports do not have raised or directional flanges so they always direct mist in an upward direction.
Noise
To create this high level of humidity, this product also creates more noise than the average ultrasonic humidifier in this review.
The quietest units created less than 40 decibels (dB), while the Boneco registered 47 dB on our test unit. The loudest option is the single evaporative humidifier in our review that uses a fan to draw moisture from a wicking filter creating noise in excess of 60 dB.
The dial control on the Boneco is simple and easy to use.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
The Boneco has a simple single continuous dial for mist level adjustment, which in part makes it easier to use.
This unit is not programmable and doesn't have some of the bells and whistles found on the other products in the higher price range, but it does have an auto-shutoff feature when the tank is empty.
The Boneco fills from the top and can remain plugged in and in place when filling.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The tank on the Boneco has a flip-top lid for filling. You fill the tank with a second vessel leaving the entire unit where you use it. This process can make nighttime refilling simpler and quieter than removing and replacing a container on the base, and there is no concern over whether or not the tank can stand by itself in the sink.
Manufacturer Video
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Juliet Spurrier, MD and Bob Wofford
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