REASONS TO BUY
Quieter
Cute
Engaging
Multiple animal choices
Filterless
REASONS TO AVOID
Mist output varies by animal
Larger footprint
Harder to clean
Crane Adorable Review
Cutest package with quiet operation and enough mist output for nurseries but harder to clean
Credit: Abriah Wofford
By Wendy Schmitz ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ July 28, 2021
Contributions From: the GearLab Review Team
RELATED: The Best Baby Humidifiers
Our Verdict
The Crane Adorable ultrasonic humidifier comes in a variety of animal designs with various mist output locations and levels of efficacy. It is a cheery addition to any baby's nursery and operates quietly to keep little ones resting peacefully. This unit has continuous mist output and easy dial operation. This Hippo didn't create as much mist as quickly as the Frog we tested in the past, but the humidity is adequate for small spaces over time, even if it struggles in the beginning. Also, you'll pay a little more for the cuteness and we noticed that every animal sports a slightly different price tag. Despite these hiccups, we think this humidifier is so cute and quiet that it may be a good fit for some nurseries. If you don't mind more effort to clean it and you value cute and quiet over the highest mist output possible, then the Crane Adorable could be a good fit for you.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Crane company is part of the Wachsmuth & Krogmann, Inc (W&K) company working out of Itasca, Illinois. Crane launched in 2005, and they continue to add new designs regularly. Crane designs their products with style and efficiency in mind to make you smile. Crane sells humidifiers, air purifiers, and personal fans and heaters.
Only a few areas of the Adorable base are challenging to clean. It is easier if you invest in a straw brush that will let you reach in the float and mist output vent.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Cleaning
The Adorable has a relatively simple design with only a few parts. Each animal has a slightly different shape, but each has only a few pieces with a base, tank, and decorative “face.” Crane recommends changing the water daily and completely cleaning weekly. The base is easy to clean, but the tank is hard to clean because your hand won't fit, and a bottle brush may not reach all parts of the container. Cleaning the inside of the tank requires water and vinegar soaking for at least 20 minutes. The faceplate also requires removal to wipe condensation on the underside to avoid microbial accumulation.
The tank opening on the Adorable is much too small for any hand to fit inside. It is a good idea to add a bottle brush to your cleaning kit so you can reach inside to ensure no mold or bacteria buildup occurs.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Because this Crane is filterless, we recommend using distilled or filtered water to reduce white dust and minerals in the air. With tap water, you'll need to purchase the Crane Universal Filter, which should be changed about every 60 fillings.
The Frog Adorable is very effective with high mist output and one mist port on the top of the head.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Effectiveness
The Hippo Adorable performs about average for effectiveness compared to the competition but it didn't work as effectively as the Frog version we've reviewed in the past and is more on par with the Cow. We aren't sure if this is a design difference or an indication of poor quality control. It starts out fairly strong with a higher level of humidity than more than half of the competition, but at the end of testing, it was only average.
Noise
This Adorable is very quiet compared to the competition with only a few options rating quieter. The max sound level was 40 db for the Hippo, less than 40 for the Frog shape, and 52 decibels for the Cow! This disparity indicates there is a noise difference between animals potentially based on the faceplate and mist output design.
The Adorable has a single variable mist control knob to control the humidity output.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
The Adorable has a basic dial adjustment knob for humidity production. This dial is easy enough to use, but the inability to monitor humidity or program it to maintain a certain humidity level could be a problem if you want that level of control. Also, the mist is not direction adjustable and only shoots out of his nose. Each animal is different, but none have mist diverters you can control. To send the mist in another direction, you have to reposition the entire unit.
The handle on the Crane Adorable humidifier is embossed with the words “Don't carry full tank by handle.”
Credit: BabyGearLab staff
The Adorable has a tank handle you can't use when full, which is a bummer because the shape of the tank is awkward and hard to hold when wet. You can only use it to lift an empty container from its base. Also, filling the tank is challenging because the tank top is round, so you'll need to hold the tank to prevent it from tipping over.
The Adorable tank is relatively large but difficult to fill because it won't stand on its own.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The Adorable tank holds 1-gallon of water, making it one of the larger options we tested with a capacity that can run all night on high without running out of water.
Free Nightlight Alert
If your little one needs complete darkness to sleep, this humidifier may not be a good option. The “on” light at the front of the unit is very bright, and you cannot turn it off while the unit is running.
If your little one needs complete darkness to sleep, this humidifier may not be a good option. The “on” light at the front of the unit is very bright, and you cannot turn it off while the unit is running.
Side-by-Side Comparison
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