ANTOBLE 2 Pack HC-888 HC-888N Humidifier Wicking Filters Replacements for Honeywell HC888 HCM-890 HEV-320 Series & Duracraft D88 DCM-200 DH-890 Humidifier Filter C

Why I tried these filters

I rely on a small evaporative humidifier through the heating season, and I go through wicking filters faster than I’d like to admit—especially with moderately hard tap water. With prices on OEM filters creeping up, I tested the Antoble Type C wicking filters in a Honeywell HEV320 and later in an older HCM-890 unit. After several weeks of nightly use, here’s how they stack up on fit, performance, and lifespan.

Compatibility and installation

Antoble labels these as Type C replacements, and they’re designed to fit a long list of Honeywell, Duracraft, Walgreens, and Touch Point evaporative humidifiers. In my HEV320 and HCM-890, fit was spot on. The filter arrived flattened to save space; a quick minute-long soak in clean water allowed it to expand and soften, making it easier to seat around the internal frame.

Installation really is as simple as:

• Remove the old filter and any mineral sediment from the tray.
• Pre-soak the new filter briefly so it fully expands.
• Drop it into place, ensuring even contact with the water in the reservoir.
• Refill with distilled or low-mineral water if you have it.

There’s nothing tricky here—no clips to fuss with, and the dimensions matched what my units expect.

Materials and build quality

These wicks use a multi-layer hydrophilic fabric backed by an aluminum-type lattice. The fabric is the “engine” that draws water up and exposes it to airflow; the aluminum backing keeps the structure standing and promotes air passage.

Compared with some OEM Honeywell filters I’ve used, the Antoble material feels slightly thinner and more pliable. That isn’t a deal-breaker, but it does mean you should handle it gently when it’s dry, especially as you first open and expand it. Once soaked, it becomes easier to shape and install.

The aluminum backing provides decent rigidity and helps the filter maintain its form over time. I didn’t notice any sharp edges or shedding from the lattice in my units, and airflow remained consistent across the surface.

Moisture output and performance

What matters most is how well a wick pulls water and turns fan energy into humidity. In a 150–200 sq ft bedroom, these filters matched the moisture output I typically see from OEM replacements on the low to medium fan settings. The room reached a comfortable 40–45% relative humidity within a few hours from a dry baseline, and overnight stability was steady.

A few observations from use:

• Pre-soaking helps. Even though pre-soaking isn’t mandatory, doing it ensures immediate wicking and avoids the first-hour lag that can happen with a dry filter.
• Even contact with the water line matters. If a corner rides high, the wick dries out locally and output dips. Make sure it’s fully seated.
• I didn’t detect any plasticky or chemical odor out of the box—just neutral, which is what you want for a wick filter.

Noise is unchanged since the filter itself doesn’t add moving parts; the fan tone in my units remained the same as with OEM wicks, and airflow felt uniform across the filter face.

Lifespan and maintenance

The manufacturer recommends replacing every 2–3 months. That’s broadly in line with my experience for evaporative wicks in average conditions, but the real determinant is your water quality and run time.

With distilled or low-mineral water:
- Expect closer to the 10–12 week mark before noticeable performance drops.

With hard tap water:
- Mineral scaling builds up on the mesh and reduces capillary action. In my tests with medium-hard tap water, performance began to taper at around 6–8 weeks of nightly use.

Care tips that extended life for me:
- Use distilled water when possible. It’s the single biggest factor in longevity.
- Rinse the wick gently under cool water during weekly tank cleanings to flush loose sediment. Don’t scrub or wring—it can tear the fibers.
- Avoid acid soaks (vinegar, citric acid). Because the backing uses an aluminum-type material, acidic descalers can corrode or weaken it. When a wick is heavily scaled, replacement is usually more effective than aggressive cleaning.
- Flip/rotate the filter when you refill the tank to even out wetting and drying patterns.

Even with careful maintenance, all evaporative wicks are consumables. The Antoble filters are no exception, and if you run your humidifier daily in hard water, plan your replacement cadence accordingly.

Comparing to OEM filters

Side-by-side with Honeywell OEM Type C wicks, the Antoble material feels a little thinner, and it’s slightly more flexible out of the package. In practice, once saturated, both deliver comparable moisture output in small to mid-sized rooms. The main trade-offs I noticed:

• Handling: Antoble’s mesh benefits more from a pre-soak to expand fully; it’s easy, just worth doing.
• Durability: Under the same hard-water use, the Antoble wick lost efficiency a bit earlier than my freshest OEM filter, though not dramatically so. This will vary by water quality.
• Price: The two-pack format offsets the marginal difference in wear. If you find yourself replacing wicks a few times each season, the cost-per-filter is favorable versus many branded options.

If you prioritize maximum durability and you’re using hard tap water all winter, OEM may hold its edge. If you use distilled water or your tap water isn’t especially hard, the performance gap narrows and the Antoble becomes an easy value choice.

Indoor air quality and hygiene

Evaporative systems have a couple of hygiene advantages: they don’t aerosolize minerals and they avoid white dust, provided you stay on top of filter changes. With these wicks, I didn’t notice mineral residue on furniture even when I used tap water for a week. The wick captured that scale, which is exactly what it’s meant to do—another reason not to force-extend the life of a heavily scaled filter.

A quick weekly routine kept things fresh:
- Empty and rinse the tank and base.
- Rinse the wick gently to remove loose deposits.
- Dry the base before reassembly.
- Keep the target humidity in the 40–50% range to inhibit mold growth in the room.

The filters themselves didn’t shed fibers or discolor water; as they age, the expected darkening from mineral accumulation is your cue they’re nearing end of life.

Value and buying considerations

This two-pack makes sense for a single-room humidifier over a season, especially if your runtime is mostly overnight. If you operate multiple units or run 24/7, budget for faster turnover or consider buying in larger quantities if available to lower cost per change.

A few practical checks before you buy:
- Confirm your model number. Type C compatibility is broad, but it’s worth a quick match to avoid returns.
- Plan your water source. Distilled water quickly pays for itself in reduced filter turnover and fewer cleanings.
- Store a spare sealed. The compressed packaging keeps the second wick clean and ready; just avoid crushing or bending heavy objects on the box.

The bottom line

The Antoble Type C wicking filters deliver what I want from an aftermarket humidifier consumable: exact fit, reliable wicking performance, and a fair price in a two-pack. They’re a bit more flexible than some OEM wicks and respond well to a brief pre-soak. With distilled water, lifespan was comfortably within the 2–3 month guidance; with harder tap water, I saw earlier performance taper—expected behavior for any evaporative wick.

Recommendation: I recommend these filters for owners of compatible Honeywell, Duracraft, Walgreens, and Touch Point evaporative humidifiers who want a dependable, cost-conscious replacement. They’re easy to install, wick effectively, and represent good value. If your water is very hard and you push long daily runtimes, factor in slightly more frequent replacements or stick to distilled water to get the best from them.