Product review (4 stars): I like the humidifier
These wicks are used to draw water up to where air passing over them allows the water to be drawn into the air - hence the wicking.  The main drawback to this whole thing is that the wick is also used as something of an air filter, so that it picks up every little particle of dust in the air.  After a while, it becomes choked with dust (or cat hair, or bunny fur...) and requires replacement.  I grow tired of replacing the wick all the time as if it were supposed to be an air filter.  What I've done is to cut up an actual air filter and duct-tape it to the air inlet of my humidifier, and every so often (about once a month, maybe two) I replace *that* air filter.  Leaving the wick to do the wicking!