Lower the Humidity in Your Home
December 12, 2016
Some days, no matter what you do, it’s like walking into some tropical jungle. It’s so humid! Even with a dehumidifier or an air conditioner, you may need an extra hand to combat the sticky, humidity lingering in the air. There are a lot of household products sold in stores to fight moisture, including baking soda; but, there are other ways to do this, and in turn lower the humidity in your home.
HUMIDI-DON’T
When the humidity in your home is reduced, your quality of air will improve, as well as your own mental clarity, surprisingly enough. Homes that are too humid and stuffy are proven to link directly to mild sickness, brain fog, and even the triggering of allergies. When the air is moist, bacteria and mold are also more likely to spring up. Simple measures can make a big difference in your home.
Ventilate and circulate
In prime humidity areas such as the kitchen and bathroom, it is important to have ventilation fans present. Make sure to turn them on when the room is in use, and leave the fan on for a little while, when finished. This will clear the air of moisture, eliminating odors and pathogens too. If you don’t have vents installed, opening a window or using a ceiling fan can work as well.
Breathe in and out
Installing a UV purification system in your home can also help dehumidify your home. A UV purification lamp works hand in hand with your furnace and air conditioning unit. It improves the quality of air being released in your home by filtering the air with Ultra Violet rays to make the air in your home clean and fresh. It also results in helping pull excess moisture out of the air, along with bacteria and other particles that can float around. You can read more about UV purification for your home here.
Crank it
Don’t be afraid to decrease your indoor temperature by a couple of degrees. Too much hot air can make your home humid quickly. By increasing the cold air just a bit, the humidity will decrease.
Eco-Friendly and Refreshing Ideas!
- Take colder, shorter showers. Using a low pressure showerhead with cooler water than you normally use decreases the damp air that can accumulate when showering.
- When cooking, cover food on the stove and turn on the exhaust fans. Moisture can become trapped in your fan if not turned on, and can make for more problems down the road. Slow cookers are also a wonderful alternative, and contribute way less indoor humidity.
- In the summer, dry clothes outside. Personally, my laundry room is in my basement, and we all know that basements harbor humid air when laundry is in use. Hanging clothes outside is a good switch up from hanging them downstairs in a cool space.
- Switch up your plants. If you have a lot of plants in your home, it’s best to rotate them outside to get some fresh air before bringing them in again. Plants release moistures, and that means humidity.
Baking soda is one of those things that everyone uses for everyday purposes. Cooking, cleaning, brushing your teeth, this stuff is the traditional all purpose cleaner. So, naturally, it makes a great dehumidifier. Baking soda sucks in the excess dampness in fridges, carpets, and pretty much anywhere! Leave a box open on a window sill, or anywhere in a room where odour and dampness accumulate. For carpet, pour on and let sit for 10 minutes; when the times up, just vacuum and your carpet should be dry and clean. In my house, we use this also to clean up spills and carpet stains, as the baking soda will absorb everything. This way, cleaning up the mess won’t be a hassle! Use it to your advantage, you won’t be disappointed.
Leave us a comment below and tell us the easy ways you keep your home dehumidified! We’re always on the lookout for more helpful hints and hacks. Don’t forget to follow us on pinterest for more DIY tips and inspiration, as well as facebook and twitter for our ever-growing updates and exclusives!
Happy Chilling!
