How to keep dampness away in the monsoons

Dampness is an unfortunate side note to the monsoons, a time of the year that we otherwise look forward to, with such eagerness.  Wardrobes smell musty, unused objects develop molds, the laundry never seems to dry, books swell up with humidity and one has to take extra care of expensive electronics. Help is at hand with our monsoon tips that help you battle the dampness monster in your home.

Here, we have segmented different sections within the home that you can tackle individually.

Entryway

With guests and family members walking in from the outside, a tall holder next to your door can prevent dripping umbrellas from soaking your rugs and your flooring. It helps to have the shoe rack as close to the door as possible, so that guests can remove their footwear. Coir-based door mats, outside the home, in place of fabric ones, are handy at this time of the year to allow guests to shake off the mud from their footwear and absorb extra water.

Bedrooms

Wardrobes retain a lot of moisture during this season, leading to molds developing on their edges. Musty smelling clothes are the last thing one needs to deal with. It helps to buy moisture absorbers for the home, readily available in the market. An inexpensive option is Silica Gel, available in your local hardware store; stack a number of them in a container and place these next to expensive electronic items like TVs and music systems, as well as inside your closet. Please be warned that silica gel should never be ingested so families with toddlers should avoid this option. Wiping off developing molds on a regular basis from inside your closet also helps, as we don’t end up noticing the gradual mold build-up in these areas.  Using agarbattis during the monsoons is another inexpensive way to keep bad odours at bay.

Airing your rooms everyday might seem like an obvious solution but many people end up keeping windows shut to avoid extra moisture seeping in. It’s a good idea to air out your rooms everyday, when you’re back from work, to keep your linen and soft furnishings from getting musty.

Art

If you have expensive art on the walls, this is a good season to pack them away. The same rule applies for precious family photographs that may be ageing and are in danger of absorbing extra moisture and getting damaged.

Kitchen

Airing spices in the kitchen that you may not use that frequently will help keep molds in check.

Rugs

Pack away your floor rugs and bear with bare flooring during the monsoons. Rugs can absorb extra moisture and once moist will take a long time to dry.

Furniture

Furniture touching the walls is a big no-no. Before the monsoons start, it’s a good idea to distance all the furniture a few centimeters away from the walls. This is especially true of wooden wardrobes that will swell up due to moisture. People with MDF furniture need to take special care.