An excessive level of humidity in the house can be synonymous with an unhealthy environment: too high a percentage of water molecules circulating in the air, in fact, can cause not only unpleasant aesthetic effects on the walls of the house, but also serious structural damage. The building and the health of the residents. A humid and poorly ventilated environment, for example, can aid the formation of mold and fungi that in the long run can lead to allergic reactions or respiratory difficulties, especially in children or the elderly.
In general, a household humidity level in excess of 50-60% is recognized as potentially harmful: if the percentage exceeds this limit, it may be in the residents’ interest to take measures to fix the increased humidity in the home. The solutions can be different, from the most drastic to do-it-yourself solutions: among the latter, many of them use natural remedies to treat the problem.
Natural remedies against moisture
To help achieve a more balanced ratio of water in the air, a few small household tricks can be useful and help improve the aeration of home environments.
Remember to open the windows frequently, especially if you live near a stream or in a particularly humid area, for example, it can greatly improve air quality: with this simple habit, in fact, it is possible to “dry” the excess water molecules That circulates in the indoor environment, preventing the appearance of fungi, mold and unpleasant odors.
Other good habits that should be developed to keep the humidity in the house within the norm, for example:
- Avoid hanging clothes indoors: Leaving wet clothes to dry indoors, in fact, in addition to slowing their drying, causes the water in the fabrics to evaporate throughout the indoor environment, spreading mold or bad. aromatherapy;
- Do not cover wet areas: in the event that dark spots appear on the walls or at the base of the load-bearing walls, we should not be tempted to mask these defects with furniture, coverings or various paints. They will be temporary solutions that will have no other consequence than preventing more air circulation: by stifling the transpiration of the material, the spread of mold will be faster.
There are also more specific treatments against household moisture. So let’s see the main solutions to remove moisture from the room in a natural way.
Plants absorb moisture
For those who want to tackle the problem as environmentally friendly as possible, plants can be used as natural dehumidifiers. Thanks to the ability of the leaves and roots to absorb water – the former through the air, the latter through the soil – in fact, plants can help remove moisture from the home in a natural way, rebalancing the moisture level, if it is out of balance.
However, not all plants are equally suitable for this purpose: some species can be particularly useful for absorbing excess water molecules. Among the plants that absorb moisture, we recall, for example:
- Aloe vera: In addition to its various therapeutic and cosmetic uses, this plant is able to easily capture excess water from the surrounding air, which helps to significantly reduce the humidity in the room. To maximize its effects, remember to place your aloe vera plant in a location where it can receive indirect sunlight.
- Orchids: The plants are usually prized for their elegant colorful flowers, and orchids are also moisture-loving, ideal for placing in areas where the risk of condensation is high.
- Asparagus: A plant with a great ability to remove moisture, suitable to survive even in very light places. Alternatively, it is not recommended to place it in a dark environment.
- Ferns: small plants distinguished by their bright green leaves. In addition to being an elegant piece of furniture, ferns have a high absorption capacity, do not require special care and live at any temperature.
- Bamboo (or its dwarf form): Ideal for a windowless room, bamboo has a lush, albeit poorly lit, growth.
Due to their special properties, all these plant species are suitable as natural tools for removing moisture from the inside: they are especially useful, for example, if they are placed in closed or damp environments, such as bathrooms or basements .
Coarse salt and bicarbonate for moisture
Using coarse salt and baking soda also adds to the list of moisture self-treatments. According to a widespread household method, in fact, having a bowl full of coarse salt or bicarbonate in a certain environment would absorb the moisture in the air, improving its quality.
Coarse salt, in particular, is often used as a deterrent to moisture build-up in the refrigerator, a flaw that can lead to mold forming on foods stored there: placing a bowl half full of cooking salt, perhaps accompanied by a few drops of white vinegar, solves the problem. This method is based on the fact that salt is a hygroscopic substance, that is, able to absorb the water present in the surrounding environment. Once saturated, the salt can be dried by passing the salt into the oven, so that it can be reused.
Similarly, bicarbonate is also frequently used against the appearance of mold or unpleasant odors: also in this case, the absorption capacity of the material is exploited to interfere against moisture, placing a certain amount in closed environments such as shoe racks or cabinets.
DIY natural dehumidifier
The use of table salt and baking soda is often aimed at creating true DIY dehumidifiers. These mechanisms are also known as “salt absorbents”, and their popularity is based on their ease of realization and their low cost. Salt or bicarbonate can be used in a careless way.
Here’s how to create one:
- First, you need to get a sink, a very tightly knitted piece of mesh and an elastic band. As an alternative to the mesh, you can also use a light piece of cloth or a cover that has been perforated.
- Fill a sink with salt or baking soda, then seal its perimeter with mesh (or cloth) and rubber.
- Place the mold dehumidifier at a strategic point, near the area with the most moisture penetration.
Although it is very convenient compared to other solutions, it must be remembered that a DIY dehumidifier is not able to guarantee definitive results. The effectiveness of such a method can only be beneficial if it is applied to small enclosed spaces, and certainly not to the whole house.
Salt lamp to absorb moisture
Another tool used as a low-cost moisture treatment is the salt lamp. In addition to being elegant pieces of furniture, these special light sources are made using Himalayan rock salt, a naturally hygroscopic material that has the ability to absorb ambient moisture.
However, it must be specified that although rock salt is unable to purify the air, it returns it dry to the environment, attracting water molecules to itself in the event of excess moisture, causing its surface to become damp.
Vinegar for wet spots
Finally, it must be remembered that white vinegar is also considered one of the most suitable natural products for reducing the effects of moisture.
A common home remedy, in fact, involves diluting vinegar and using the mixture obtained to remove moisture spots on the walls of the house, and applying it to the affected surface with the help of a sprayer.
So natural ‘do it yourself’ remedies can be helpful in a preventive moisture management perspective. However, such solutions cannot be expected to have conclusive results in cases of severe moisture intrusion. If the damage is particularly extensive, such that it undermines the integrity of the building and the health of its occupants, a more forward-looking and more aggressive approach is required.
