What is humidity? Basically, it’s a way of measuring the amount of moisture in the air. Obviously, heat plays a part in humidity but the focus is on the amount of moisture in your home.
The dangers of high humidity levels are mildew and mould growth, dust mites, risks of asthma attacks, heatstroke, and dehydration. A telltale sign for high humidity is when your rooms feel damp and wet.
So, how do you get rid of humidity at home? The main solution is to dry the air in your home. From developing good habits, the use of tools and even DIY methods, you’ll be well-prepared to reduce any excess humidity in your house.
Change Habits
Without knowing it, there are daily routines we’ve developed that contribute to creating moisture. Here are different habits you can implement that not only get rid of humidity at home but also improve energy efficiency.
Most of these changes will be exchanging convenience for energy efficiency. This all depends on how far you’re willing to go to get rid of humidity at home.
Shower Less
Whether you like your showers at cooking temperature or taking your time, you’re contributing to your indoor humidity levels. The steam produced from your hot shower is a huge contributor to moisture in your home.
By taking either cold or shorter showers, you’ll reduce the amount of moisture in the air. You’ll be preventing the chances of mould, which is common in bathrooms.
As a matter of fact, cold showers are healthy for your skin, scalp, energy levels, blood circulation, reducing stress, and heals muscle pains. Even though you may think hot showers feel better, taking cold showers are the best way to start your day.
Dry Clothes Outside
Depending on the way you dry your wet clothes, you could be contributing high amounts of moisture to your indoor air.
The first big no-no is using a dryer. Even though dryers are a quick solution to dry your wet clothes, these machines produce high amounts of hot air and humidity.
The second mistake is by drying your clothes inside. Even though hanging up wet clothes to dry is more efficient than using a dryer, you’re still contributing to your home’s humidity.
If you’re living in a colder climate, hanging up your clothes inside helps if you’re experiencing low humidity. But since we’re focusing on getting rid of high humidity in homes, allowing your clothes to dry inside creates moisture due to the dampness of the clothes.
Instead of these two methods, hanging your clothes outside is the best option. By air drying your clothes outside, you’re allowing the sun to evaporate the moisture instead of in your home.
Cooking Methods
Whether you’re cooking your filet mignon or five-star mac-and-cheese, cooking can attribute to your home’s high humidity levels.
A few cooking methods to avoid on humid days are:
– Boiling water
– Frying
– Indoor grilling
– High-temperature oven cooking
These all contribute to your house’s overall amount of moisture.
A few methods and tricks that reduce the humidity produced are:
– Cooking outside
– Covering pots and pans
– Turning on exhaust fans
– Opening doors and windows
Clean Wet Surfaces
We all have that one family member, roommate, or pet that treats your kitchen or bathroom like a water park. Be sure to clean up any puddles or dripping water they may have left behind. By leaving wet surfaces unattended, you’re adding moisture as well as a chance of mould growing within cracks and crawl spaces.
DIY Methods
CAUTION: Keep any of these methods out of the reach of children. Some may contain chemicals that are harmful when consumed.
Rock Salts
Rock salts were previously utilized for maintaining food’s longevity. When the rock salts are placed in a damp area, they absorb the moisture in the air and transform it into water.
Ingredients:
1 bucket with holes
1 bucket without
Rock salts
Steps:
1. Choose a location to place your DIY dehumidifier (basement, laundry room)
2. Place the bucket with holes inside the solid bucket
3. Place the rock salts in the bucket
4. Check on the bucket daily. If it’s filled with water, drain it.
Non-Dairy Creamer
Ingredients:
1 large bowl
1 non-dairy creamer
Steps:
1. Choose a location to place your DIY dehumidifier (basement, laundry room)
2. Fill the bowl with non-dairy creamer
3. Allow non-dairy creamer to harden
4. Repeat once hardened
Particular Plants
Although there are many plants that can attribute to your high humidity levels, there are a few that absorb moisture and reduce your humidity.
A list of plants that get rid of humidity at home:
– Peace Lily
– Orchids
– Boston Fern
– Cactus
– English Ivy
Not only can these plants help get rid of humidity in homes, but they also contribute to healthy air circulation.
Baking Soda
What can’t baking soda do? On top of all the superpowers baking soda possesses, it can also be used as a DIY dehumidifier. All you need is a bowl filled with baking soda. Place in areas that accumulate an excess amount of moisture like cooking areas, near your shower etc.
Tools
Humidity Monitor
Also known as a hygrometer, these handy tools measure your house’s current percentage of humidity. The ideal humidity percentage is 35-45%. A high humidity reaches anywhere above 50% and low humidity reaches anywhere below 30%. Use it to determine what you need to do to achieve the ideal humidity percentage.
Ventilation
Exhaust fans are located in bathrooms and kitchens, carrying humidity outside into the fresh air. Although it may be loud, it’s an effective tool to help dehumidify, allowing you to cook and shower with ease.
Air Conditioner
Installing air conditioning not only creates cool air but also reduces your humidity levels.
Whole-Home Dehumidifier
The most effective option to get rid of humidity at home is by using a dehumidifier. The functionality of a dehumidifier is to absorb the hot and damp air and transform it into cool and dry air. They’re quiet and energy-efficient, becoming the perfect tool to get rid of humidity in homes.
Trust the Doctor
We’ve provided many solutions to get rid of humidity in homes, some more practical and others more technical.
At Dr HVAC, we are knowledgeable in all things air quality. From air conditioning to dehumidifiers, we demonstrate efficient work and make it easy for our customers to understand their functionality. Request a quote today to put your humidity in check.
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