Living in a humid environment has harmful consequences for both your health and your home. But the bottle method solves the problem.
It’s really important to have tools to help us control humidity levels in different rooms, and in addition to the many cutting-edge devices we can rely on, there are also inexpensive and effective home remedies. From a dehumidifier made from a single plastic bottle and salt to a series of tricks to remember to ensure better air quality in your home, let’s explore some quick and easy solutions.
The salt bottle method
Salt has hygroscopic properties, meaning it can absorb water molecules in the environment, making it an excellent dehumidifier. So, take a plastic bottle and some coarse salt and proceed as follows: Cut off the bottle’s cap and insert it into the bottom, so the opening is at the bottom. Fill the bottle with salt and place it in the room where you want it to act as a dehumidifier.
An equivalent alternative are plastic food containers, whose lids require drilling small holes, emptying them, and replacing the salt when it gets too wet. If the situation isn’t too serious, gauze or light cotton bags filled with salt placed over the perforated lids of the containers may suffice, allowing excess water to drain underneath and into the tray.
You can also use a sieve: Place the sieve in a larger bowl or basin, place a light, sweaty cloth on the bottom and pour a gram (or one and a half grams) of salt over it, and collect the excess water in the bowl.
Further options
In addition to making DIY dehumidifiers, there are a number of useful practices that all aim to reduce humidity in the home.
If the light and temperature are suitable, consider planting plants that can improve air quality in your home, such as spathiphyllum, ferns, phalanx, ivy, and many others. In the most humid room, the bathroom, you can set up a fan and run it for 20 or 30 minutes after showering.
A lot of moisture also builds up in the kitchen, and an extractor hood that extracts all the fumes is a great help. It may seem obvious, but it’s important to keep doors and windows open as long as possible every day, depending on the outside temperature. Ventilating rooms is the best way to prevent mold growth.
Avoid hanging laundry in enclosed spaces, and especially avoid placing the dryer in the bedroom. Keep windows and doors open for the first few hours while the laundry is hanging.
