Many common materials, such as silica gel, calcium chloride, rock salt, baking soda, and activated charcoal, naturally absorb moisture. These items act as desiccants—substances that pull and lock water vapor out of the surrounding air to control humidity and prevent musty odors.
The cheapest and most effective homemade moisture absorber uses calcium chloride (sold as bulk driveway ice melter) combined with a simple two-bucket or colander-over-bowl system. This DIY approach costs a fraction of commercial products like DampRid and works identically to pull water from the air.
To draw moisture out of a room, use a dedicated dehumidifier, or natural absorbers like DampRid, calcium chloride, and baking soda. Active methods include ventilation with fans, air conditioning, and placing desiccants like silica gel in enclosed spaces.
Rock salt: Place bowls of rock salt in damp areas like closets or basements. It draws in moisture and requires no energy. Charcoal briquettes: Like rock salt, they absorb humidity and can be placed discreetly around the home.
Baking soda as a moisture absorber
Remove dampness by filling a small bowl with baking soda and placing it in the room you'd like to dehumidify. Although it's not as effective as rock salt in combating humidity, it's good for enclosed spaces where moisture is an issue.
Freshen Up Upholstery
Bonus Baking Soda Cleaning Tip: Use baking soda for cleaning and freshening mattresses. Sprinkle baking soda over the mattress and let it sit for an hour to absorb moisture and odors. Vacuum the baking soda and put on a set of fresh linens.
Rock Salt. The most popular DIY dehumidifier is the one that works the best—rock salt. Rock salt naturally absorbs moisture out of the air, making it a great choice to use as a dehumidifier. To make a rock salt dehumidifier, you'll need a bag of rock salt and two 5-gallon buckets from a hardware store.
To quickly dehumidify a room, turn on your air conditioner to actively condense moisture, or use exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens. If the outside air is cooler and drier, open windows and use a fan pointing outward to force moist indoor air out.
DampRid is primarily made of calcium chloride (an inorganic mineral salt), which acts as a desiccant to absorb excess moisture from the air.
Moisture is drawn out by desiccants (moisture absorbers), mechanical appliances, and proper air circulation. The specific agent depends on what you are drying.
To fix high humidity in your home, target the primary moisture sources and improve airflow. The ideal indoor humidity is between 30% and 50%. Use your air conditioning, run exhaust fans while cooking or showering, seal drafts, and invest in a dehumidifier.
Packets that absorb moisture are known as desiccants. They are designed to draw water vapor out of the air and trap it, keeping enclosed spaces dry and preventing mold, rust, and spoilage.
Direct warm air at small damp patches to lift off surface moisture and condensation. Run a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture and address the issue of moist air. Improve ventilation by opening windows so that you have plenty of fresh air.
Not only can baking soda help remove unwanted odors from your home, but it also has a high water absorption capacity, which can remove moisture in wet air. Simply leave a bowl of baking soda in a room with excess humidity. The bigger the room, the more baking soda you'll need.
You can also buy a large bag of calcium chloride de-icer, it comes in 20-50 lb bags. This will replace the crystals in the damp-rid tub when it gets soggy.
Create a highly effective, budget-friendly moisture absorber using common household supplies like calcium chloride (the active ingredient in products like DampRID) or rock salt. Simply suspend your desiccant in a perforated container over an empty reservoir so the trapped humidity can drain as it melts.
This material is classified as hazardous under OSHA regulations. OSHA Regulatory Status: ACUTE INHALATION, SKIN CONTACT, EYE CONTACT: May cause irritation. INGESTION: May cause nausea.
You can substitute a dehumidifier with natural moisture absorbers like calcium chloride, silica gel, or activated charcoal. You can also use household items like baking soda or rock salt, or adjust your daily habits by improving ventilation, using your air conditioner, and running exhaust fans.
Mold is generally at its worst from early spring through early fall (specifically July through October), peaking during the warmest and most humid months. Mold thrives in warm temperatures (60∘F to 80∘F) combined with relative humidity levels above 60%.
Building this DIY dehumidifier is simple and effective:
Signs of High Humidity
Condensation on Windows: If you notice water droplets on the inside of your windows, it's a sign that there's too much moisture in the air. Mold Spots: Mold loves damp environments. If you're spotting mold in corners, on walls, or in the bathroom, your home's humidity is too high.
Running an AC for a few hours can help maintain a comfortable humidity level. Silica gel packs: Place them in closets or drawers to absorb moisture. Charcoal briquettes: These natural dehumidifiers can help reduce dampness in small spaces. Baking soda: Keep an open box in humid areas to absorb moisture and odours.
Several common household items can act as natural moisture absorbers. Items like baking soda, rock salt, charcoal briquettes, and leftover silica gel packets effectively pull humidity from the air in smaller, enclosed spaces like closets, cabinets, and basements.
The cheapest way to dehumidify a room is by improving natural ventilation and using homemade moisture absorbers. You can easily create a DIY unit using a plastic colander, a bowl, and calcium chloride crystals, or use simple household items like coarse salt, baking soda, and charcoal.