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.
The best natural moisture absorbers include: Baking Soda: Highly effective in absorbing moisture and odors. Place an open container in damp areas. Activated Charcoal: Absorbs moisture and odors. It's particularly useful in enclosed spaces.
Other brands of moisture-absorbing products that you'll find on supermarket and hardware store shelves include Hippo and DampFree.
Moisture is well absorbed by black tea, baking soda and silica gel. These are commonly available products which can be poured into a moisture-permeable fabric pouch and then placed in the bathroom.
Simply open the lid and drain liquid into the toilet or sink. Remove the top to discard the used pack responsibly and replace.
Collect an old sock, string, a large bowl, and your calcium chloride. Place the calcium chloride inside the sock. Tie the sock closed with a piece of string. Hang the sock in the area where you'd like to remove moisture.
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.
Use dehumidifiers and air conditioners, especially in hot, humid climates, to reduce moisture in the air, but be sure that the appliances themselves don't become sources of biological pollutants. Raise the temperature of cold surfaces where moisture condenses. Use insulation or storm windows.
Activated Charcoal: This is a popular alternative to silica gel sachets. It works by adsorbing moisture and odours from the surroundings. It can get messy though so make sure your product doesn't touch the charcoal. Rice: Uncooked rice can also be used as a substitute.
Place an open jar or a cloth pouch filled with baking soda in the closet. Baking soda can help eliminate moisture and odors.
To remove the standing water from your home, you need a device that will soak up the water and put it elsewhere. This is what a sump pump does. There are two types: pedestal sump pumps and submersible sump pumps.
Using drying agents like silica gel, desiccant dehumidifiers pull moisture out of the air by forcing it through water-absorbing gel packs. These systems are typically less heavy and quieter than the refrigerant types, and one big benefit is that desiccants work equally well in cold temperatures.
Simply leave a bowl of baking soda in a room with excess humidity. The bigger the room, the more baking soda you'll need. Try this tip in smaller spaces first, like a cupboard or wardrobe, to gauge how much you'll need for the moisture in your problem room.
Natural fibers such as cotton, wool, and jute have intrinsic water-absorbing properties, making them highly valuable in various absorbent applications.
Apply baking soda
The longer you let the soda sit, the better. At an absolute minimum it should be left for 30 minutes. By doing this, the baking soda will absorb the moisture and odours embedded in the mattress.
Baking Soda: Baking soda is cheap and easy to find. It's great for small areas and helps neutralize odors while absorbing moisture. Use it in closets or cabinets.
Moisture Absorption
One of the key reasons tea bags can help with shoe odor is their ability to absorb moisture. Shoes become smelly primarily because of the sweat they accumulate. Tea bags are super absorbent and can soak up the excess moisture inside your shoes, making the environment less hospitable for bacteria.
A cost-effective alternative to dehumidifiers
Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) is a comprehensive whole-house ventilation system that eliminates moisture and mould in your home.
DampRid Fragrance Free Hanging Moisture Absorber attracts and traps excess moisture from the air, eliminating musty odors and inhibiting mold and mildew. DampRid's crystals absorb excess moisture out of the air to create optimal humidity.
- Place your absorber closest to the sources of humidity. - Place it in a discreet location, for example under an item of furniture. - Avoid placing it near doors and windows where it would work unnecessarily on absorbing moisture from the outside.
While the active ingredient will need to be replaced every 45 days or so depending on your humidity levels, the container will likely last for several years.